Two controversial development projects are forging ahead in Maryland, and we Kossacks can voice our opinions about them whether we live in Maryland or not.
The first project is - surprise! - near the Chesapeake Bay. There's a wildlife refuge called Blackwater where many northern species of birds winter. A Baltimore-based developer wants to build a high-density community back-to-back with the refuge. The nearest town, Cambridge, Maryland, is not exactly brimming with employment opportunities. It's safe to say that those who seek these "shore homes" will be commuters to Baltimore and Washington, each about 60 miles away and across the Bay Bridge.
Environmentalists are encouraging those who oppose such "dumb growth" along the Chesapeake and its tributaries to log onto http://www.cbf.org (Chesapeake Bay Foundation) and take the poll.
(I'm sorry I'm so clueless about linking. I'm old.)
The other Maryland project is called "Terrapin Run," and it's in the mountains about 130 miles from Baltimore and Washington, about 25 miles from the nearest city, Cumberland. A Columbia-based developer wants to build 4300 high-density housing units back-to-back with the Green Ridge Wildlife Management Area, in effect creating a town of 11,000 people where there are absolutely no people (and one winding access road) right now.
Some Marylanders rightly call these bonehead plans "dumb growth," because they destroy the ambiance of an area, they do not take infrastructure, specifically lack thereof, into account, and of course: they pollute.
"Terrapin Run," for instance, will require damming one of the cleanest creeks in the state to create a reservoir. The "town" will have its own sewage treatment plant, and the wastewater from that will run into a dry branch (small stream) called - you got it - Terrapin Run.
If this sounds like rank stupidity to you, register your opinion at:
http://www.times-news.com
through Thursday of this week.
Blackwater has gotten more press so far, but both developments, if allowed, will wreak havoc on Wildlife Management Areas in two distinctly different parts of the state.
This is my pet project, so I'll keep you posted. In years to come you'll know where not to spend your tourist dollars.