[00:00:05]
>> IT'S 6:00 O'CLOCK. WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER 2025 PLAN AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING.
PEOPLE PRESENT WITH US TONIGHT, OUR STAFF MEMBERS, MATT GUZINSKI, IS SITTING UP FRONT HERE.
LESLIE GRUNION, DIRECTOR CRYSTAL DAD. SHE DISAPPEARED.
OLIVIA GENEVA, OUR ATTORNEY STEWART BORROW, COMMISSION MEMBERS, KEITH BILL BROW, ROGER MCKNIGHT.
CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER TRAVIS BREE AND HANNAH CARLEY AND MYSELF, JEFF JACKSON.
[Final Site Plan Review - R&R Farms]
WE DIDN'T CHANGE IT. FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS A R&R FARMS. IT'S HERE FOR FINAL SITE PLAN REVIEW.WE HAVE A STAFF REPORT PREPARED BY MATT.
MATT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BRIEF US ON THAT, PLEASE?
>> SURE. THE AFRICAN R&R FARMS, LLC HAS SUBMITTED A MAJOR PLAN FOR A MINERAL EXTRACTION FACILITY.
IT'S LOCATED AT 25100 GOLDSBORO ROAD AND HENDERSON.
ALSO DESCRIBED AS TAX MAP 721, PARCEL 66.
THIS IS A NEW MINERAL EXTRACTION FACILITY, INCLUDES A WASH PLANT WITH A TOTAL AREA OF ABOUT 111 ACRES.
THE APPLICANT HAS PROPOSED TO REMOVE MULTIPLE STRUCTURES THAT ARE ON SITE CURRENTLY THAT ARE ACTUALLY STRUCTURES TO ESTABLISH THE WASH PLAN.
ONE OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURES THERE IS A DWELLING, THE DWELLING IS GOING TO BE CONVERTED TO AN OFFICE SPACE TO SUPPORT THE OPERATION OF EXTRACTION FACILITY.
THE PRELIMINARY SITE PLAN CAME BEFORE THIS BOARD IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR AND MADE A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE APPLICANT TO PROCEED TO BZA. THE APPLICANT DID THAT.
BZA HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON MARCH 18 OF THIS YEAR AND APPROVED THE SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION ALONG WITH THEIR REQUEST FOR A REDUCTION IN THE 200 FOOT SETBACK REQUIREMENT.
NOW THE APPLICANT HAS SUBMITTED THEIR FINAL SLIDE PLAN.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE RIGHT NOW, IF YOU'VE GOT ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, I DO HAVE JUST ONE COMMENT, WHICH IT'S LISTED HERE IN THE STAFF REPORT, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REQUIRED IS SCREENING, AND ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS STAFF CAN MAKE IS TO USE LANDSCAPE STOCK MATERIALS.
TYPICALLY, LANE USUALLY PROPOSES SEEDLINGS, BUT THAT'S USUALLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BERM.
THERE'S NO BERM PROPOSED HERE, SO WE FEEL THAT IT'D BE NECESSARY TO USE LANDSCAPE SIZE STOCK MATERIAL TO SCREEN THE FACILITY.
THAT'S THE ONLY COMMENT THAT I HAVE OUTSIDE OF THE EIGHT ITEMS YOU'LL HAVE TO ADDRESS LATER AFTER HEARING FROM THE APPLICANT.
>> DO WE NOT USE A LANDSCAPE LIKE CONSULTANT FOR MINING?
>> YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS, BERM AND SEEDLINGS OR LANDSCAPE STOCK.
>> LANDSCAPE STOCK. BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PROPOSING A BERM.
I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S NECESSARY AT THIS AT THIS LOCATION TO BERM.
>> I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER. I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE IT.
BUT THEY REDUCED THE 200 FOOT.
HOW FAR IS IT OFF THE ROAD? I KNOW THEY REDUCED IT ON THE SIDE.
>> FRONT, I BELIEVE IT WAS 150.
>> BUT THAT'S YOUR ONLY RECOMMENDATION?
>> FROM THE TOP OF THE EMBANKMENT.
>> IS IT YOUR ONLY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS GOOD?
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MATT? WE CAN ALWAYS COME BACK TO HIM.
>> IS THERE A REASON WHY THERE WASN'T LANDSCAPE BUFFERS ON THE NORTH I GUESS, WEST SIDE AND THEN THE SOUTH?
>> WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE.
>> I THINK I HEARD THEY'RE GOING TO PROBABLY TELL US I THINK THE HOMEOWNERS DIDN'T CARE.
>> YEAH. THEY HAD WRITTEN CONFIRMATION FROM PROPERTY OWNERS.
>> THEN THE OTHER SIDE DIDN'T?
>> ON THE NORTH SIDE, IT'S ALL WOODS.
[00:05:03]
>> HOLD ON, JUST A MINUTE. ANYTHING ELSE?
>> I KNOW THEY ALL GOT SOMETHING THEY WANT TO SAY AND THEN.
>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
PLANNING COMMISSIONERS SEAN CALLAHAN IN ENGINEERING.
ROLAND CARBA IS WITH ME HERE TONIGHT, STEVE MAN, ATTORNEY FOR THE [INAUDIBLE].
THIS IS THE SAME PROJECTS YOU SAW.
THERE ARE PARTS OF THE PROJECT WHERE THERE'S A 200 FOOT PRODUCTION REFLECTED, BUT NOT ALL OF IT.
WE DO HAVE LETTERS OF INFORMATION FROM THE NEIGHBORS.
ONE HAS MET WITH THE NEIGHBORS REGARDING SCREENING.
THIS PROJECT DOES NOT PROPOSE SCREENING BARNS OUT FRONT BECAUSE THERE'S NO WASTE MATERIAL.
THAT IS TYPICALLY MINING PROJECT, YOU MAY HAVE AN OVERBURDEN OF LET'S CALL IT WASTE MATERIAL.
YOU DON'T GET INTO MARKETABLE MATERIAL IMMEDIATELY.
SAND. IN THIS CASE, THE SAND IS ON THE SURFACE.
THE SAND FREE FARMS, WHICH IS HARD TO DO AND INEFFICIENT.
WE PROPOSE THE SAVINGS IN THIS CASE, WHICH WILL GROW UP OVER TIME.
ROLAND HAS STARTED AND PLACED SOME CEDAR TREES OUT AT THE SITE ALREADY.
HE WILL CONTINUE TO ADD TREES AND THE LANDSCAPE STOCK REQUEST IS NOT A PROBLEM WOULD BE WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT CONDITION TO KEEP THAT IN THE BAR LANDSCAPE STOCK.
>> THINGS ARE GOING WELL ON THE OTHER FRONTS.
WE HEARD FROM SHA, SHA, AS FAR AS WE KNOW THE ISSUE, THERE ARE NO SUBSTANTIAL MATTERS ON THE TABLE.
>> ANYBODY ELSE FROM YOUR GROUP DONE ANYTHING NEW.
MATT, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ONE TIME, DID WE GET STRAIGHT THE HUNDRED TRUCKS VERSUS 100 LOADS VERSUS WHATEVER? YEAH. THERE WAS TO INCLUDE TRUCKS, HOMEOWNERS, WHATEVER.
>> THERE WAS A LANGUAGE CHANGE THAT I HAD REQUESTED BECAUSE IT WASN'T CLEAR IN THE OPERATIONS PLAN, WHICH THEY MADE NOW IT READS AS THOUGH IT WAS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE APPROVAL THAT BZA GAVE.
>> ANYBODY GOT ANY QUESTIONS OF THE LANE ENGINEER.
YOU LOOK LIKE YOU GOT A QUESTION THAT'S CIRCULATING.
>> WELL, I GOT A QUESTION FOR MATT. I GUESS.
I GUESS, THIS WAS DELAYED ONE MONTH.
WAS THE REASON IT WAS DELAYED?
>> THE OPEN VIOLATION THAT WE HAD THAT HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED YET AT THAT.
>> IT HAS BEEN RESOLVED. WHAT WAS THAT VIOLATION?
>> THE ADD STRUCTURE THAT YOU SEE UP TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE ROAD WAS CONSTRUCTED AS AN ACTUAL STORAGE BUILDING, AND THERE WERE CAR PARTS THAT CARBA HAD BROUGHT IN THAT THEY HAD THEY WERE SELLING THERE WITHOUT APPROVAL.
THAT HAS BEEN RESOLVED THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE SITE.
>> DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY BEFORE?
>> I GUESS I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR.
>> MR. WINTERS, COULD YOU COME UP FRONT.
>> AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR EVERYBODY, SO WE ALL KNOW.
>> MY NAME IS HARA WINTERS, BUT EVERYONE KNOWS ME AS MR. CHIP OR CHIP WINTERS.
I GUESS I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS FOR CLARIFICATION FOR YOU IF I COULD.
>> MR. WINTERS SPEAK UP A LITTLE.
>> USUALLY I'M ACCUSED OF THE OPPOSITE. [LAUGHTER]
>> I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS OR CLARIFICATION FOR MATT, PLEASE.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE AMOUNT OF TRUCK TRAFFIC OR THE TRIPS OF TRUCKS ALLOWED FOR THE SITE.
