Planning Commission rejects FoodPro’s request for property zoning change

(4/26) In a 6 to 1 vote, the Walkersville Planning Commission turned down FoodPro’s request to change the zoning of the northern portion of their property from Agriculture to Limited Industrial in the updated Comprehensive Plan.

In a second motion, the Commission voted unanimously to change the zoning of the southern portion of the property, currently zoned Limited Industrial, to Agriculture, consistent with the current County zoning.

While over 100 residents sat attentively as town staff provided an overview of the town’s comprehensive plan, most were chomping at the bit to get to the reason they had all shown up – a chance to provide their input on FoodPro’s request to have their full 106 acre property designated Limited Industrial in the updated plan.

After recapping their development plans, representatives of FoodPro stated that the intent of their request to have the land rezoned in the town’s updated Comprehensive Plan was to remove one hurdle in any future annexation request for the property. "As you are in the process of updating the Plan, we felt this a good opportunity to address the issue now, rather then later."

Public comment on the proposed zoning change was almost unanimously against changing the zoning designation. Homeowners adjacent to the property expressed frustration over the loss of their pastoral views, and concern over light pollution and the noise from early morning truck traffic. Other residents expressed concern that the proposed zoning change would cast in stone the property’s eventual annexation, an annexation they believed would adversely impact the town’s small town ‘feel’.

Commissioner Russ Winch, in expressing his opposition to the proposed change, cited the criteria in the town’s zoning manual for Limited Industrial designation as: "to provided adequate land for development of industrial uses whose operations have a relative minor nuisance value to the surrounding area." His statement meet with applause form the residents in the audience.

Commissioner David Ennis said that while he would like to see the property go through the annexation process so the town can have a say in the land’s use, and that he appreciated FoodPro’s goals of flushing out the details in an annexation process, he felt once the property was rezoned, the hands of the Commission would be tied.

Commissioner Brady joined Ennis in his concern that without annexation the town would have no control over the development of the property. "I want the town to have control of what gets built there."

Brady, who was the sole dissenting vote on the decision to deny FoodPoro’s zoning change request, said that by denying the request, it will be more difficult for residents to get their concerns addressed at the County level.

Commissioner Mike Kuster not only said he was against the proposed zoning changed, but went further by proposing that the portion of the property currently zoned Limited Industrial have that designation removed so that portion of the property could not be developed.

Commissioner Ray Santullo said he could not see how a 24-hour trucking company fits into Walkersville’s future. Santullo’s concerns were echoed by Commissioner Nat Shatto.

Upon conclusion of the votes, Commissioner Winch warned residents that: "the future development of the property will now rest with the County and be outside the control of the Town."

Winch’s words were still reverberating when FoodPro’s President Scott Brunk announced the company will proceed forward with the County on the development of the property.