>> WHAT DO YOU THINK, MR. MCKNIGHT?
[00:00:02]
>> I DON'T THINK WE CAN START BEFORE 6:00.
ABOUT SIX O'CLOCK. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START.
[Opening]
GOOD EVENING TONIGHT AT THE DECEMBER 2024 MEETING OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.PRESENT TONIGHT ARE BOARD MEMBERS ROGER MCKNIGHT, KEITH BILBROUGH, AND MYSELF, JEFF JACKSON.
STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT WITH US ARE CRYSTAL DADDS, LESLIE GRUNDEN, AND KATHERINE MCCULLEY.
THE FIRST THING ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT IS
[Caroline Materials, LLC Final Site Plan]
THE FINAL SITE PLAN APPROVAL FOR CAROLINE MATERIALS, LLC.MATT, IF YOU WOULD LEAD US OFF.
>> SURE. THE APPLICANT, CAROLINE MATERIALS, LLC, THEY'VE SUBMITTED A MAJOR SITE PLAN APPLICATION FOR A MINERAL EXTRACTION FACILITY.
THAT'S LOCATED AT 8650 HARMONY ROAD.
IT'S MARYLAND ROUTE 16, ALSO DESCRIBED AS TAX MAP 3734, PARCEL 31.
THIS APPLICATION INVOLVES AN EXPANSION OF EXISTING FACILITY, THAT IS THE BREEDING TRACT.
THE APPLICATIONS FOR THE SPACE OF 14.99 ACRES, WHICH WILL BRING THE OPERATION TOTAL OF 93.26 ACRES.
PLANNING COMMISSION HAS REVIEWED THE PRELIMINARY SITE PLAN BACK IN SEPTEMBER 11TH, TO BE EXACT, MADE A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE APPLICANT TO PROCEED TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS.
BZA DID HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION.
THE SPECIAL USE WAS APPROVED ALONG WITH THE REQUEST FOR THE REDUCTION OF THE 200 FOOT SETBACK REQUIRED.
THE APPLICANT IS NOW SEEKING A FINAL SITE PLAN APPROVAL.
LIKE I SAID, BZA DID GRANT APPROVAL. THERE WERE SOME CONDITIONS.
SOME OF THOSE CONDITIONS WERE DISCUSSED AT THE PREVIOUS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, AND THOSE THINGS INCLUDE 200 FOOT SETBACK REDUCTION, AMENDING A PREVIOUS BZA CONDITION TO ALLOW DRY SCREENING UP TO THREE DAYS PER WEEK.
CONDITION NUMBER 17 OF A PREVIOUS APPROVAL IS TO ALLOW DISCHARGE FROM EXISTING [INAUDIBLE] THAT WAS APPROVED, A CONDITION TO ALLOW 16 LOADS PER DAY ON AVERAGE.
THOSE WERE ALL PREVIOUS CONDITIONS THAT WERE GRANTED ACROSS MULTIPLE BZA APPLICATIONS.
THE BOARD APPROVED THOSE CONDITIONS.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WAS TO INSTALL A GATE AT THE SECONDARY ENTRANCE TO THE PROPERTY, WHICH IS WHERE THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED POLE BUILDING WAS.
[00:05:03]
SECURITY AND SAFETY ISSUES WITH THAT ENTRANCE AND DECIDED IT WOULD BE BEST TO INCLUDE A GATE AT THAT ENTRANCE.ON TOP OF THAT, WITH THE 200 FOOT SETBACK REQUIREMENT, IS WHERE THOSE CONDITIONS.
THE FINAL SITE POINT THAT'S BEEN SUBMITTED HAS ADDRESSED ALL STAFF'S COMMENTS, INCLUDING BZA CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, I CAN ANSWER THOSE NOW.
WE CAN OPEN UP THE FLOOR TO THE APPLICANT.
>> THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE PUT, THE THREE DAYS A WEEK WERE NEW, THE REDUCTION WAS NEW.
THEY'VE ALWAYS HAD THE DISCHARGE [OVERLAPPING] AND THE MONITOR.
>> CONDITION THAT DIDN'T ALLOW IT, SO I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT NEVER MADE IT IN THE CONDITIONS.
THEY GRANTED THAT CHANGE TO THAT CONDITION, BASICALLY SAID THAT THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO DISCHARGE.
BZA HAD GRANTED THAT APPROVAL WITH THE CONDITION THAT THEY CONTINUE TO MONITOR IT, WHICH IS REQUIRED ANYWAY.
>> THE 16 LOADS A DAY HAS ALWAYS BEEN NEW.
>> THAT WAS TO THE PREVIOUS CONDITIONS.
THERE WERE SOME TRUCK LOAD RESTRICTIONS PREVIOUSLY.
THAT WAS A CHANGE IN LOADS PER DAY ON AVERAGE THAT WAS GRANTED.
>> ANYBODY GOT ANY QUESTIONS FOR MATT RIGHT NOW? DID YOU ALL HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO?
>> HOLD ON. YOU ALL HAVE ANYTHING? MR. BREEDING?
>> IF YOU LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTION, WE KNOW WHAT IT IS.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO PRESENT FIRST. YES.
>> [OVERLAPPING] MS. BENNETT, CAN YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
>> MY NAME IS DEBBIE BENNETT AND I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET.
>> FROM [BACKGROUND] 8713 HARMONY ROAD.
I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS JUST SAND, BUT WHEN I SEE MINERAL, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW, IS IT MORE THAN SAND OR IS IT JUST EXPANDING SAND?
>> I CAN RESPOND TO THAT. THERE'S SAND AND THEN THERE'S HEAVIER MATERIAL THAT'S MIXED IN WITH THE SAND, LIKE GRAVEL AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
IT'S ALL ENCOMPASSED IN THE TERM MINERAL IN OUR ORDINANCE, BUT NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE. IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO KNOW.
>> I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE THAT LUCKY TO HAVE EITHER OF THOSE.
>> I'M SURE THERE'S [INAUDIBLE] BUT OLDER, SO GOLD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> BUT I THINK SAND, SOME STONE.