[00:10:02]
ALSO, IS THERE A PROPOSED ROUTE, PRESUMING THEY'RE TRYING TO GET TO 301.ALSO IS THERE A PROJECTED LIGHT OF THE PIT AT ALL?
>> THE FIRST ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IS THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 TRUCKS PER DAY LEAVING THE SITE, 40 THE TRUCKS PER DAY.
THAT WAS A BZA CONDITION OF APPROVAL.
WE CAN PULL IT UP ON UP HERE NOW.
THERE'S TWO ROUTES IN WHICH THEY THINK, BOTH OF WHICH END UP ON 301.
AS PART OF THE PRELIMINARY APPROVAL PROCESS, PLANNING COMMISSION HAD ASKED US TO REACH OUT TO QUEENS COUNTY FOR THEM TO PROVIDE COMMENTS REGARDING THIS TRUCK ROUTES COMING THROUGH THE JURISDICTION, AND THERE'S SEVERAL FACILITIES ON QUEENS THAT ALSO HAVE TRUCKS, AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY CONCERNS AT THIS POINT.
BUT THEY SAID THAT IF WE HAVE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL FACILITIES THAT ARE PROPOSED IN THE AREA TO CONTINUE WITH THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AND MAKE THEM AWARE SO THAT THEY CAN CALL.
>> I THINK ACCORDING TO YOUR COMMENTS THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCKS AS LONG AS THEY STUCK TO THE ROUTE?
>> THEY START GETTING OFF ON SIDE ROAD.
>> THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC UP THERE BETWEEN OUR COUNTY AND QUEENS AT DIFFERENT PITS, BUT I'LL JUST ASK FOR CLARIFICATION.
BUT HOWEVER, 100 TRUCKS COULD MAKE.
THAT WAS OUR QUESTION. YOU GET 100 TRUCKS, TWO ROUNDS A DAY. THAT'S 200 TRUCKS.
BUT IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IT WAS CLARIFIED AT 100 LOADS A DAY, SO 50 TRUCKS, TWO ROUNDS A DAY, THERE'S YOUR 100 LOADS.
OR IF YOU INCLUDE TRUCKS PLUS THE HOMEOWNERS THAT COME IN OR THE LOCAL GUYS THAT RUN IN AND GET A LOAD OF SAND, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FACTORED INTO THAT 100.
>> THAT ANSWERS ALL MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MATT.
>> FIRST TELL US ABOUT WHO YOU ARE. [LAUGHTER]
>> I JUST THOUGHT, MAYBE I'LL HELP YOU ALL [INAUDIBLE]
>> YES, SIR. JUST TO GIVE YOU ALL IDEAL ON THE TRUCK TRAFFIC.
WELL, YOU GOT ALREADY ABOUT 150 TRUCKS WON'T BE HOLD AROUND THAT AREA BECAUSE SHANE HAD DONE DUG THAT PIT OUT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE LESS TRUCK. BUT MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT.
IT'S THE SAME TRUCKS IN THE SAME AREA.
HALF OF THEM TRUCKS COME TO MY PIT NOW LIKE THAT. 100 TRUCKS.
THAT'S ABOUT 2,200 TON A DAY OF SAND GOING OUT TO DOOR.
I MEAN, I SHIP 200 LOADS A DAY, PRETTY MUCH DOWN MY OTHER PLACE.
WE START AT 05:00 IN THE MORNING IN THE PLANT, AND WE RUN TO 09:00 AT NIGHT RUNNING THE PLANT.
>> THAT ONE'S IN QUEEN COUNTY?
>> YES. BUT TRUCKS DON'T COME IN UNTIL SEVEN IN THE MORNING.
BY 3:00, IT'S PRETTY MUCH GONE.
I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU. GOT A COUPLE OF STRIVERS COME IN TILL 05:00.
I JUST BUILT ANOTHER PLANT DOWN THERE.
I JUST PUT UP ANOTHER ONE JUST GOT ENDED UP AND RUNNING.
I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO CUT MY HOURS BACK BACK THERE BECAUSE IT COSTS SO MUCH MONEY TO RUN OVER TIME AND STUFF.
WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY CUT THE THE TIME DOWN, SIX TO SIX, IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
BUT I TELL YOU, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, THE COST OF RUNNING THESE TRUCKS AND STUFF, AND IT'S HARD TO FIND TRUCKS ANYMORE.
I'VE GOT 200 ORDERS SITTING RIGHT NOW. WE JUST CAN'T MOVE IT.
THE AIN'T GOT ENOUGH MATERIAL.
SOME OF THESE PROJECTS ARE BEEN HELD UP.
THEY WANT 30 LOADS DUMPED OF STONE A DAY.
IT'S SO MANY INDIVIDUALS GETTING OUT OF THIS TRUCK, AND IT'S BEEN TOUGH I HEAR FOR THESE TRUCK DRIVERS AT ALL.
IT MADE ME GO OUT AND BUY MORE TRUCKS.
BUT CARBA GIVE YOU AN IDEA ON THE TRUCKS IN THE AREA.
IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME TRUCKS IT'S WE RUN BY THE EVERY DAY, JUST LIKE THE SAN TOWN LAMP FALL.
THEY TAKE 75 LOADS OF JUST JUNK DIRT.
[00:15:03]
WELL, I TAKE THEM THEIR CRUSHED CONCRETE EVERY DAY.I GO BY THERE EVERY DAY, TAKE A CRUSHED CONCRETE.
I GOT THE CONTRACT BID ON IT, 30, 40 LOADS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE MOVEMENT OF THESE TRUCKS HERE AT ALL.
BUT IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME TRUCKS IN THE SAME AREA.
H FOR PMI, AIR TRUCKS, OR BOILER TRUCKS, AND ALL JUST TO GIVE YOU ALL RUNDOWN.
THEY GOT SOMEBODY GOING THAT TURN BY 100 TRUCKS, AT ALL.
BUT I JUST THOUGHT MAYBE I'LL TELL YOU ALL.
>> ANYBODY GOT ANY QUESTION FOR MR. CARBA?
>> WOULD YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT'S APPROPRIATE OR IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS.
IF WE PUT A STATEMENT ON THE APPROVED PLAN SET THAT SAID THE TRUCK TRAFFIC SHOULD STAY ON STATE HIGHWAY ROADS, EXCEPT FOR LOCAL DELIVERIES WHERE THEY WOULD NEED TO GO ON COUNTY ROAD, BECAUSE I THINK SOME TRUCKERS MAY BE ENTICED TO CUT ACROSS HOLLSWOR CIRCLE AND USE UNION ROAD IF THEY WERE GOING SOUTH.
THOSE ROADS JUST AREN'T BUILT FOR IT.
I'M VERY STRICT ON THESE GUYS GOING ON THE BACK ROAD.
NO. IF THEY GOT A LOAD TO DELIVER SOMEWHERE, YOU COME ON MERCK CORNER ROAD, YOU'LL SEE I GOT TWO SIGNS, ONE AT MY DO THING, AND I GOT ONE DOWN TO MERCK, STAY OFF THE BACK ROADS.
FIRST OF ALL, THE ROADS AIN'T BUILT.
ALL WE WANT TO DO IS JUST TEAR THEM UP.
YOU GOT A SHOULDER OF A ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER, NOTHING ABLE DOWN.
I MEAN, I TOOK WHAT MARICON ROAD IS.
I DUG TWO FEET ON BOTH SIDES AND PUT MATERIAL ON BOTH, AND HAD IT BLACKTOPPED AND BUILT RIGHT.
THE SAME WAY UP MASSEY, THAT ON A ROAD TO HAVE A PIT UP THERE.
I BLACK HAD THAT ALL DONE AT ALL.
HUNDRED PERCENT. I DON'T WANT MY TRUCKS ON THE BACK ROAD.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL TRUCKS ON THE BACK ROAD TURN.
I HAVE THROWN I KNOW FIVE PEOPLE OUT OF MY PIT THAT I NAME.
THAT I CALL THEM ON THE BACK ROAD, AND I DON'T LIKE IT.
IN THE SAME WAY AS YORK BUILDERS, JIM AND I USED TO BE AFFILIATED WITH YORK BOER SAME WAY WITH THEM.
>> JIM AND I KEEP IN TOUCH. IF WE SEE THEIR TRUCKS ON THE BACK ROAD, WE CALL EACH OTHER.
I'M AGAINST DRIVING ON THE BACK ROAD.
YEAH, I KNOW 70,000, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF WEIGHT.
>> YEAH. I MEAN, IT. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO FORCE, BUT I MEAN, I THINK JUST THE STATEMENT ON THE PLAN, THAT WASN'T THERE AS EITHER BZ AIR OR SOMEBODY WITH THE CONDITION ON, THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED ON HOLLAND OR CIRCLE, WASN'T IT? SOMETHING SOMETHING GOT BROUGHT UP THAT I CIRCLE.
>> I WILL SAY THAT THERE IS AN EXIT SIGN DETAIL AS PROVIDED THAT SAYS THAT ALL TRUCKS MUST TURN RIGHT ONTO MARYLAND 313.
