County's water, sewer plan may remake neighborhoods
Councilman conducting meeting Monday night
By ERIN COX, Staff Writer
Published November 24, 2007
As the adage in planning circles goes: If you can flush, you can build.
While the county remakes the plans about where sewer service will be extended in the future, residents in some communities worry the changes may reshape their neighborhoods. And at least one local politician is taking steps to keep everyone in the loop.
"It's going to be a divisive issue," said County Councilman Josh Cohen, D-Annapolis, as he explained why he will hold an informational meeting on the process for residents in his district on Monday night.
Every few years, the county redraws maps for the Water and Sewer Master Plan, changing the fortunes of developers and residents.
As County Councilman Ed Reilly, R-Crofton, pointed out during a public hearing this week, the plans do not change what the law says can be built on a property.
But gaining access to the county sewer system allows bigger and higher-density projects than could be constructed on a septic tank system. In this way, the county's Water and Sewer Master Plan becomes a tool planners use to either direct growth or reign it in.
Dozens of changes to the master plan have been proposed, and the new sewer and water maps are under consideration by the County Council. Mr. Cohen and his colleagues say the maps, which were last changed in 2003, are complicated, confusing and difficult to understand.
Even officials from the county planning department told the council that the changes were so numerous that it was impossible to go over all of them in one workshop or public hearing.
The changes can mean a neighborhood on septic systems may soon be debating whether to spend millions to hook into the county sewer service. The changes could also mean developers who own property that cannot withstand commercial development on a septic system may soon be able to build.
Additionally, property owners are not notified when their land will be switched between service areas.
The changes to the county's sewer maps will not affect residents in Annapolis.
Mr. Reilly has already introduced an amendment to include sewer plans for property owned by a south county resident who wants to tap into the system. He has a handful of other amendments to accommodate other property owners who would be adversely effected by changes proposed for the water and sewer maps.
Other councilmen are expected to offer similar changes in the coming weeks.
In Mr. Cohen's district, he expects to hear concerns from residents who live north of Bestgate Road in Annapolis. A proposed change there means residents who live on north of Bestgate Road between Lincoln Parkway and Route 50 would be scheduled to tap into the sewer system.
Mr. Cohen, who represents the Annapolis Neck Peninsula all the way up Generals Highway to Crownsville Road, said residents from Bestgate have contacted him. Those with failing septic systems are eager for the change, but other residents are fretting it could usher commercial development into a residential neighborhood.
"It's going to be pretty strong on both sides," Mr. Cohen said.
To help explain the changes, what they mean and what to do about them, Mr. Cohen is hosting an informational meeting with officials from the county's Planning and Zoning Office and the Department of Public Works.
The meeting will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Arundel Center, 44 Calvert St., Annapolis. Detailed maps can be found online at www.aacounty.org/PlanZone/MasterPlans/WaterSewer2007/Index.cfm.
Copyright © 2007 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.