>> HEAVIER MATERIAL. THAT'S WHAT THE SCREEN IS FOR TO SEPARATE THE DIFFERENCE IN MATERIAL FROM THE VERY FINE TO THE LARGER PIECE.
>> I JUST NEVER KNEW. I JUST SEE THE TRUCKS COMING IN AND OUT. THANK YOU.
>> YOU ALL HAVE ANYTHING ELSE?
>> MR. JACKSON, SEAN CALLAHAN OF LANE ENGINEERING.
>> OUR SITE PLAN IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS IT WAS LAST TIME. THANK YOU.
>> YOU'VE ADDRESSED, I THINK, THAT THEY SET A GATE AT THE ENTRANCE FOR THE POLE BUILDING.
>> MATT, DO YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH THESE EIGHT THINGS OR YOU WANT US TO GO THROUGH THESE EIGHT THINGS? IN THE MAJOR SITE PLAN, WE'RE REQUIRED TO GO OVER THESE EIGHT THINGS, AND WE HAVE TO DISCUSS THEM.
MATT DOES A GOOD JOB OF ADDRESSING EACH ONE OF THEM IN HIS REPORT, BUT WE HAVE TO DISCUSS THEM.
>> WHATEVER YOUR PREFERENCES, I CAN GET OVER THOSE EIGHT ITEMS, AND YOU CAN DISCUSS INDIVIDUALLY EACH ONE.
>> WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS ALREADY ONE TIME.
IS THE APPLICATION IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR COMP PLAN? MATT, HE'S ADDRESSED THAT WHEN IT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR COMP PLAN AND WITH OUR PRIMARY LAND USE OF PRESERVING AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE RULE CHARACTER OF OUR COUNTY.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING TO COMMENT FOR THE COMP PLAN AND THIS EXPANSION?
[00:10:06]
WE'RE EXPANDING A PIT THAT'S CURRENTLY BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 19 SOMETHING.>> THE SECOND THING IS IF THE APPLICATION IS COMPLIANT WITH OUR DESIGN STANDARDS IN CHAPTER 175.
AGAIN, IT'S BEEN REVIEWED BY MATT.
I HATE TO READ THIS WORD FOR WORD.
I FEEL LIKE I'M WASTING EVERYONE'S TIME.
MATT'S ALREADY WROTE IT OUT, BUT MINIMUM REQUIRED IS SHOWN IN THE SITE PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR SITE PLAN APPLICATION.
THEY'VE SUBMITTED ALL THE REQUIRED INFORMATION.
IS THERE ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT YOU ALL WANT OFF THE SITE PLAN? I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW, BUT I TRIED TO LOOK AT THESE. I DON'T KNOW.
IS THIS A NEW PLAN THAT SHOWS THE LITTLE GATE THAT THEY PUT?
>> THE GATE ENFORCEMENT WILL BE AT THE BUILDING PERMITS.
>> I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY THING CHANGED FROM THE FIRST TIME.
>> I THINK I WAS LOOKING ON THESE PLANS.
IT SHOWED A DARK LINE ALL THE WAY AROUND THE PROPERTY.
THE LINE STARTS, I THINK, AT THE 75-FOOT MARK, AND THAT WOULD BE THE GRADE END.
IT DROPS OFF, BUT IT'S THE GRADE END.
THE BUFFER THAT YOU HAVE UP THERE, IS THAT THE 75?
>> I THOUGHT I'VE SEEN IT, AND THEN AGAIN ON THE PLAN, IT LOOKED LIKE IT STARTED AT THE BUFFER.
YOU'RE COMING OUT TO THE BUFFER.
>> THE SLOPE STARTS AT THE TOP.
AT THE BUFFER, THE SLOPE STARTS AT THE TOP.
>> IT ALREADY HAS THAT RIGHT THERE.
IT ALREADY HAS A VERY MATURE BUFFER AROUND IT OR OUT FRONT AND DOWN.
DO YOU GOT SOME DOWN THE SIDE?
>> THERE WERE EXHIBITS ATTACHED TO THE ORIGINAL SITE PLAN AND THE LAST THING SHOWING THE STATE OF THE BUFFER.
THE ONLY PLACE WHERE IT WAS A LITTLE THIN WAS WHERE THE GATES GOING TO GO.
>> WILL THIS HAVE ANY EFFECTS ON ACCESS AND TRAFFIC CIRCULATION? IS THAT WHAT YOU GOT? 01, 2, 3.
DOES THE APPLICATION HAVE ANY EFFECT ON ACCESS AND TRAFFIC CIRCULATION? IT'S NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY IMPACT.
>> IT'S NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY ADDITION.
IT COMES OUT ONTO A STATE ROAD 16.
>> APPROVAL LETTER FROM THE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.
>> NOW, DOES THE APPLICATION HAVE ANY EFFECTS ON SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENT? THESE ARE THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
KATHERINE, DON'T YOU DO BZA? YOU DO BZA.
I GUESS YOU DID HAVE SOME PROPERTY OWNERS THAT CAME TO THE PUBLIC HEARING?
>> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY SAID.
>> I CAN SUMMARIZE WHAT THEY SAID.
THEY WERE THE TWO PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE BEYOND THIS PROPERTY GOING DOWN PEALIQUOR ROAD, TWO LARGER TRACKS THAT GO TO THE WATER.
ESSENTIALLY, BOTH PROPERTY OWNERS PURCHASED THEIR PROPERTY, ONE IN 2017, ONE IN 2021, AND THIS OPERATION WAS ALREADY THERE.
THEY WERE JUST CONCERNED THAT, OF COURSE, IT MIGHT AFFECT THEIR PROPERTY, BUT THEY ENDED UP BY SAYING THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH IT.
THEY WERE CONCERNED NEIGHBORS, BUT THERE'S NO ADVERSE EFFECT.
WE HAD AN EXPERT COME IN, MR. WILLIAM FITZHUGH TURNER, WHO IS A LICENSED GENERAL APPRAISER, AND HE HAD DONE STUDIES AND WAS NOT ABLE TO QUANTIFY ANY ADVERSE EFFECT OF A MINING OPERATION ON THE ADJOINING PROPERTIES.