YEAH. PROCEED TO MARYLAND 312 EXCEPT LOCAL DELIVERIES.
US COUNTY ROAD IS LIMITED TO LOCAL DELIVERIES.
[OVERLAPPING] THAT'S ONE OF THE SIGNS THAT'S REQUIRED AT THE EXIT.
>> I WILL HAVE A SIGN JUST LIKE A BIG ONE, SAYING.
>> THAT AS THERE WAS A CONDITION, NO TRUCK SHALL TRAVEL ON HOLLINGSWORTH, SIR.
>> YEAH. THERE WAS SOMETHING. I KNOW THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THERE.
>> THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO STOP THE ONE TRYING TO EASE HOME AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
>> BEFORE WE GO INTO THE 8 THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO REVIEW, ANYBODY GOT ANY MORE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.
AS PART OF OUR REVIEW, WE HAVE TO DO HAVE WE HAVE 8 THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO REVIEW, AND AND AS I SAY, EVERY TIME, MATT IS NICE ENOUGH THAT HE HAS REVIEWED ALL OF THIS AND MADE COMMENTS FOR US.
BUT WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THEM.
THE FIRST THING IS, IS THIS PLAN IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN? MATT HAS PUT IN THE PROPOSED USE SPECIFIED BY THE AFRICAN IS ALLOWABLE WITHIN THE ZONING DISTRICT IN WHICH IT'S LOCATED.
THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. RIGHT MATT.
[00:20:03]
>> THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT.
>> COMPLIANCE WITH DESIGN STANDARDS.
AGAIN, MATT HAS GONE THROUGH IT, THE PLAN AND THE PLAN IS GOOD.
THE APPLICANT SUBMITS THE SITE PLAN THAT PROVIDES ALL THE REQUIRED INFORMATION THAT IS NECESSARY FOR THE PROPOSED USE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COUNTY CODE.
IT DOES THIS IS WHERE HIS COMMENT COMES IN, WHERE THEY WANT US TO, THEY'RE SUGGESTING THAT WE PUT LANDSCAPE STOCK SIZE LANDSCAPE IN PLANTINGS VERSUS THE SEEDLINGS.
THAT'S WHERE, ON THIS NUMBER TWO, AS FAR AS DESIGN STANDARDS, THAT'S THE ONLY THING THEY HAVE IN THERE.
BECAUSE WE GIVE THEM THE REDUCED SETBACK, THEY WANT BIGGER LANDSCAPE STOCK.
THE THIRD THING IS ACCESS AND TRAFFIC CIRCULATION.
I THINK WE'VE HEARD FROM LANE, AND WE'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF TIMES NOW THAT STATE HIGHWAY HAS SAID THERE'S NO IMPACT ON TRAFFIC, AND QUEEN ANNE COUNTY HAS SAID THERE WILL BE NO IMPACT ON THEM.
EFFECTS ON SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENT, NUMBER FOUR, THEY RECEIVED OUR DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED NO COMPLAINTS FROM NEIGHBORING PROPERTY OWNERS REGARDING THE PROPERTY.
IT'S THE OPINION OF OUR STAFF HERE THAT THE PROPOSED USE WILL HAVE NO EFFECT ON SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENT, AND THE NEIGHBORS WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE PEACE AND TRANQUILITY OF THEIR PROPERTIES WITHOUT HARDSHIP.
THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND STAFF BELIEVE THERE'S NO IMPACT ON COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
THERE ARE NO CONCERNS RAISED BY THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THERE ARE NO KNOWN HISTORIC RESOURCES LOCATED ON THIS FARM.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO AFFECT ANY HISTORIC HAVE ANY HISTORIC ISSUES.
OPEN SPACE. NOTHING IS REQUIRED FOR OPEN SPACE.
THEN THE LAST THING IS THAT THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT THE PROPOSED USE WILL HAVE ANY IMPACT ON PUBLIC UTILITIES LOCATED IN THE GENERAL FACILITY.
OUT OF THE EIGHT THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO REVIEW, ALL OF THEM ARE GOOD EXCEPT FOR THE LANDSCAPING THAT THEY SO THE STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT WE APPROVE A MAJOR SITE PLAN WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITION, AND THAT'S THE APPLICANT MUST SUBMIT A REVISED LANDSCAPE.
PLAN AND USE THE LANDSCAPE STOCK SIZE.
IN THE WORKSHOP, WE WERE TALKING, AND THIS WOULD BE UP FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD HERE TO TALK ABOUT WAS A SECOND CONDITION OF WE HAD A VIOLATION. WE HAD A PROBLEM.
WE HAD A VIOLATION WITH THAT FARM.
THEY BUILT A COMMERCIAL BUILDING AND AN AG BUILDING, AND RUN A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS OUT.
THAT WAS WHAT IT GOT HELD UP FOR BEFORE. LAST MONTH.
TO PUT A CONDITION ON ANOTHER CONDITION ON THAT WHICH IS FOUND TO BE OPERATING AS AN UNPERMITTED USE.
IF I AM FOUND TO BE OPERATING A BUSINESS OR AN UNPERMITTED USE BUSINESS THERE, THE COUNTY WILL SUSPEND APPROVAL OF A MINING OPERATION UNTIL THAT'S CORRECTED.
HE GETS IN, THEY GET INTO IT, AND THEY OPEN ANOTHER BUSINESS ON THERE WITHOUT THE PROPER PERMITS, GOING THROUGH ALL THAT, THE COUNTY CAN SHUT THE MINING OPERATION DOWN UNTIL IT'S CORRECTED.
THAT'S FOR US TO TALK ABOUT, AND YOU ALL CAN ALSO COMMENT ON IN A MINUTE; WE'LL GIVE YOU ALL YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR COMMENTS.
BUT ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? AGREE, DISAGREE.
>> IT'S FINE BY ME. KNOW ONE WHO WAS THERE A VIOLATION BEFORE? YEAH.
>> WE HAD THE VIOLATION, AND THAT'S WHY WE COULDN'T HAVE IT SEE IT LAST MONTH BECAUSE WE WERE STILL CORRECTING THAT VIOLATION.
MR. CAR, ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? THAT WAS ANOTHER CONDITION.
>> YOU GOOD? EVERYBODY GOOD? ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE?
>> THAT CONDITION WOULD BE IN ALONG WITH THE LONG JUST THE LANDSCAPE, IT WOULD BE TWO CONDITIONS WE PUT TWO CONDITIONS ON.
[00:25:05]
THEN WE TALKED A LOT OF STUFF, AND I DON'T KNOW HANNAH, YOU'RE VERY GOOD AT WRITING NOTES, THEN YOU WERE LOOKING AT PLANS.LET ME GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING BECAUSE I'LL MAKE A MOTION HERE.
IF NOBODY HAS ANYTHING ELSE, NO OTHER COMMENTS, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE FINAL SITE PLAN REVIEW FOR THE RNR FARMS PROJECT WITH THE FOLLOWING TWO CONDITIONS.
THE APPLICANT MUST SUBMIT A REVISED LANDSCAPE PLAN THAT USES LANDSCAPE STOCK SIZE PLANTS BEFORE THE PLANNING DIRECTOR ISSUES A WRITTEN NOTICE OF FINAL SITE PLAN.
THE SECOND CONDITION WOULD BE IF, AT ANY TIME, THE PROPERTY IS FOUND TO BE OPERATING IN AN UNPERMITTED USE FACILITY, BUSINESS, OR ANYTHING UNPERMITTED ON THAT PROPERTY, THE COUNTY WILL SUSPEND APPROVAL OF THE MINING OPERATION PENDING REVIEW OF THE VIOLATION.
>> THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE VOTE? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR.
SAY AYE AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
>> ALL OPPOSE NA AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
WHEN YOU CAN START IS [OVERLAPPING] WHEN YOU GET YOUR PERMITS.
>> MISS, MISS DAD ISSUES ALL YOUR PERMITS.
YOU SHOULD BE DONE WITH US, CORRECT?
IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, COME TO ME.
>> IF THERE'S ANY PROBLEM, MR. CRYSTAL IS GOING TO LET YOU KNOW.
I STARTED THIS PROCESS IN 2018.
>> KEITH RAN OUT OF HIS TRUCK.
>> HE WAS RIGHT. I FORGOT ABOUT THAT CHENEY CHENEY QUIT AULING OUT.
WELL, QUIT HAULING REGULAR OUT.
I THINK THEY STILL GOT STUCK ON THE GROUND THAT THEY GET SOME STUFF OUT OF, BUT THEY'RE 15.
[Comprehensive Plan Update]
>> DOES THAT MEAN I CAN SAY A FEW THINGS THAT DON'T HAVE TO BE RECORDED ON THE CAMERA?
>> IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME IF THEY SEE ME.
>> IT'S VERY LATE. IT'S RECORDED.
>> IN OUR NEVER-ENDING ENDEAVOR.
[Housing Chapter Final Draft]
[00:30:04]
>> TONIGHT, WE HAVE A FINAL DRAFT OF THE HOUSING CHAPTER THAT MISS OLIVIA IS GOING TO GO OVER WITH US.
