C-Town Planning Commission Meeting - Quarry

[KatherineA]

Meeting at 7:00 p.m. in Ranson at the Fire Hall.

The Planning Commission indicated at its March 21st meeting that it would vote on the Quarry Development Proposal (annexing a parcel that is located about 5 miles from the city limits. This parcel will never be contiguous with the City as it is surrounded by National Park lands.

[KatherineA]

Please NOTE corrected TIME AND PLACE from above message - Charles Town Planning Commission Meeting - 6:00 p.m. (yes exactly at the dinner hour - I wonder why?)

Followed by:

Charles Town Council Meeting

Date/Time: Monday, April 2nd at 7 pm

Place: Mt. Zion Episcopal Church Hall at 221 E. Washington St., Charles Town

Public comment welcome - Please sign up to speak and voice your opinion.

The Town Council may vote on the proposal to annex the quarry property that is located in along Millville Road and smack dab in the middle of Harpers Ferry National Park at this meeting.

[LazerFlash]

The Planning Commission indicated at its March 21st meeting that it would vote on the Quarry Development Proposal (annexing a parcel that is located about 5 miles from the city limits. This parcel will never be contiguous with the City as it is surrounded by National Park lands.

What loophole are they looking to exercise to justify the annexation? Is this yet another one of those pipestem annexations?

Please NOTE corrected TIME - 6:00 p.m. (yes exactly at the dinner hour - I wonder why?)

You really don't have to wonder, do you? I had a lengthy conversation with Jim Surkamp (Jefferson County Commissioner) a couple of months ago. During that conversation, the topic of meeting times came up. His comment was that it really didn't matter what time of day various boards, committees and commissions meet. Those people who wanted to come would, but most would not - regardless of meeting time. To some extent, I agree with him. On the other hand, if you really want to make it hard on those people who would show up, you obviously want to pick the most inconvenient time.

[KatherineA]

Lazer - please see the topic - Harpers Ferry Development in the Local Politics section for more information. Yes this is a "pipestem" of extensive acreage along Millville Road. Estimates are it will bring 16,000 vehicles per day at the intersection of 340 and Millville - Can you say nightmare?

[KatherineA]

Please all try to make this meeting if at all possible. Below is an excerpt from an email I received from others who are opposed to this annexation:

I have included the articles mentioned as they are already posted in the Local Politics Forum:

If we don’t take a stand NOW, this annexation will be approved!



Last week’s email included the article “Observations from the Charles Town Planning Commission Meeting.” At the beginning of the article, the meeting was incorrectly referred to as the Jefferson County Planning Commission. Please understand that this was a meeting of the Charles Town Planning Commission. I apologize to the Jefferson County Planning Commission.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If the annexation is approved, all of us will feel the effects --



Traffic -- Rt. 340 is already bad – especially between the bridges. What will it be like with even more cars?? Have you driven Rt. 9 towards Leesburg during rush hour??



Roads – What are the plans for road improvements and expansion?? Is this being coordinated throughout the county?



Schools – Schools are already so crowded that kids have trailers for schoolrooms! What are the plans for the future?



Emergency Services – oHoHoHo

What are the plans for increasing emergency services – fire, law enforcement, etc. Are we prepared to respond to an increase in crime?



Disaster Preparedness – How will our roads and transportation system handle a disaster? Can our current infrastructure handle a tremendous influx of people in an emergency?



The Charles Town City Council charges ahead with annexations, and doesn’t care about anything else – certainly not the infrastructure needed to support their annexations!



WILL these issues be addressed? HOW will these issues be addressed?

DOES anyone care?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They have invested too much money -- the developers will not back down!



· While many groups (Don Campbell, Harpers Ferry NHP Superintendent, National Parks Conservation Association, National Trust for Historic Preservation and others…) have voiced their opposition to this annexation, the developers have been clearing land and have even installed sewer lines, ILLEGALLY, on Harpers Ferry NHP land!



· Almost 200 citizens joined the mayors of Harpers Ferry and Bolivar at the Charles Town Planning Commission meeting to voice their opposition. While the “public” comments were extremely limited in time (3 minutes) and number (strict limitations on who could speak), the developer’s attorney was given 15 minutes for the presentation!



The following is an excerpt of an email sent by Erin St. John of the NPCA (National Parks Conservation Association) and a recent article from the Journal –



“Below is the current information I have about the Charles Town meeting on the annexation.



IMPORTANT! Please attend:



Charles Town Planning Commission Meeting on Monday, April 2nd at 6:00pm

Mount Zion Episcopal Church Hall, 211 East Washington St. Charles Town, WV

* * public comment will not be taken at this meeting * *



Followed by...



Charles Town City Council Meeting on Monday, April 2nd at 7:00 pm

Mount Zion Episcopal Church Hall, 211 East Washington St. Charles Town, WV

**Public comment will be taken during the first 20 minutes of this meeting.”





At this time I am not sure if this comment is limited to Charles Town residents but please come ready to speak and show the town council your disapproval of this annexation. There will be lapel stickers for attendees to wear to signify your objection.



Points to mention:

*Opposition to the proposed annexation and development of land that is scenically and historically valuable and virtually surrounded by Harpers Ferry National Historical Park



*Before any decision is made they need to have a factual analysis on all predictable costs to Charles Town:



· Will Charles Town have to take responsibility for the upkeep of the section of Rt. 340 from the town to the property? If so what will be the costs associated with this?

· How will the town coordinate emergency services with a location so far from its boundary? Who will be the first responders to emergencies?

· Will there be additional costs for providing public safety and trash removal?

· How will this impact the tourism of the region and it economic impact?

· How will this effect businesses relocating to Charles Town and the downtown revitalization effort?

·