>> THE TWO BIG TRACKS OF PROPERTIES, NOT THE HOUSES UP FRONT, THE TWO BIG TRACKS.
>> THERE WAS ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN CAME THERE, BUT SAID AS LONG AS THE BUFFER WAS THERE, HE WAS OKAY WITH IT.
HE JUST DIDN'T WANT THEM COMING RIGHT UP TO THE PROPERTY LINE.
WE HAVE A 75-FOOT BUFFER GOING DOWN THERE.
[00:15:01]
>> THESE PEOPLE ALREADY LIVE ON THE 75-FOOT BUFFER.
>> IT'S NOT THE NEW ONES UP UP FRONT BY THE ROAD.
THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN LIVING NEXT TO 75-FOOT.
>> YES, SIR, BUT THEY WERE THERE.
>> IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY EFFECT, UNLESS YOU ALL CAN THINK OF SOMETHING.
IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE DEVELOPMENT.
DOES IT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON COMMUNITY FACILITIES? NO, IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY EFFECT.
UNLESS YOU ALL CAN THINK OF SOMETHING THAT I DON'T KNOW, BUT THERE'S NO EFFECT ON COMMUNITY.
THERE'S NO HISTORIC SITES LOCATED WITHIN THE PROPERTY.
THERE'S NO OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENTS.
IT'S AN EXISTING PIT, HE'S JUST EXPANDING IT.
THE LAST ONE, THIS PROPOSAL WILL HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE PUBLIC UTILITIES.
HE'S JUST GOING TO COME UP TO THE 75-FOOT LINE ON THIS CURRENTLY ESTABLISHED BUFFER.
ANYBODY GOT ANYTHING? ANY QUESTIONS FOR LANE ENGINEERING OR MR. BREEDING? NOW, I WANTED TO ASK YOU TWO.
YOU WERE IN THE WORKSHOP, DID ANYTHING COME OUT IN THE WORKSHOP THAT WE SHOULD KNOW? BECAUSE I WASN'T THERE.
>> NO. WE WENT OVER EVERYTHING FINE TOO.
BZA HAS APPROVED ALL OF IT, SO WE WERE HAPPY WITH THEIR FINDINGS.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE SITE PLAN BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BZA.
POSITIVE THAT BEING THE ADDITIONS [INAUDIBLE] SO THEY MADE TO THE COMMENTS.
DOES HE NEED TO SPELL THEM OUT? YEAH. BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY OUTLINED IN THEIR OPINION AND DECISION THAT THEY RECEIVED.
HERE'S A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
THAT'S IT. IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO GO HOME ON A RAINY NIGHT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT ONE OTHER THING NOW, PROBABLY YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED IN IT. [LAUGHTER].
THAT IS NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT THAT MERRY CHRISTMAS [INAUDIBLE]. [LAUGHTER] GOOD NIGHT.
[BACKGROUND] IT'S A CROSS FROM THE CONFEDERATE FLAG.
THAT'S A WAY TO LOOK THE ONE HE DIDN'T KNOW HE HAD.
THE NEIGHBOR HE DIDN'T KNOW HE HAD.
MS. [INAUDIBLE], I BELIEVE THIS IS YOURS, ISN'T IT LEGACY?
[Rural Legacy Area Program Prioritization]
YES. RURAL LEGACY AREA PROGRAM PRIORITIZATION.SOMETHING WE DO EVERY YEAR, THIS TIME OF YEAR.
EASTERN SHORE LAND CONSERVANCY MANAGES THE MARYLAND RURAL LEGACY AREAS PROGRAM, WHICH IS OPERATED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
ALL AROUND THE STATE, NONPROFIT LAND CONSERVANCIES MANAGE THIS PROGRAM.
EASTERN SHORE LAND CONSERVANCY MANAGES IT FOR THE RURAL LEGACY AREAS IN TALBOT, CAROLINE, DORCHESTER, AND CECIL COUNTY.
I'M NOT SURE WHO DOES LOWER SHORE.
BUT ANYWAY, SO THE LAND CONSERVANCIES HAS TO SUBMIT TO THE RURAL LEGACY PROGRAM THEIR PRIORITIZATION OF RURAL LEGACY AREAS WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTIONS IN FEBRUARY.
THEY REACH OUT TO ALL THE COUNTIES THAT THEY SERVE AND ASK FOR PRIORITIZATION LETTERS TO COME TO THEM END OF DECEMBER SO THEY CAN TURN AND SUBMIT THEM TO THE STATE.
[00:20:04]
THE TWO RURAL LEGACY AREAS IN CAROLINE COUNTY ARE THE TUCKAHOE RURAL LEGACY AREA, WHICH RUNS ALONG THE WESTERN BOUNDARY OF THE COUNTY, ALMOST, A SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH OF THE WESTERN BOUNDARY AND THE EASTERN SHORE HEARTLAND RURAL LEGACY AREA, WHICH IS THE EASTERN BOUNDARY AROUND THE AREA OF FEDERALSBURG, AND THEN AROUND TOWN OF PRESTON.IN TALKING WITH EASTERN SHORE LAND CONSERVANCY, DAVID SATTERFIELD, WHO MANAGES THE RURAL LEGACY PROGRAM FOR THEM, THEY HAVE HAD REALLY GOOD SUCCESS IN THE HEARTLAND RURAL LEGACY AREA WITH LANDOWNER PARTICIPATION AND GETTING EASEMENTS ESTABLISHED.
BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN AS SUCCESSFUL IN THE TUCKAHOE RURAL LEGACY AREA AND THEY'RE NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHY.
THEY'VE DONE ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF EFFORT IN BOTH.
THEY'VE HAD SOME RESPONSES IN THE TUCKAHOE RURAL LEGACY AREA.
BUT MOSTLY IT'S LAND OWNERS THERE THAT ARE COMING IN ON THEIR OWN, NOT RESPONSES TO WHAT THEY'RE PUTTING OUT.
ESLC, EASTERN SHORE LAND CONSERVANCY WANTS TO STEP UP THEIR EFFORTS TO REACH OUT TO LAND OWNERS IN THAT RURAL LEGACY AREA AND TRY AND BEEF UP SUPPORT AND GET MORE EASEMENTS DONE IN THAT RURAL LEGACY AREA.
THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE PRIORITIZE THE TUCKAHOE RURAL LEGACY AREA OVER EASTERN SHORE HEARTLAND.
THEY WILL GET FUNDING FOR BOTH.
IT'S IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS A CHALLENGE TO FUNDING OR THEY DON'T HAVE AS MUCH, AND THEY HAVE TO PICK ONE OR THE OTHER, WHERE WOULD THEY WANT TO CONCENTRATE THEIR EFFORTS? THEY'D LIKE TO CONCENTRATE THEM IN THE TUCKAHOE RURAL LEGACY AREA.
IN LOOKING AT THE ACREAGES AND TALKING TO DAVID SATTERFIELD, HE BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT ALSO THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITH US AND WITH THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION PROGRAM, THE MALP, WHICH IS THE OTHER AG EASEMENT PROGRAM TO FIND OUT WHO IN THE TUCKAHOE RURAL LEGACY AREA HAS MADE INQUIRIES ABOUT MALP AG EASEMENTS AND THEN NOT GOTTEN THEM FOR WHATEVER REASON, PROBABLY BECAUSE IT'S SO COMPETITIVE.
THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE AN EXTRA EFFORT TO REACH OUT TO THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE TUCKAHOE RURAL LEGACY AREA, WHO HAVE HAD INTEREST IN THE MALP PROGRAM TO SEE IF THEY'D BE INTERESTED IN THE RURAL LEGACY PROGRAM.
I THINK THEY'LL PROBABLY HAVE AT LEAST A LITTLE MORE SUCCESS DOING THAT.
THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS AND WHAT THE PRIORITIZATION REQUEST IS IN THE FORM OF A LETTER THAT COMES FROM THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
I WILL TAKE TO THEM YOUR RECOMMENDATION IF YOU APPROVE THE PRIORITIZATION OF THE TUCKAHOE RURAL LEGACY AREA FOR THE FY25 EASEMENT CYCLE.
WELL, FOR MYSELF, I WENT THROUGH THIS WITH THE WORKSHOP, SO I'M MORE IN FAVOR OF IT THAN AGAIN GOING OVER THEM.
THE LETTER THAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN IS TO PRIORITIZE TUCKAHOE FIRST, HEARTLAND SECOND, BUT IT SAYS BOTH OF THEM ARE.
THEY NEED TO SUBMIT A PRIORITY LISTING OF OUR TWO.
NOW WE HAVE TO PICK A ONE AND A TWO SO WE DO THAT.
BUT WE ALWAYS MAKE THE POINT THAT THEY ARE BOTH VERY IMPORTANT IN OUR OPINION.
IN THE LAST YEAR, WE DO THE SAME THING THAT WE PICKED.
IF YOU LOOK BACK OVER TIME, THEY'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH.
THEY BOTH EXPANDED A LOT IN THE LAST 10 YEARS BECAUSE THE RURAL LEGACY PROGRAM HAS IN THE LAST 10 YEARS GRADUALLY GOTTEN MORE MONEY EVERY YEAR.
THEY WENT THROUGH A PERIOD WHERE THEY WERE PRETTY DRY FUNDING WISE, SO THEY DIDN'T GET A LOT OF EASEMENTS ON THE GROUND.
THERE WERE YEARS WHERE TUCKAHOE SEEMED TO BE DOING A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN HEARTLAND AND THEN WHEN HEARTLAND RURAL LEGACY AREA EXPANDED AND THEY MAKE THE EXPANSIONS BASED ON TALKING TO FARMERS,
[00:25:02]
EASTERN SHORE LAND CONSERVANCY.WHEN THEY RECOMMEND EXPANDING THE AREA, THEY DO IT BASED ON THE FEEDBACK THEY'RE GETTING FROM FARMERS.
WHEN THAT RURAL LEGACY AREA EXPANDED, IT REALLY TOOK OFF FOR THEM AND THEY GOT A LOT OF EASEMENT INTEREST AND GOT A SURGE IN EASEMENT.
NOW THAT'S HAPPENING AND IT IS TRYING TO DO THE SAME WITH TUCKAHOE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? YOU ALL GOT THE LETTER IN YOUR PACKET THAT THEY WANT TO SEND.
ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE RURAL LEGACY PROGRAM.
HOW ABOUT I DO THIS? I'LL JUST MAKE THE MOTION.
MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE RURAL LEGACY PRIORITY PROGRAM WITH TUCKAHOE AREA BEING THE PRIORITY OVER THE HEARTLAND AREA, AND APPROVE THE LETTER THAT IS WRITTEN, JUST FORWARD TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR THEIR APPROVAL.
THAT'S THE MOTION IF IT COVERS ME.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MS. MCCULLEY, IF I DID THIS RIGHT. MS. MCCULLEY.
[BZA Update ]
THIS MONTH THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS HEARD ONE CASE.THEY HEARD A REQUEST FOR A CRITICAL AREA VARIANCE AND THE APPLICANTS INITIALLY APPEARED BEFORE THE BOARD ON JULY 16TH, BUT THE BOARD GRANTED THE APPLICANTS A CONTINUANCE TO REVISE THEIR APPLICATION TO ADDRESS CONCERNS THAT THE BOARD BROUGHT UP AT THE MEETING [NOISE] SO THE APPLICANTS PRESENTED THEIR TESTIMONY AND GAVE EVIDENCE TO THE NECESSITY OF PLACING THE ADDITION IN THE CRITICAL AREA BUFFER.
THE BOARD VOTED TWO TO ONE TO GRANT THE VARIANCE.
THAT'S IT. NOW WE CAN GET TO THE TOP, DEPARTMENT [INAUDIBLE].
[Department Update]
I JUST BRING YOU DOOM AND GLOOM.[LAUGHTER] AS OF YESTERDAY, WE'RE DOWN FOUR STAFF PEOPLE.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS WE DID CONDUCT INTERVIEWS LAST WEEK FOR TWO OF THE POSITIONS, AND WE HAVE OFFERED THE POSITION TO THE PLANNER 3 AND TO THE PERMIT TECHNICIAN.