>> I THINK SHE'S ALREADY HAD HER PLAN REVIEWED AND GRADED.
>> HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OR NOT ECONOMIC? LOOK, I'M I'M HOUSING HOUSING CHAPTER.
>> YOU HAVE A STAFF REPORT IN FRONT OF YOU, AND YOU HAVE THE REVISED FINAL CHAPTER FOR THE HOUSING.
THE ONLY CHANGES THAT WE MADE AFTER THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING IN AUGUST WERE THAT I MADE SURE THAT THE OBJECTIVES AND THE IMPLEMENTATION BULLETS WERE REVISED SO THAT THEY MATCH.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIRST PAGE WITH THE OBJECTIVES, AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THE LAST PAGE WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION, THAT THE BULLETS MATCH AS FAR AS THE GOALS WOULD BE MET WITH THAT IMPLEMENTATION.
MAKES IT EASIER FOR EVERYBODY WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THEM.
THEN WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING TOGETHER A MEETING FOR YOU ALL WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING FOR NEXT MONTH.
I BELIEVE THAT YOU ALL HAD SAID AT THE LAST MEETING, YOU WOULD LIKE IT MAYBE FIRST OF THE YEAR, JANUARY, AROUND THAT TIME.
WE'RE COMING UP ON HOLIDAYS AFTER NEXT MONTH, AND SO UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, THIS WILL GO.
>> I'M SORRY, I MISSED THAT DISCUSSION.
I WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND THAT MEETING, BUT I DID READ THROUGH THIS ENTIRE CHAPTER AND A LOT OF VERY DEPRESSING STATISTICS IN THERE ABOUT WHOM I MEAN, IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO BUY A HOUSE ANYWAY, IF YOU HAVE YOUNG IF YOU HAVE KIDS WHO ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR HOUSING IN THE COUNTY IN THE NEAR FUTURE LIKE I DO, IT'S A PRETTY BLEAK PICTURE THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.
I DID NOTICE OLIVIA ON PAGE, I BELIEVE IT WAS ON PAGE NINE.
THE SECOND BULLET POINT SAYS MARYLAND DEVELOPMENT RURAL CORPORATION.
IT SHOULD BE MARYLAND RURAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, MRDC.
JUST GOT THE DEVELOPMENT AND RURAL FLIP-FLOP. THERE.
>> YEAH. MRDC. I SHOULD BE MARYLAND RURAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, MARYLAND DEVELOPMENT RURAL CORPORATION, AS IT STATES.
>> BUT EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKED GOOD.
>> I JUST NEED AN APPROVAL FROM YOU GUYS, PLEASE.
>> I JUST NEED AN APPROVAL FROM THEM.
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE HOUSING CHAPTER OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
>> THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
SAY AYE, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
>> ONCE AGAIN, YOU HAVE ANOTHER CHAPTER.
>> IT'S FINAL DRAFT, WHICH IS FINAL COUNTER INTUITIVE BY [OVERLAPPING].
>> BECAUSE IT WILL STILL GO THROUGH WE'LL HAVE THE REVIEW OF THE WHOLE PLAN.
THE STATE WILL DO A REVIEW FOR COMMENT, THE PUBLIC WILL BE ALLOWED TO COMMENT AND YOU ALL, AS WE GO THROUGH REMAINING CHAPTERS, SOME OF WHICH WILL IMPACT HOUSING.
YOU MAY WANT TO ADD SOME GOALS OR TIGHTEN SOME LANGUAGE, AND WE DON'T WANT TO SHUT THE DOOR ON [OVERLAPPING].
>> LOTS MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO LOOK AT THIS.
BEFORE I GET INTO THE DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER, I JUST WANT TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF HOUSEKEEPING HERE.
I SENT OUT EMAILS LAST WEEK REGARDING THE CHANGES TO THE COMMUNITY FACILITIES CHAPTER.
THE RECOMMENDATION THAT TRAVIS HAD MADE, AND YOU ALL WERE ALL IN THAT E MAIL.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAD RECEIVED THOSE AND READ THAT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON IT, THEN YOU HAVEN'T READ IT, JUST LET ME KNOW LATER THIS WEEK.
REMINDER, YOU'LL SEE THAT I GAVE EVERYBODY AN UPDATED SCHEDULE.
WE NOW HAVE AN OCTOBER 9 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
BECAUSE WE ARE DOING THE PUBLIC OUTREACH MEETING ON OCTOBER 8,
[00:35:03]
WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN YOUR NORMAL PLANNING COMMISSION DATE.THAT'S AT PRESTON TOWN HALL, STARTING AT SIX.
WE GET TO SEE EACH OTHER TWO NIGHTS IN A ROW IN OCTOBER.
BUT THE OTHER THING THAT I DID, THE LAST TIME I UPDATED THIS FOR YOU ALL, I HAD DELETED THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
I WENT BACK AND JUST PUT THEM IN A LIGHT GRAY FOR THE REASON OF, IF YOU EVER WANTED TO GO BACK AND FIND OUT, HEY, WHEN DID WE LOOK AT RESOURCE CONSERVATION? THAT WAS IN MAY. IT WOULD HELP YOU IF YOU WANTED TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT MEETING FOR ANY REASON, AND THAT IF ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC SAID, ''WAIT A MINUTE.
I DON'T SEE WHERE THEY'VE DONE COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT IN OCTOBER.'' THEN THEY CAN GO BACK AND SEE THAT WE ACTUALLY DID THAT IN JULY.
LIKE I SAID, JUST A REMINDER, THE OCTOBER 8 PUBLIC OUTREACH MEETING.
FLIERS ARE GOING TO BE POSTED STARTING THE END OF THIS WEEK AROUND THE COUNTY.
THE INFORMATION WILL BE UP ON THE WEBSITE.
JANE HAS ALWAYS PUT TOGETHER A GREAT FLYER.
I'M JUST WAITING FOR HER TO GET THE ONES WITH THE SPANISH AND THE HAITIAN CREOLE TRANSLATIONS TO ME.
THEY SHOULD BE UP ON THE WEB BY FRIDAY AS WELL.
EXCITING. NOW, I'LL MOVE ON TO THE GOOD STUFF, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER.
[Economic Development Chapter for Review]
LIKE ALWAYS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MEMO, YOU HAVE TWO COPIES, AND YOU HAVE COPIES IN FRONT OF YOU THAT I PUT OUT.HANNAH CAUGHT A COUPLE OF TYPOS.
WE ARE VERY LUCKY TONIGHT TO HAVE BOB WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE AND HE HAD A FEW COMMENTS.
I JUST WANTED YOU ALL TO HAVE REVISED COPIES IN CASE YOU WANTED TO LOOK AT THAT LATER.
THEY'RE VERY MINOR AS FAR AS ANY OF THOSE CHANGES.
THE RED LINE, OBVIOUSLY, ANYTHING THAT HAS TO STRIKE THROUGH IT'S BEEN DELETED, ANYTHING THAT YOU SEE READ, PURPLISH COLOR, THAT IS WHAT'S NEW.
I AM GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE CLEAN COPY.
IF WE TALK ABOUT ANYTHING, PLEASE USE A CLEAN COPY.
THE PAGE NUMBERS GET DISTORTED WHEN YOU KEEP IN ALL OTHER REVISIONS, SO THAT WAY, WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I WILL READ THROUGH WHAT THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE ON THE FIRST PAGE, AND THEN I WILL READ THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION ON THE LAST PAGE.
EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN TELLS YOU HOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B, AND WE'LL GO THROUGH IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
ACTIVELY SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN THE GROWTH INNOVATION AND LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF BOTH EXISTING AND NEW BUSINESSES TO CREATE A STABLE AND THRIVING ECONOMY THAT PROVIDES VALUE FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
SECOND ONE, SUPPORT AND PROMOTE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW BUSINESSES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THOSE THAT GENERATE HIGHER WAGE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS.
THIS EFFORT SHOULD INCLUDE TARGETED INCENTIVES TO ATTRACT HIGH VALUED BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS, ALONG WITH SUPPORTING THE LONG TERM SUCCESS OF EXISTING COMPANIES.
PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS IN COORDINATION WITH LOCAL AND REGIONAL PARTNERS WITH A FOCUS ON HIGH DEMAND SECTORS SUCH AS HEALTH CARE, MANUFACTURING, AND TECHNOLOGY.
AS LABOR MARKET NEEDS CONTINUE TO EVOLVE, AND AS EMPLOYERS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE TO FIND QUALIFIED WORKERS, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO INTEGRATE CAREER TRAINING INTO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM, SUPPORT DEDICATED TRAINING FACILITIES, AND FOSTER PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES TO CREATE APPRENTICESHIP AND WORK BASED OPPORTUNITIES.
PROMOTE ECONOMIC AND TOURISM ACTIVITIES THAT ATTRACT VISITORS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY WHILE MINIMIZING LONG TERM IMPACTS ON COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
FOSTER ECONOMIC GROWTH THAT SUPPORTS AND ENHANCES AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION, THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AND ITS LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY.
ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL INDUSTRIES THAT PRIORITIZE AND PROMOTE THE USE OF LOCALLY GROWN AND PRODUCED PRODUCTS.
ENSURE THAT THE LAND DESIGNATED FOR INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL USES IS APPROPRIATELY LOCATED FOR THE SPECIFIC DESIGNATIONS WHILE ALLOWING FLEXIBILITY FOR COMPLIMENTARY OR RELATED USES THAT ENHANCE AND SUPPORT THE PRIMARY USE AND FUNCTIONS.
PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY ENSURING ADEQUATE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL ZONING, ESPECIALLY IN STRATEGIC LOCATIONS, SUCH AS RAILROAD CORRIDORS, AND BY COORDINATING INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS WITH LONG TERM LAND USE PLANNING.
EXPAND THE COUNTIES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF AND FOSTER COORDINATED PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE COUNTIES, THE COUNTY, TOWNS,
[00:40:02]
AND MUNICIPALITIES TO SUPPORT WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANSION, AND COLLABORATIVELY ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES, PROMOTE TOURISM, AND ENHANCE COUNTY WIDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.IF YOU TURN TO PAGE 14, FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE ITEMS. TO SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN BOTH EXISTING AND NEW BUSINESSES, THE COUNTY SHOULD CONDUCT REGULAR BUSINESS NEEDS ASSESSMENTS THROUGH SURVEYS AND FOCUS GROUPS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND LOCAL CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
PROVIDE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES SUCH AS GRANTS, LOW INTEREST LOANS, AND TAX BREAKS TO HELP BUSINESSES GROW AND REMAIN VIABLE.
STREAMLINE PERMITTING AND LICENSING PROCESSES TO REDUCE ADMINISTRATIVE AND TIME BURDENS, MAKING IT EASIER FOR BUSINESSES TO OPEN, OPERATE, AND EXPAND.
ADDITIONALLY, THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS INCUBATORS, SHARED WORKSPACES, AND POP UP OPPORTUNITIES WILL FOSTER ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND PROVIDE CRITICAL SUPPORT FOR START UPS AND SMALL SCALE ENTERPRISES.
PARTNER WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES AND HIGH WAGE SECTORS, EVALUATE THE FULL RANGE OF AVAILABLE INCENTIVE OPTIONS AND IMPLEMENT ALL THAT WILL BEST SUPPORT BUSINESS GROWTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
PROMOTE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS, SUCH AS BROADBAND EXPANSION, UTILITY UPGRADES, AND TRANSPORTATION MOVEMENTS TO ENSURE THE COUNTY IS WELL EQUIPPED TO SUPPORT NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND LONG TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH.
STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL WORKPLACE AND ALIGN WITH INDUSTRY NEEDS, THE COUNTY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SHOULD TARGET FUNDING FOR APPRENTICESHIPS, INTERNSHIPS, AND ON THE JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS. HOSTING REGULAR EMPLOYER ROUND TABLES TO IDENTIFY CURRENT AND FUTURE WORKFORCE SKILL GAPS, PROVIDE A CENTRALIZED JOB AND TRAINING RESOURCE PORTAL FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
TO ATTRACT VISITORS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY WHILE MINIMIZING LONG TERM IMPACTS ON THE COMMUNITY, THE COUNTY SHOULD DEVELOP AND MARKET UNIQUE LOCAL EVENTS, FESTIVALS, AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, TO ATTRACT BOTH RESIDENTS AND VISITORS IN EVERY SEASON.
INVEST IN TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE, SIGNAGE, PARKING, ETC, THAT SUPPORT SHORT TERM VISITS.
ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT OF LODGING, DINING, AND RETAIL BUSINESSES THAT WILL SERVE TOURISTS.
PROMOTE AGRI-TOURISM, HISTORY, AND ECOTOURISM EXPERIENCES THAT ALIGN WITH RURAL AND NATURAL SETTINGS.
COLLABORATE WITH REGIONAL TOURISM BOARDS TO AMPLIFY MARKETING EFFORTS, BROADEN OUTREACH, AND ATTRACT A WIDE RANGE OF VISITORS.
PROTECT PRIME FARM LAND THROUGH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND ZONING POLICIES THAT PRESERVE LAND FOR LONG TERM AGRICULTURAL USE.
ENCOURAGE AGRICULTURE RELATED BUSINESS VENTURES LIKE PROCESSING, PACKING AND FARM TO TABLE ENTERPRISES, FACILITATE ACCESS TO MARKETS THROUGH REGIONAL FOOD HUBS, AND COOPERATIVE NETWORKS.
PROMOTE WATER AND SOIL CONSERVATION PRACTICES THAT ENSURE LONG TERM LAND PRODUCTIVITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
CREATE INCENTIVES FOR BUSINESSES THAT SOURCE RAW MATERIALS OR INGREDIENTS LOCALLY THROUGH TAX DEDUCTIONS OR CREDITS, SUPPORT BRANDING AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS AND CREATE A RECOGNIZABLE BADGE OR CERTIFICATION FOR BUSINESSES THAT MEET A LOCAL SOURCING THRESHOLD.
THIS HELPS INCREASE VISIBILITY AND CONSUMER TRUST AND LOCAL PRODUCTS.
ASSIST IN CONNECTING PRODUCERS WITH RETAILERS, RESTAURANTS, AND INSTITUTIONS, ALONG WITH PROMOTING LOCAL GOODS AT FARMERS' MARKETS, CRAFT FAIRS, AND ONLINE MARKETPLACES.
WITH THE REVIEW OF THE ZONING CODE, ENSURE THAT ZONING DESIGNATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS ALIGN WITH CURRENT AND FUTURE LAND USE GOALS AND ESTABLISH CLEAR ZONING REGULATIONS THAT PERMIT MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT WHERE APPROPRIATE, AND THERE SHOULD NOT BE TWO PERIODS AT THE END OF THAT.
ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS IN LAND USE PLANNING TO BALANCE ECONOMIC GOALS WITH COMMUNITY CHARACTER.
MAINTAIN BUFFER ZONES AND ALLOW FLEXIBILITY TO INCREASE BUFFER AREAS AND DIMENSIONS AS NEEDED TO REDUCE CONFLICTS BETWEEN INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL USES.
AS PART OF THE REVIEW OF THE ZONING CODE AND THE ZONING MAPS, EVALUATE IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL ZONE LAND, INCLUDING AREAS NEAR RAILROAD CORRIDORS TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES.
ALIGN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, SUCH AS ROADS, PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, AND OTHER UTILITIES WITH LONG TERM PLANNING.
INCREASE THE COUNTY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF AND BUDGET TO LEAD AND SUPPORT COLLABORATION WITH THE TOWNS AND MUNICIPALITIES.
A FORMAL PARTNERSHIP FRAMEWORK SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO COORDINATE WATER AND SEWER EXPANSION PROJECTS, AND ALIGN INFRASTRUCTURE WITH BUSINESS AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT.
TOURISM EFFORTS SHOULD FOCUS ON ATTRACTING VISITORS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY, SHORT TERM STAYS AND DAY TRIPS, MINIMIZING LONG TERM IMPACTS ON INFRASTRUCTURE SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC SERVICES.
[00:45:03]
JOINT MARKETING EFFORTS, SHARED INCENTIVES, AND COORDINATED OUTREACH WILL HELP ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES AND PROMOTE THE REGION.PROGRESS WILL BE TRACKED THROUGH MEASURABLE OUTCOMES AND REPORTED ANNUALLY TO ALL PARTNERS.
I'M SURE THERE WILL BE SOME QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS.
AGAIN, BOB WILL BE HERE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM AS THE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
>> THE ONE THING THAT I THINK [OVERLAPPING].
>> BOBBY, YOU WANT TO COME UP TO THE TABLE?
>> WHEN YOU WERE READING, THE FOURTH ONE, WHEN IT SAID THE COUNTY SHOULD DEVELOP AND MARKET UNIQUE LOCAL EVENTS FESTIVAL CULTURAL EXPERIENCE.
>> ARE YOU UNDER GOALS OR IMPLEMENTATION?
>> THE COUNTY SHOULD DEVELOP AND MARKET UNIQUE LOCAL EVENTS, FESTIVAL AND CULTURES.
THAT READS AS THEY SHOULD DO THAT VERSUS WORKING WITH THE TOWNS AND STUFF. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
WORKING WITH THE TOWNS VERSUS THEM NOT JUST THE COUNTY DOING IT, BUT THE COUNTY, WORKING WITH THE TOWNS.
AS THEY DO THERE, BECAUSE MOST OF THE FESTIVALS AND EVENTS AND ALL END UP PARKED IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN SOMEWHERE.
THAT'S A GREAT STATEMENT, BUT IT'S DEVELOPING OUR WORK WITH THE MUNICIPALITY.
>> IT COULD BE AN ANDOR THING BECAUSE YOU WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF THE TOWNS.
>> TO ALSO DO FESTIVALS AND MARKETS.
THE COUNTY SHOULD DEVELOP A MARKET.
>> MAYBE COLLABORATE WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO SOMETHING, MARKET.
