(9/27) In a narrow vote, the Thurmont Town Council approved the annexation of the Simmers Property at their September 20th meeting.
Commissioners Bill Blakeslee and Wes Hamrick voted against the annexation, while Commissioners Wayne Hooper and Bill Buehrer voted in favor. Mayor John Kinnard broke the tie with a "yes" vote.
The farmland property is located southeast of Apples Church Road, Roddy Road, and Elyer Road intersection. It borders Graceham Road and consists of approximately 24.5 acres. Seven acres are located in town and currently zoned R-5, while the other nearly 17 acres lie in the county and are agriculturally zoned.
Thurmont’s 2022 Master Plan has the property identified in its future growth area as high density residential. This designation is not new as it was also deemed this designation in the 2010 Master Plan.
According to the Frederick County Public School System, the capacity of Thurmont schools are also all well below the capacity and are projected to stay within capacity for the next ten years.
The financial contribution to the town per the annexation agreement will be $2 million and total fees collected with total impact fees will be $12,660 per dwelling unit, town staff said.
However, as annexation plans moved forward, so too did public concern. Residents voiced concern that the high-density residential development did not match the feel of Thurmont’s small-town atmosphere.
Residents have voiced apprehension about the annexation, citing that the potential high-density development would increase traffic on narrow rural roads and be detrimental to the small-town atmosphere.
A revised traffic study was performed of the 1 to 6 p.m. time period to cover unique traffic conditions. While the study found traffic issue, the proposed development "does not exacerbate the current problem," Town Planner Kelly Duty said.
Resident Louise Schafer presented a petition with over 300 signatures in opposition of the development. "I want to make it clear we are not opposed to the annexation, but we are opposed to the R-5 high density residential," she said.
Noting the strong options against the development and the effect on the surrounding community, Hooper considered annexation decisions "probably the hardest things we as commissioners have to do."
With the council approval, the development will now require authorization from the county for the necessary zoning change and only then will the Thurmont Planning and Zoning Commission finalize development plans.
With a long road ahead before the development, Kinnard urged public participation and community input involvement at all town meetings. "There will be plenty of meetings for you to come out and craft this project the way you think it should be crafted," he said.
Residents in opposition of the development have the ability to raise a petition signed by at least 25 percent of registered Thurmont voters and present it to the council.