WE ARE WAITING TO SEE IF THEY ACCEPT THAT OFFER, AND ALL THE BOXES ARE CHECKED, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN ONBOARD THOSE TWO POSITIONS AFTER THE HOLIDAYS.
NOW WE START WORKING ON THE OTHER TWO POSITIONS, WHICH WOULD BE THE OTHER BOARD ADMINISTRATOR AND THE GIS COORDINATOR.
YOU HAD A STAFF MEMBER THAT WAS GOING TO MOVE OVER.
THAT HAPPENED. THEY'RE DOING DOUBLE TIME RIGHT NOW, THEIR NEW JOB AND THEIR OLD ONE.
ARE YOUR PROSPECTS INTERNAL PROSPECTS? NO.
I ASSUME THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE TREATING YOU WELL? YES.
BECAUSE I KNOW EVERYBODY NEEDS HELP.
OF COURSE, BY NOW, YOU'RE EXPERTS ON SOLAR PANELS AND SAND PITS.
IF SOMEBODY BRINGS A BIG COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN, WE'RE NOW GOING TO KNOW WHAT TO DO.
OUR FOCUS, I THINK THIS PAST MONTH HAS BEEN ON A CPCN SOLAR APPLICATION THAT'S DOWN IN SOUTH COUNTY BY FEDERALSBURG.
MATT SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME GETTING THAT ALL READY FOR US TO RESPOND TO THE CPCN ON THAT CASE.
[00:30:02]
STILL WORKING THROUGH LEGISLATION.THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME THINGS IN THE NEW YEAR COMING TO YOU.
THE ONE I CAN THINK OF THAT'LL COME FIRST IS A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT TO ADDRESS PERMIT DENIALS FOR PROPERTIES THAT HAVE VIOLATIONS.
IT'S BEEN OUR DEPARTMENT'S POSITION, AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE, THAT IF YOU HAVE A VIOLATION, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO KEEP CONSTRUCTING OR DOING OTHER ACTIVITIES UNTIL YOU CORRECT THE VIOLATION.
THAT'LL NOW BE SPELLED OUT IN THE CODE SO THAT'LL COME BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO GET A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
THE CANNABIS REGS, WE DID DISCUSS THEM IN WORKSHOP AT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BRIEFLY ON TUESDAY.
THEY'RE LOOKING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AN INTRODUCTION AT THEIR NEXT LEGISLATIVE MEETING FOR THAT.
THERE'S ONE MORE LEGISLATIVE PIECE.
I THINK THAT ONE'S BEEN BEFORE YOU TO REDUCE THE APPEAL TIMELINE FROM 90 TO 30.
THAT'S WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS AT THE COMMISSIONER'S.
WE HAD SOMETHING THAT SAID 30, SOMETHING THAT SAID.
NO. WE ACTUALLY CHANGED IT FROM 90 DOWN TO 30 AND THEN STATED THAT IF A DETERMINATION WAS ALREADY MADE PREVIOUSLY ON THE SAME THING, IF YOU WERE TO RECEIVE A VIOLATION, YOU COULDN'T COME BACK NOW AND APPEAL THAT.
THE DETERMINATION IS MADE AND YOU DIDN'T APPEAL IT, THEN YOU CAN'T DO IT LATER. I THINK THAT WAS IT.
WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO WITH THE ADOPTION OF THAT WHOLE CHAPTER ON FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUALS AND REQUIRING A PERMIT AND ALL OF THAT, THAT REGULATION STATES THAT WE WILL ADOPT OUR PROCESS AND REGULATIONS, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE CREATING THE APPLICATIONS, THE FEES, SPELL OUT ALL THE THINGS FOR HOW WE WOULD DO THE HEARINGS, ANY NOTIFICATION PROCESSES, WE STILL HAVE TO ESTABLISH THAT PROCESS FOR ANYONE THAT WOULD SEEK A STORAGE PERMIT FOR FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUALS.
WHAT ELSE WE GOT ON OUR PLATE? [BACKGROUND] YEAH.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION WITH THE SOLAR REGS AND POTENTIALLY DOING A CRITERIA SIMILAR TO TALBOT COUNTY ON THEIR RANKING FOR THE PROPERTIES.
BUT THAT HASN'T BEEN DECIDED YET IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD ON.
IS ANY MORE WORD FROM THE MAOKO.
MAOKO IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK THIS WEEK, WINTER MAOKO IS AT CAMBRIDGE.
IS ANYTHING COMING OUT ABOUT? I THINK LESLIE SAT IN A ONE SESSION TODAY.
THEY HAD AN ENERGY ROUND TABLE THIS MORNING AND THEY HAD ONE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONERS WAS ON THE PANEL, PLANNING DIRECTOR OF FREDERICK COUNTY, PLANNING DIRECTOR OF QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY AND THEN FORMER MARYLAND SENATOR WHO HELPED DRAFT THE RENEWABLES.
I CAN'T THINK OF THE NAME OF THE BILL, LIKE SOMETHING NOW.
ANYWAY, HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHERE IT WASN'T JUST SOLAR, IT WAS SOLAR AND WIND AND NUCLEAR.
THE RURAL COUNTIES, PARTICULARLY THE FREDERICK COUNTY DIRECTOR, MIKE, I THINK HIS LAST NAME IS WILKINS, THEY JUST WENT THROUGH A LAWSUIT WHERE THEY USED ALL THE SAME ARGUMENTS WE DID ABOUT PRESERVING AG AND THEIR AG ECONOMY AND ALL OF THEIR AG PRESERVATION POLICIES AND THEIR COM PLAN AND THE CHANGING OF THE LANDSCAPE AND LOSS OF AG BUSINESSES, AND THEY WERE OVERRULED BY THE PSC, THEY LOST.
>> HE MADE HIS CASE AGAIN, THAT YOU'RE PUSHING ALL OF THAT ASIDE FOR THIS ONE PRIORITY.
THE PSC COMMISSIONER PUSHED BACK AND SAID, WE ARE A STATE THAT HAS TO IMPORT POWER.