>> [INAUDIBLE] LITTLE BIT I WASN'T GOING TO BRING IT UP, BUT THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.
>> I'LL WORD WORDSMITH IT, BUT THE GIST OF IT WILL BE THE COUNTY, NOT JUST THAT IT'S JUST THE TOWNS DOING IT.
THEY'LL WORK WITH THE TOWNS TO HELP PROMOTE, BUT THAT THE COUNTY ITSELF WILL ALSO HAVE DIFFERENT FESTIVALS, MARKET, ANYTHING.
THAT COVERS THE WHOLE ENTIRE COUNTY. I'LL WORDSMITH IT.
>> DO YOU MARKET THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE? WE HAVE RECREATION SPACES, RIVERS, SO IT'S A PACKAGE DEAL FOR TRAVEL WRITERS OR [OVERLAPPING].
FOR THE SAKE OF MARKETING, WE KEEP IT VERY GENERAL AND AT A HIGH LEVEL SIMPLY BECAUSE SOME OF THESE MESSAGES ARE FOR INSTANCE, WE JUST USED THE STATE DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION GRANT TO PUT A HALF PAGE AD IN THE DESTINATION MARYLAND MAGAZINE, WHICH IS THE OFFICIAL MARYLAND STATE MAGAZINE FOR TOURISM THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
THAT AD NEEDS TO STAND UP FOR A WHOLE YEAR.
WE'RE GENERALLY PROMOTING AGRI-TOURISM WITH THAT ONE, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE.
>> BUT WE HAD QUITE THE DISCUSSION IN THE WORKSHOP.
>> THERE ARE SOME COMMENTS, AND IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWERS.
BUT AS YOU RIDE AROUND AND YOU SEE VARIOUS THINGS, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THE COMMENTS WENT AROUND, TAXES KEEP GOING UP, OR HOW HOW'S THE COUNTY GET MONEY, THE MONEY THEY GET FROM TAXES, AND YOUR TAXES CAN GO UP OR YOU CAN HAVE MORE DEVELOPMENT, MORE GROWTH, MORE PEOPLE.
BUT THEN AGAIN, AS SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WAS WRITTEN IN THERE.
SHORT-TERM STUFF THAT DOESN'T IMPACT SCHOOLS, OR SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EVENTS AND FESTIVALS.
WE'RE SITTING ON A 707-70-7707 SLIP MARINA THAT NOBODY'S DOING A DAMN THING WITH, SORRY, BUT THAT'S JUST WHAT IT IS.
IT'S SITTING DOWN THERE, AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNE TIME.
WE HAVE AN AIRPORT THAT I DON'T THINK HALF THE PEOPLE KNOW THERE, BUT THERE'S AN AIRPORT OUT THERE, AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO EXPAND TO ACCEPT CORPORATE JETS.
I MIGHT BE WRONG. BUT I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH ROOM
[00:50:03]
THAT SITTING NEXT TO A TECH PARK THAT THEY BLACKTOP THE PARKING LOT, BUT IT'S LIKE.THAT HAS WATER AND SEWER OUT THERE.
>> WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. BOB CAN GIVE US ALL. [LAUGHTER]
>> I MEAN, WE'RE SITTING UP SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AND I LOOK A HAND IT, WE CAN ALSO MAINTAIN.
WE CAN STILL RUN THE COMBINED UP AND DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT THAT'S WHY I THINK WHEN THEY ASKED YOU A QUESTION, IT CAME UP? ARE YOU ACTIVELY SELLING IS PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA WHO KNOW THAT WE'RE SELLING CAROLINE COUNTY? I MEAN, SURE.
OPEN YOUR BAKERY HERE OR COME TO CAROLINE COUNTY?
>> YES, WE ARE. IN VARIOUS WAYS. IT'S A DEEP SUBJECT.
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SUMMARIZE.
BUT THERE IS ACTIVE AND ONGOING INTEREST IN BUSINESSES THAT ARE AT LEAST INTERESTED IN COMING TO CAROLINE COUNTY.
ONE SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITING FACTOR RIGHT NOW, AT THE VERY MOMENT, IS THAT THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET.
MM. THAT WOULD BE ONES WITH STRUCTURES ALREADY THERE, RIGHT? WE GET CALLS OUT OF THE BLUE QUITE OFTEN FROM SITE SELECTORS.
THESE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE REAL ESTATE BROKERS OR AGENTS, FOR THE MOST PART.
THEY ARE SCREENING THE ACTUAL BUSINESS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BUSINESS NAME IS.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEIR INTEREST IS.
IT TENDS TO COME FROM MARKETERS WHO DON'T TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT THE INTEREST IS, BUT THEY TELL ME WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
I GET PHONE CALLS OR EMAILS LIKE THAT AT LEAST FOUR TIMES A MONTH. IN A WAY,
>> IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT WE'RE NECESSARILY ACTIVELY MARKETING COUNTY PROPERTIES.
WE'RE ACTIVELY ENGAGING FOLKS WHO ARE ALREADY LOOKING AT US.
>> WELL, LET ME JUMP IN HERE TOO, BOB. MAYBE HELP YOU.
CHOP TANK MARINA, WHICH WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THROUGH BOB'S OFFICE.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A TOUR DOWN THERE TOMORROW.
>> WE'RE GETTING READY TO TOTALLY REVAMP AND RECONSTRUCT THE ENTIRE MARINA.
THERE'S ACTUALLY A WAITING LIST FOR PEOPLE TO USE THE MARINA.
WHEN YOU RIDE BY THERE, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF EMPTY SLIPS BECAUSE THERE ARE, BUT PEOPLE RENT THE SLIPS, AND THEN THEY NEVER PUT A BOAT IN THE MARINA.
BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY ALL RENTED, AND THERE ACTUALLY IS A WAITING LIST.
>> I DON'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF.
WHEN YOU CHARGE $500 A YEAR, I HOPE THERE'S A WAITING LIST FROM HERE TO CALIFORNIA.
>> YEAH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOING ON.
>> YEAH. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOING UP ON THAT AS WELL NEXT YEAR, BUT THE MARINA, I'M ACTUALLY KEEPING MY BOAT DOWN THERE NOW, FINALLY.
I WAS ONE OF THE ONES WHO WASN'T IN THERE BECAUSE I HAD AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL AND ALL COUNTY COMMISSIONER THINGS I HAD TO DO, SO I DIDN'T EVEN GET THE BOAT IN THE WATER UNTIL THE END OF JULY, AND GET IT DOWN THERE WHEN BASEBALL GOT OVER.
BUT I'VE BEEN DOWN THERE EVERY WEEKEND SINCE.
IT IS BUSTLING ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS, WITH PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT OF THERE.
IT IS PRETTY HEAVILY USED, BUT WE ARE INVESTING IN THAT.
RIDGLEY TECH PARK HAS BEEN A DEBACLE FOR YEARS NOW.
BOB HAS BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE PROCESS, WHAT WE'VE DONE SO HOW IT STARTED, AND WHERE WE ARE NOW, WHY IT'S TAKEN 3 YEARS TO GET THERE, BUT SURPRISE.
>> THREE YEARS A MOST RECENTLY. [LAUGHTER].
>> I MEAN, TO BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE WHAT I SEE AS THE BIGGEST ISSUE, IT'S AN ENCUMBERED PROPERTY.
WE CANNOT TRANSFER OR SELL THE PROPERTY WITHOUT THE I'M GOING TO SAY BLESSING, NOT QUITE THE RIGHT WORD RELEASED APPROVAL OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.
>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. I DO BELIEVE, WITHOUT KNOWING FOR CERTAIN, THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A LITTLE EASIER NOW BECAUSE THE PROGRAM THAT FED PARTIALLY FUNDED THE SITE DEVELOPMENT WITH FEDERAL DOLLARS HAS SUNSETTED.
WE'VE RECEIVED LEGAL ADVICE, BASICALLY STATING THAT IN STEWART, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE FENCE.
[00:55:02]
THAT IS ONE HUGE HURDLE RECENTLY CLEARED AND SUNSETTED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024.IT TOOK ME ROUGHLY EIGHT MONTHS.
MIND YOU, I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE JUST OVER A YEAR AND A HALF NOW.
WHEN I TOOK THIS JOB IN JANUARY 2024, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WAS GO THROUGH EIGHT FILING BOXES OF RIDGLEY TECH PARK FILES TO JUST GET A FEEL FOR WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHERE WE MIGHT BE GOING.
IT TOOK ME ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS OF BACK AND FORTH WITH THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE JUST TO GET THEM COMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA OF NO LONGER NEGOTIATING WITH THE FEDS.
FRANKLY, I'M NOT QUITE SURE THEY'RE WHOLLY COMFORTABLE WITH IT.
BUT WHERE WE ARE NOW, I HAVE A VERBAL COMMITMENT.
BOY, DO I WISH I HAD THIS IN AN EMAIL? THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE HAS STATED THAT, RATHER THAN NEGOTIATING DIRECTLY WITH THE FEDS, IF WE EVER ARE TO ACTUALLY SELL OR TRANSFER THE PROPERTY, WE WILL SIMPLY INFORM THEM AND ASK THEM FOR COMMENTS.
