Ed Smariga
Buckeye
Development LLC
Hello, Residents:
My name is Ed Smariga of Buckeye
Development LLC. We are the developers of Silver Fancy, a
62-acre farm located on the north side of Emmitsburg. We are
also currently developing Pembroke Woods in Emmitsburg. There
has been some information and considerable
"misinformation" regarding the annexation of Silver
Fancy. We believe that you will be able to make the best
decision about the annexation if you hear both sides of the
story.
The
project is proposed as a high-quality residential project
consisting of 80 single-family
homes and 50 townhouses.
The single-family homes are expected to sell starting at
around $250,000 and the townhouses around $170,000. This
project will be similar in design to Pembroke Woods, except
there will be townhouses added to meet the state requirements
of Smart Growth (this requires a minimum net density of 3.5
units per acre).
The Town of Emmitsburg examined the
annexation of this property in great detail and put many
conditions on this annexation. The Town
Staff Report detail many aspects of the annexation.
and recommended 7 conditions of annexation. The report
recommended approval based in part on the following
considerations:
- The property was already zoned in
the County for residential development allowing 3 units
per acre,
- The Town Comprehensive Plan shows
this property to be within the Town Growth Line,
- The schools serving the property
are projected to be under capacity through at least year
2010,
- The Town sewer and water will be
adequate to serve this project.
One of the major conditions of
annexation is the Town requirement that the Developer replace
the existing water line in North Seton Avenue from Main Street
to the site, a distance of approximately 2500 feet. This water
line is old and undersized. Unless Silver Fancy is annexed,
the Town will ultimately have to fix at a cost of
approximately $400,000 to the Town and its residents. Under
the terms of the proposed annexation, no money outlay is
required of the Town, but 50% of the water line cost will be
credited to the Developer against future Town fees. The bottom
line is a net taxpayer savings of $200,000.
With regard to water
supply, the actual water usage in the Town is 135
gallon per day per home. This 135 gallons per day usage was
determined by the Town using data acquired over many years
(not just periods when water conservation measures were
imposed). We are required by the Town to provide 200 gallons
per day per home for each home built on the property.
With regard to Route 15 access, the
State Highway Administration is not proposing to close the
North Seton Avenue intersection; the State is only proposing
that left turns and through traffic from North Seton Avenue
(northbound and eastbound traffic) be prohibited. All access
to and from Frederick, which is the primary traffic flow, will
not be affected by the proposed State changes.
Some positive aspects associated with
our project include:
- Extension of Brookfield Drive,
which will help relieve
existing traffic on Main Street (this project will
not complete Brookfield Drive 100%, but will contribute so
that over 50% of the total length of the road is
constructed)
- Providing a Water Tank and Well
site to the Town, which are already needed without Silver
Fancy,
- Providing in excess of $1,000,000
in short-term revenue and benefits to the Town,
- Silver Fancy will provide a well to
the Town that will provide more than the amount of water
consumed by the Silver Fancy residents.
- Silver Fancy traffic will be
oriented to Route 15 (rather than through Town) because it
is easier and quicker to get directly on Route 15 than go
through Town.
- Development of Silver Fancy Farm is
foreseeable. By annexing the property the Town maintains
control of the development and acquires the ability to
make the decisions necessary to insure that the
development of the property is compatible with the
existing community.
Much has been said about the perceived
negative aspects of our project. We believe these negative
perceptions are mainly the result of inaccurate information
and misunderstandings of the annexation and development
process. We want the residents of the Town of Emmitsburg to be
well informed prior to taking a position on the proposed
referendum of Silver Fancy Farm.
We ask you to examine all of the facts
and develop an understanding of all aspects of our development
proposal prior to making any decision.
If you have any questions or would
like to meet with me please feel free to contact me at
301-696-0900 or edsmariga@buckeyedevelopment.net.
Thank you.
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