WE CANNOT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER GENERATED HERE WE HAVE TO ALWAYS BRING IT IN.
WE'RE LOSING POWER SOURCES AS POWER PLANTS SHUT DOWN LIKE COAL PLANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT A 20 OR 30 YEAR TIMELINE WHERE WE COULD END UP HAVING TO TURN OFF SOME LIGHTS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT 5-10 YEAR ARC WHERE THAT COULD BE POSSIBLE IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING.
I GUESS YOU COULD SAY THAT'S DEBATABLE, THE PLANTS THAT ARE BEING TURNED OFF ARE BEING MANDATED TO SHUT DOWN BECAUSE THEY'RE COAL.
[00:35:03]
THEY'RE NOT SHUTTING DOWN VOLUNTARILY.THERE WAS SOME ARGUMENT IN THE AUDIENCE ABOUT THEY'RE CREATING A CRISIS TO PUSH SOLAR THROUGH, WHERE IF THEY HADN'T CREATED THE CRISIS, WE WOULDN'T BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE LITERALLY A POWER STRUGGLE STRUGGLE FOR POWER.
>> WHAT'S THEIR AVERSION TO IMPORTING POWER?
>> COST AND THE INCREASING NEED FOR MORE POWER.
ONE OF THE THINGS, WE DON'T HAVE AN ORDEAL WITH IT, BUT ON THE WESTERN SHORE, AND IN SOME OF THE NORTHERN COUNTIES VIRGINIA DATA CENTERS, WHICH ARE GIGANTIC AND REQUIRE SO MUCH POWER THAT THEY ARE SUCKING ALL THE POWER OUT OF THE GRID, AND YOU HAVE TO GET MORE POWER TO TRY AND TAKE CARE OF EVERYBODY ELSE WHO'S ALREADY THERE.
WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT HERE, BUT THAT IS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE, PARTICULARLY ON THE WESTERN SHORE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE DATA CENTERS STARTS.
>> THEY'RE LIKE ACRES, AND THEY REQUIRE ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF POWER.
THERE ARE CERTAIN BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES THAT WANT THE DATA CENTERS.
IF YOU WANT A DATA CENTER, YOU GOT TO HAVE THE POWER TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT A DATA CENTER AND TAKE CARE OF EVERYBODY ELSE, TOO.
>> AM JUST SAYING ABOUT INPUT POWER.
OR WE MAKE OUR OWN, THEN WE IMPORT FOOD.
I'M JUST MORE. IT'S LIKE, YOU MAKE THE POWER, WE'LL MAKE THE FOOD.
YOU LET YOU HAVE SOME MORE FOOD.
>> WELL, THE RESPONSE WAS AND THAT CAME UP, WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD WE'RE LOSING? THE ECONOMIES WERE LOSING, AND HE WAS LIKE, I KNOW.
BUT WHAT'S EVERY GOING TO SAY, WE GOT TO TURN THE LIGHTS OUT?
>> I'LL TELL YOU THAT POW IS GOING TO BE TOUGH TO EAT.
>> THE OTHER POWER THING THEY'RE LOOKING AT IS NOBODY REALLY TALKED MUCH ABOUT WIND, BUT NUCLEAR CAME UP.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO ASKED THE QUESTION ANSWER AT THE END ABOUT, WHAT'S EFFICIENT, RENEWABLE, TAKES WAY LESS SPACE.
WE COULD GET TONS OF POWER IN THE FRACTION OF THE SPACE IS NUCLEAR ENERGY, AND THE PSC GUY.
I THINK THE FORMER SENATOR WHO'S NOW ON THAT MARYLAND ENERGY, HE'S WRITING A LOT OF THE LEGISLATION THAT'S BEEN AND IS COMING IN.
BUT IF YOU THINK THE PUSH BACK FOR SOLAR IS BAD, WAIT TO YOU SEE THE PUSH BACK AGAINST NUCLEAR.
BECAUSE IF YOU PUT A LITTLE NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT NEAR ANYBODY, THEY ALL LOSE THEIR MIND.
HE SAID, WE WOULD LIKE TO DIVERSIFY AND HAVE ALTERNATE RENEWABLE SOURCES AND NOT JUST SOLAR, BUT THE FIGHT TO GET A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN IS WORSE THAN A FIGHT FOR SOLAR.
>> THE FOOTPRINT FOR A NUCLEAR POWER, WE'RE GOING TO DISTURB 900 ACRES AND A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT WOULD BE?
>> TO DO THAT. IF YOU RIDE UP NORTH NOW AND YOU SEE YOU SEE ALL THE SILK FENCE.
THE SILK FENCE. IF YOU JUST PICTURE.
>> YOU RIDE BY THE FIELD AND YOU JUST PICTURE IT AND I'M LIKE, THIS IS GOING TO BE A HOT MASS, MAN.
YOU DID THE PLANS FOR THAT UP THERE, AND I I DON'T RECALL BECAUSE THERE WAS A DUMP TRUCK RUNNING OUT OF BRIDGETOWN THERE THAT THEY JUST RUNNING AND CARRYING STONE, AND THEY'RE DUMPING IT UNDER A SOLAR PANEL PROJECT IN QUEEN ANNE COUNTY.
I'M LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE, WE CAN TO DO IT TO FORM THAT WHEN YOU DECOMMISSIONED AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT ON A ROCK.
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FORM IT AGAIN.
>> FREDERICK COUNTY BROUGHT THAT UP IN IN THEIR FIGHT WITH THE PSC THAT THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT 20 YEARS FROM NOW WHAT'S GOING TO BE LEFT BEHIND.
IF THEY'RE NOT DECOMMISSIONED, WHO'S GOING TO HANDLE THE ONES THAT DON'T GET DECOMMISSIONED.
ALL OF THAT WAS DISCUSSED, THE PSC AND FORMER SENATOR THEY DIDN'T DEFLECT THE QUESTIONS, BUT THEY PUSHED BACK AND SAID, WE KNOW ALL THAT, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO TELL YOU THAT IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER.
THAT IS AN ALTERNATIVE THAT WE CAN'T HAVE.