IT TOOK ME 8 MONTHS JUST TO GET THAT IN A CONVERSATION.
I JUST RECENTLY, THIS IS HOT NEW AND FRESH AND GOT A GRANT FROM A QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION, MEDCO, WHICH WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE MY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ALL THE TIME.
THE GIST OF IT IS THAT THIS GRANT IS GOING TO GET US A REPORT THAT SHOULD HELP US MARKET THE PROPERTY.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BRING SITE SELECTORS HERE TO SEE IT.
THESE ARE JUST THE FOLKS I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER TO HELP SHOP.
BUT I THINK THAT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THESE ARE THE FOLKS WHO GO TO CONVENTIONS, WHO ARE TALKING TO INVESTORS AND DEVELOPERS, AND I WAS TOLD THAT GETTING THIS GRANT WILL GET US NATIONAL ATTENTION AND POSSIBLY INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION, TOO.
TOUGH TO SAY WHAT WILL COME OF IT, BUT.
>> IT'S JUST FOR THIS BOARD AND FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO GIVE TO THE COMMISSIONER.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE, AND WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT'S HINDERING IT? I MEAN, DID YOU SAY WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INDUSTRIAL LAND? DO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET SOME MORE INDUSTRIAL LAND, OR GO WORK WITH THE TOWNS TO GET MORE INDUSTRIAL LAND?
>> ACTUALLY, YOU SAID DEVELOPED LAND.
>> DEVELOP LAND. DEVELOPED A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE ENGAGED ME OR I HAVE ENGAGED, ARE NOT INTERESTED IN VACANT LAND.
VACANT LANDS. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ALREADY IMPROVED PROPERTIES.
WELL, THERE'S NOT MUCH OF THAT HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO FIND. WE HAVE TO FIND INVESTORS WHO WANT TO BUILD A BUILDING.
>> STATED AS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES ON PAGE 2.
JUST A LACK OF IMPROVED INVENTORY THAT'S ACTUALLY ON THE MARKET, RIGHT? BUT FOR THE SAKE OF DAILY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU CAN SAY, JUST MAINTAINING, THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A TERRIBLE THING IF THESE PLACES ARE ALREADY OCCUPIED AND BEING USED.
NOW THERE ARE SOME BACON PROPERTIES.
>> IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN INCENTIVIZE BACON INDUSTRIAL LAND? TO MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE WOULD WANT TO COME AND DEVELOP?
>> WELL, I THINK THE MAIN HURDLE IS THE TIMELINE, AND IT SAYS IN HERE, STREAMLINED TO PERMIT PROCESS.
I THINK WE'RE PRETTY STREAMLINED, RIGHT? [LAUGHTER] I WOULD HOPE, CRYSTAL.
BUT STREAMLINED IN MARYLAND IS NOT STREAMLINED IN TENNESSEE OR OKLAHOMA OR, I MEAN, STREAMLINED THERE IS, GIVE ME 2 PAGES OF SITE PLAN AND START BUILDING.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN? NO, THERE'S NO PERMIT.
NO. YOU DON'T HAVE TO; HERE, IT'S A YEAR.
A LOT OF TIMES, IT'S PROBABLY A WAREHOUSE DEVELOPMENT.
I MEAN, WE HAVEN'T HAD ONE BECAUSE THEY MAINLY HAPPEN INSIDE THE MUNICIPALITIES, BUT YEAH, I MEAN, IT TAKES YEARS TO GET THROUGH US IN THE APPROVAL PROCESS, AND THEN ALSO DEALING WITH MDE AND ALL THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT HAVE TO DO REVIEWS.
I THINK THESE INDUSTRIES NEED SOMETHING.
IT'S HARD TO QUANTIFY THE COST, TOO.
I MEAN, HOW DO YOU PUT A NUMBER ON WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST TO BUILD A BUILDING IN A PARKING LOT WHEN YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THE REVIEWING AGENCIES ARE NECESSARILY GOING TO MAKE YOU DO?
[01:00:05]
I THINK THAT'S A HURDLE, AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHY THEY'RE LOOKING FOR COMPLETED PROJECTS.>> BUT DEALING WITH THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, IS TIME-CONSUMING.
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE HAD TO SAY, AND I WILL DO THAT.
THIS IS WHERE I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO SPECIFICS ON PURPOSE.
A LOT OF THE FOLKS, BUSINESS PEOPLE, INVESTORS, DEVELOPERS, OR JUST FOLKS WHO ARE ALREADY HERE OPERATING BUSINESSES, THEY COME TO ME AND THEY TELL ME THAT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS PROPRIETARY INFORMATION, AND I TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY.
JUST BUSINESSES OPERATING AND CAPITALISM AND WANTING TO KEEP SOME OF THEIR THINGS SECRET. PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
THESE PROPERTIES, WHETHER UNDEVELOPED OR DEVELOPED THAT ARE ON THE MARKET.
THE COUNTY DOESN'T OWN THEM. IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING TRAVIS JUST SAID, I DON'T GET TO TELL OWNERS.
>> THEY BUILD A BUILDING OWNERS.
>> HAVE YOU HEARD IF THEY'VE DECIDED?
>> IT'S THE TYPE OF STUFF SOMETIMES THAT MAKES ME WANT TO BANG MY HEAD AGAINST THE WALL BECAUSE I SEE A PROPERTY THAT IS JUST DYING TO BE A MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT.
THAT'S RIGHT NOW IN AD, BUT ZONED PROPERLY FOR GROWTH.
I'M SPEAKING OF SPECIFIC PLACES, BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU WHERE BECAUSE IT'S IN [OVERLAPPING] THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.
>> IN OTHER WORDS, NOT IN A TOWN?
>> BOTH. WHAT IS GENERALLY, IF NOT IN MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES, VERY, VERY CLOSE.
>> BECAUSE WE HAVE INDUSTRIAL PFAS OUTSIDE OF TOWNS.
>> IS THE WATER, AND LACK OF WATER, AND SEWER?
>> WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS THE FOLKS WHO OWN THE PROPERTIES WHO ARE ASKING TOO MUCH? OR FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER? OR [OVERLAPPING] THAT ONE'S I MEAN, IT'S C2C.
I THINK COMMON SENSE WOULD DICTATE, THIS WOULD BE THE PERFECT PLACE FOR THIS, AND THAT, BUT THE PROPERTY OWNERS DON'T WANT IT.
>> I MEAN, WE AND WE UNDER I MEAN, WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT NOW, [LAUGHTER].
>> YOU DEAL WITH IT A LOT, TOO, SURE.
>> WE'RE DEALING WITH SOLAR FARMS, AND I MEAN, THAT'S JUST WHAT WE NEED.
BUT I THINK, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT THIS BOARD, WHILE LOOKING AT THIS, CAN RECOMMEND OR PUT IN HERE TO STREAMLINE, SOME MAKE SOMETHING EASIER TO WE CAN EITHER BE BUSINESS-FRIENDLY OR WE CAN OPPOSE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE TICKLED TO DEATH IF ALL WE GREW WAS CORN.
>> IN MY EXPERIENCE, BY THAT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY BACKGROUND.
I'VE WORKED AT THE START DEMOCRAT FOR MANY YEARS.
I WAS READING ALL THE NEWS, ALL OF IT.
THOUSANDS OF OBITUARIES, FOR EXAMPLE, COMING IN FROM THE FIVE COUNTIES AT THE START DEMOCRAT COVERED.
I WAS A BUSINESS EDITOR FOR A WHILE.
AND I COVERED PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS AND COUNCIL MEETINGS.
I WORKED FOR DELEGATE JOHNNY MOS, NOW SENATOR, THROUGH TWO LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.
I WORKED FOR THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, IN ALL THAT EXPERIENCE NOW HERE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SPEAKING FROM WHAT I KNOW AND WHAT I'VE SEEN, MOST OF THE HURDLES TEND TO BE STATE REGULATIONS, NOT LOCAL.
>> DO YOU SEE A LACK OF AVAILABLE EVEN THOUGH IT'S JUST LAND OF COMMERCIALLY ZONED PROPERTIES OR INDUSTRIAL ZONE PROPERTIES?
>> NO, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MUNICIPAL ZONING, TOO.
>> NO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COUNTY OUTSIDE OF TOWNS.
WE HAVE VERY LITTLE COMMERCIAL LAND AND VERY LITTLE INDUSTRIAL, BUT NOBODY'S ASKED FOR MORE.
ALTHOUGH I HEAR OCCASIONALLY PEOPLE COMING IN AND ASKING FOR ZONING CHANGE REQUESTS BECAUSE THERE'S A LACK OF COMMERCIAL ZONING OUT.
>> WE HAD ONE OVER BY RIDGLEY.
MR. MUSSELMANS' PROPERTY. BY CAR MEANS.
I THINK HE WANTED TO DO SOME TYPE OF CONVENIENCE STORE, SOME TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THERE OUT IN THE COUNTY, BUT IT WAS ZONED IMPROPERLY.
THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT REALLY JUMPS OUT AT ME.
>> I'M GLAD YOU ASKED BECAUSE I BROUGHT NOTES AND THOUGHTS IN.