THERE TOMORROW, ACTUALLY, STEWARTS ON ANOTHER PANEL TO TALK ONLY ABOUT SOLAR AND RURAL COUNTIES
[00:40:01]
AND THE IMPACT TO RURAL COUNTIES WITH A COUPLE OTHER.>> THEY'RE DOING SOLAR AND WIND. I THINK IT'S WORSTER CAROLINE AND KENT OR QUEEN ANNE, I THINK YOU ARE THE OTHER ONES ON THE PANEL.
IT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT, AND OF COURSE, DOMINIC WAS THERE, THE MAOKO LEGISLATIVE PERSON WHO'S BEEN TRYING TO HELP ALL THE COUNTIES GET A COLLECTIVE VOICE.
ONE THING, ALL OF THE PANELIST AGREED AND EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM WAS THAT THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS GOING TO BE REALLY I THINK, INTENSE THE BATTLES GOING ON.
BUT I FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT NUCLEAR THE ATTITUDE SEEMED TO BE THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SO KNEE JERK, NO NUCLEAR.
BUT NOW THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHAT A SOLAR LANDSCAPE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, THOSE SAME PEOPLE MAY NOT HATE NUCLEAR AS MUCH AS AN ALTERNATIVE.
IT'S AN EDUCATION. THEY MAY GET MORE TRACTION FOR NUCLEAR POWER THAN THEY WOULD HAVE FIVE YEARS AGO.
>> WAIT UNTIL THE LAST TIME WHEN YOU HAD AN INCIDENT? THEY'RE PRETTY SAFE THROUGH.
>> WELL, THEY'RE RESTARTING A REACTOR AT THREE MILE ISLAND TO SUPPORT A MICROSOFT DATA CENTER.
IT WAS THE REACTOR THAT DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE LOOK, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY NAVY SHIPS AROUND HERE SUBMARINE ON NUCLEAR POWER.
NOBODY COMPLETED WITH 6,000 MEN ON IT.
>> IT WAS JUST VERY INTERESTING THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STARTED TO EMERGE WAS THAT THE PSC AND THE STATE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DATA CENTER IMPACT ON CURRENT POWER SUPPLY.
THE NEED TO HAVE THE DATA CENTERS AND THE NEED TO HAVE POWER FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, AND THEY LOOKED PANICKY.
WELL, THEY ALSO TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION LINES AND THE PSC COMMISSIONER SAID THAT PJM, WHICH IS THE ELECTRICAL CONGLOMERATE THAT IS PENNSYLVANIA, JERSEY, AND MARYLAND, MOST OF THE UTILITY SCALE PROJECTS, IF NOT ALL, IN CAROLINE COUNTY, DON'T SUPPLY CAROLINE COUNTY.
THEY GO UP THOSE LINES TO OTHER PLACES.
OUR QUESTION HAS BEEN AND THERE NEVER SEEMS TO BE AN ANSWER, HOW MUCH CAPACITY IS LEFT.
BEFORE WE START BUILDING HUNDREDS OF MEGAWATTS, DO WE EVEN HAVE THE LINES TO CARRY THAT POWER? OR ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ALL THESE PANELS AND THEN HAVE TO WAIT 10 YEARS TO BUILD MORE TRANSMISSION LINES.
>> YOU JUST HACK IT OFF AND THEN THAT'S CAROLINE COUNTY'S.
JUST CUT THEM OFF. THE PSC COMMISSIONER SAID, WHICH I FOUND I WAS JUST LIKE STUNNED.
HE SAID, PJM CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION LINES.
PJM SETS THE SCHEDULE FOR WHEN THEY THINK THEY NEED TO INCREASE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE CAN'T RELY ON, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN OR HOW OR WHAT PACE THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THOSE LINES.
WHICH I DIDN'T REALIZE, I THOUGHT PSC HAD SOME HAND IN DETERMINING A TIMELINE FOR, IF WE'RE GOING TO PLAN TO SUPPLY THIS MANY HUNDREDS OF MEGAWATTS OF POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION LINES, THEN WE'RE ALSO GOING TO PLAN TO MAKE SURE THE TRANSMISSION LINES HAVE THAT CAN HANDLE THAT MUCH POWER, BUT THEY DON'T.
THE QUESTION LEFT FOR EVERYBODY WAS, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TOO MANY SOLAR PANELS AND NOWHERE FOR THAT POWER TO GO? THERE WAS NO REAL ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
HOPEFULLY THAT QUESTION COMES UP TOMORROW IN THAT PANEL.
>> BUT HE LITERALLY SAID IT'S NOT A GOOD SITUATION.
THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE THE TRANSMISSION LINES, AND WE ARE DOING THE SOLAR OUTPUTS, BUT THE TWO DON'T AREN'T CONTROLLED BY THE SAME PERSON.
>> BUT THE SERVICE COMMISSION HAS A HAND IN THE SOLAR FORMS. BUT THEY DON'T HAVE NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION LINE?
>> IF WE WANTED TO BUILD A NEW BIG GREAT BIG TRANSMISSION LINE, WE DON'T NEED THEIR APPROVAL.
WE DON'T NEED ANYTHING FROM THEM.
I'M I ASSUME THAT BECAUSE IT'S IT'S ACROSS STATES, THAT IT'S FEDERAL.
>> BUT THERE'S A FIGHT COMING ABOUT PUTTING A NEW LINE IN OVER ON THE WESTERN SHORE.
>> THAT WAS THE FIGHT THAT FREDERICK COUNTY LOST.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE ONE THAT THEY MAYBE IT'S NOT.
IT'S FREDERICK COUNTY, AND THAT'S AND WELL, IT'S MORE THAN FREDERICK COUNTY THOUGH, I IT PART OF HARFORD.
>> HARFORD I'M NOT SURE, BUT I BELIEVE YOU.
[00:45:01]
HARFORD COUNTY WAS THERE AND HE STOOD UP AND ASKED QUESTIONS.THE FREDERICK COUNTY PANELIST WAS ALSO ASKING QUESTIONS.
CAROL COUNTY ALL OF THEM SAID THE SAME THING.
>> YOU GUYS ARE ASKING THE SAME QUESTION.
YOU'RE GOING TO RUN ALL OF THIS THROUGH OUR AREA AND WE'RE NOT WE DON'T GET BENEFIT OF IT.
>> NOT ONLY DO WE NOT GET THE BENEFIT, BUT WE LOSING ALL OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMIES.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
THEN WE'RE LEFT WITH NO POWER.
>> THAT WAS THE QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED HIM FIVE DIFFERENT WAYS, AND EVERY TIME HIS ANSWER WAS A VARIATION OF WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT, THEN EVERYBODY'S GOING TO REALIZE HOW SERIOUS THIS IS.
>> IT WAS 900 ACRES OF SOLAR HANDLES, AND WE'LL HAVE A SUBSTATION OR A TRANSMISSION STATION A DEALT, AND WE WOULD JUST WE'LL HAVE POWER.
WE WON'T BE GOING INTO THE TRANSMISSION LINE.
>> I THINK YOU'VE GOT UP ON PAGE 1.
YOU LOOKING FOR. BUT ANYWAY, I'M GOING TO COMMENT LATER.
>> THE GOOD NEWS WAS THERE WERE MULTIPLE COUNTIES ALL MAKING EXACTLY THE SAME REALLY GOOD POINTS THAT WE ARE MAKING.
THE BAD NEWS IS I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S LISTENING.
BECAUSE THERE THE PSC AND THE LEGISLATOR, BOTH SAID THAT THEY'VE DONE THE STUDIES AND THEY'VE LOOKED AT THE IMPACTS AND THEIR NUMBERS ARE SHOWING THAT WE'RE ONLY GOING TO LOSE 1-1.5% OF THE STATE'S FARM LAND TO SOLAR.
EVERYBODY HAS CALCULATED HOW MANY ACRES AND WE'RE IN THE 40 -60% LOSS OF FARMLAND HERE.
WE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAME UP WITH THAT TOTAL, BUT HE WAS ADAMANT, 1-1.5% OF THE STATE'S FARMLAND ONLY.
>> DATA CENTERS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE MAKING ALL THAT MONEY.
>> OF COURSE, THEY'RE LOOKING OUT FOR. THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SUPPLIED.
>> THEY'RE CROPPING UP ALL AROUND NORTHERN VIRGINIA, DC, BALTIMORE, FREDERICK, ALL AROUND THERE.
>> IT WAS VERY INTERESTING AND DEPRESSING.
THE ONE THING THAT SEEMED LIKE A LITTLE GLIMMER OF HOPE THAT I FOUND SURPRISING BECAUSE THEY HAD NO IDEA WAS THAT THE DISCUSSION ABOUT NUCLEAR BEING MORE EFFICIENT, LAND USE, CLEAN ENERGY, RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND THAT THE PUBLIC OPINION ABOUT IT MAY TURN WHEN THAT YOU SAY, WELL, WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE SOLAR OR NUCLEAR CAR? BECAUSE OF ALL THE IMPACTS THAT SOLAR IS CREATING, PEOPLE MAY SUDDENLY FIND NUCLEAR MORE BEARABLE, WHICH I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT.
>> WE SHOULD HAVE HAD QUESTIONS LIKE THAT ON THE BALLOT.
>> JESS HAS A QUESTION, WHAT WOULD YOU?
>> WHICH WOULD YOU RATHER? WHAT WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE? I THINK THAT'S A GOOD AND VALID QUESTION.
QUESTION I JUST KNOW NOBODY'S EDUCATED IN.
>> YOU HEAR THE ONE NUCLEAR IN.
>> I THINK CHERNOBYL. YOU HEAR NUCLEAR.
>> YOU HEAR THE WORST OF THE WORSE.
>> IT'S AMAZING. YOU START TELLING PEOPLE THAT LIGHTS ARE GOING TO GO OUT IN 10 YEARS.
>> HE WAS THE GUY HE LOOKED FRIGHTENED.
HE WAS LIKE A MAN TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE, DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW SERIOUS THIS IS? YOU'RE ARGUING ABOUT LAND USE. I'M TELLING YOU.
>> I'M DRAIN FROM DATA CENTER.
>> CAN'T YOU BENEFIT FROM DATA CENTER.
>> MICROSOFT COMES IN AND SAYS, I WANT A DATA CENTER, AND YOU GO, NO. YOU CAN'T DO THAT?
>> HERE'S $1,000,000,000 FOR YOUR ECONOMY.
>> GOVERNMENT PROMISED TO DO IT.
>> IT'S LIKE YOU WANT YOUR DEVELOPMENT TREATMENT PLAN.
>> OUR COURT HEARINGS, IS ARE WE STILL WAITING TO STILL ON FOR THE 27TH?
>> THAT'S RIGHT, RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS OR AFTER CHRISTMAS.
[00:50:04]
ENTERTAINMENT AFTER CHRISTMAS.>> ANY MOVEMENT COMMUNICATION?
>> THERE'S BEEN SOME TALKS, BUT NOTHING FINALIZED.
>> ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE CALLS?
I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING THAT YOU PROBABLY JUST DON'T WANT TO HEAR, BUT ISN'T 25 OUR PLAN YEAR?
>> YES. OUR HOPE IS WE ON BOARD OUR PLAN 3, AND WE WILL KICK IT OFF.
>> CAN I SAY THIS PROBABLY YOU HAVE TO TELL ME IF I'M WRONG.
BUT FOR THE BOARD, I THINK NEXT YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SET TIME ASIDE IN OUR MEETINGS AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO AS WE ADDRESS COMP PLANS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT. IT'S GOT TO BE DONE.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ON THE GOOD SIDE OR THE BAD SIDE, BUT IF OUR LAND USE DECISIONS AND POLICIES ARE BEING PREEMPTED WORTHLESS.
YOU DON'T NEED TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THEM.
WELL, WE CAN WRITE IT RIGHT QUICK.
>> NO. PUT DATA SIGN IN THERE.
NOBODY HAS ANYTHING ELSE MOTION TO A JURY.
>> WE ARE TURNED OFF TO
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.