WHAT DREW ME HERE WAS THE RURAL CHARACTER.
I GREW UP IN THE SUBURBS OF CHICAGO, AND I WANTED A CHANGE,
[01:05:01]
AND I FOUND IT HERE, AND I LOVE IT.IN MY MIND, IN A WAY, TO BE HONEST THE MISSION OF MY OFFICE IS TO FOSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHILE MAINTAINING THIS COUNTY'S RURAL CHARACTER.
I DO NOT WANT THIS COUNTY TO BE TOTALLY SUBURBAN OR URBAN.
TO YOUR POINT, I MADE A NOTE SOMEWHERE IN THIS DRAFT TOWARD THE TOP.
HOW DO WE DO THAT? WE GO IN OR NEAR OUR TOWNS.
>> IS THERE A LACK OF COMMERCIALLY AND INDUSTRIAL ZONE PROPERTIES IN COUNTY, POSSIBLY MAYBE, BUT ISN'T THAT THE POINT?
>> THEN DESIGNATION, BECAUSE ON THE HEELS OF THIS IS OUR COMPREHENSIVE REZONING, WHERE WE LOOK AT WHAT ARE WE LACKING? WHAT ARE PEOPLE ASKING FOR THAT WE DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW? DO WE NEED TO INCREASE OUR COMMERCIAL ZONING INVENTORY? DO WE NEED TO INCREASE OUR INDUSTRIAL? THIS IS LAND OR WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO IN.
>> ONE THING I WAS THINKING WE COULD ADD IN HERE POTENTIALLY, IS SOME TYPE OF STATEMENT OR BULLET POINT THAT SAYS CONNECT, MAYBE THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS OR LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS WITH POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS TO MAKE SURE TO FOSTER.
I THINK THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS DONE A LOT BETTER JOB OF REACHING OUT TO LOCAL EMPLOYERS AND TRYING TO PLACE STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GOING INTO THE WORKFORCE, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AND IT WAS ONE OF ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKED ABOUT BOB'S BACKGROUND.
WHEN WE HIRED BOB WAS THAT HE HAD WORKED IN THAT FIELD CONNECTING THE STUDENTS WITH EMPLOYERS.
I THINK MAYBE, CONNECTING THERE.
>> WE'VE HAD THREE STUDENTS COME THROUGH OUR BUSINESS FROM THAT PROGRAM NOW.
>> I THINK IT MIGHT BE DISCUSSED IN HERE, BUT I CAN ADD IT IN WITH ONE OF THE BULLETS.
>> IT MAY BE TO HAVE OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE COUNTY FOSTER THAT COMMUNICATION AND CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE EMPLOYERS AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
>> HONEST GOODNESS, BECAUSE OF A LOT OF HARD-WORKING, VERY DEDICATED PEOPLE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, IT'S GETTING EASIER.
A FEW YEARS AGO, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I WOULD.
>> ARE YOU HEARING FROM INDUSTRIAL OR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY POTENTIAL BUYERS THAT ABOUT WORKFORCE ISSUES OR HOW HOUSING?
>> THAT'S AN EXTENSION OF YOUR QUESTION JUST A MINUTE AGO.
WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE THAT, THE SITE SELECTORS THAT I TALKED TO WHO ARE SCREENING PROPERTIES LOOKING AT CAROLINE? THE COUPLE OF THINGS THEY'RE LOOKING FOR FREQUENTLY IS NATURAL GAS.
WE DO HAVE IT IN THE CAROLINE INDUSTRIAL PARK IN FEDERALSBURG, BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.
YES, BUSINESSES THAT ARE THINKING ABOUT MAYBE OPENING UP AND THEY NEED 100 PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY.
WHERE IS YOUR NEW HOUSING? WHEN I SAY IT'S VERY LIMITED, THERE'S NEW APARTMENTS COMING TO FEDERALS, BUT WE'VE GOT TO NEVER HEAR FROM THEM AGAIN.
I WILL SAY, HOUSES AREN'T GETTING ANY CHEAPER TO BUILD IN MARYLAND BECAUSE OF STATE GOATS.
I ALMOST STARTED WENT ON A RANT WHEN YOU MENTIONED THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE HOUSING CHAPTER.
I MEAN, JUST THIS AFTERNOON, I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION IN THE COURSE OF WORK ABOUT HOW I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE A 20-SOMETHING, JUST TRYING TO RENT AN APARTMENT AND GET A NEW CAR RIGHT NOW.
>> BUT THE THING IS, THAT'S NOT UNIQUE TO US.
>> EVERY BUILD A BUILDING DOWN IN TALBOT COUNTY AND 1100 WORKERS.
YOU CAN'T HOUSE THEM DOWN IN TALBOT COUNTY.
>> YOU'RE BEGINNING TO BE ABLE TO AND IN DORCHESTER.
THERE'S SOME BIG AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK, BIG HOUSING PROJECTS BEING BUILT IN DORCHESTER AND TALBOT COUNTY, WHICH ARE IN PROXIMITY.
I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE A WORKER DRIVE FROM EITHER ONE OF THOSE LOCATIONS TO CAROLINE COUNTY.
I'M WONDERING IF THAT NEW AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING MIGHT HELP US WITH DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.
>> GENERALLY, WITHIN A 50-MILE RADIUS OF THIS SITE OR WITHIN A 20-MILE RADIUS OF THIS SITE.
[01:10:03]
SOMETIMES THE CONVERSATION IS, THERE'S NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT 30 MINUTES.>> BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR VERY NEAR PROXIMITY.
UNLESS THEY'RE LIKE ON THE SUSSEX COUNTY BORDER.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY NEW HOUSING FOR THEM.
THEN I DON'T HEAR FROM THEM AGAIN.
>> YOU'RE NOT SEEING A LACK OF AVAILABLE INDUSTRIAL OR COMMERCIAL SPACE.
>> HONEST TO GOODNESS, BETWEEN THE UNIMPROVED PROPERTIES THAT ARE ON THE MARKET AND THE IMPROVED PROPERTIES THAT ARE ON THE MARKET.
THEY ARE GENERATING A LOT OF CONSISTENT INTEREST.
>> IS THE BUILDING IN RIDGLEY, SO THE OLD METOPES?
GOODNESS, THAT TURNED INTO A BIDDING MORE, IT SEEMS.
>> IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT GETS OCCUPIED.
FROM WHAT I'VE GATHERED, EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT THE BANK.
I STILL HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED THE BANK, BUT THE BANK IS SELLING IT.
THEY KEEP GETTING MORE AND MORE INTEREST AND THEY KEEP DRIVING UP THE PRICE.
FRANKLY, THAT'S JUST THE TYPE OF THING I'M TALKING ABOUT.
PEOPLE IN THERE, LET'S GET JOBS IN THERE.
>> HOW ABOUT THE SHORELINE VINYL BUILDING IN THE DENTON INDUSTRIAL PARK? ARE THEY STILL IN OPERATION?
THEY CLOSED DOWN OPERATIONS THERE AT THE END OF AUGUST, AND WE WERE VERY HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH ASSISTING THE FOLKS WHO WERE LOSING THEIR JOBS.
I THERE'S A SILVER LINING THERE.
THERE'S AN OFFICIAL PROCEDURE IN THE STATE FOR IF SO MANY JOBS ARE LOST BECAUSE OF PLACE IS CLOSING OR, BUT MAYBE LIMITING OPERATIONS, SLOWING DOWN OPERATIONS.
WE GOT A WAR NOTICE WHEN IT FIRST COMES OUT; IT'S CONFIDENTIAL, BUT IT'S COMING ON NOW, SO I CAN TALK ABOUT IT.
THEY HAVE MORE THAN 100 EMPLOYEES THERE.
BUT WE DID A RESOURCE FAIR THERE, WHERE BY THE TIME WE DID THE RESOURCE FAIR, THERE WERE ONLY 60 LEFT BECAUSE ALMOST, IF NOT ALL OF THEM HAD, ALREADY FOUND NEW JOBS.
TALKING ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, AND THIS IS SOMETHING I DIDN'T SAY TO THEM, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A BIG CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE, THE BEST THING THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN TO YOU IS YOU'RE A SUBJECT OF A WAR NOTICE.
YOU CAN BASICALLY GET A FREE EDUCATION.
YOU CAN SAY, I WANT TO BE A SHOW, AND THE STATE WILL PAY FOR IT.
I'M GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE AND THIS WILL PAY FOR YOUR DEGREE.
THOSE WERE THE TYPES OF THINGS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
THEN WE WERE GOING TO HOST AN ON-SITE JOB FAIR, BUT BY THE TIME WE HAD IT SCHEDULED, THEY WERE ONLY DOWN TO 12 EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE THE REST HAD ALREADY MOVED ON.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A NEW BUSINESS IS ALREADY GETTING SET TO MOVE IN OUT OF A LITTLE BIT.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE OCCUPIED ALREADY.
>> I ACTUALLY JUST DROVE BY THERE MORE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY EQUIPMENT FOR THE ROAD BUILDING OUT THERE.
THERE WAS A CREW IN THERE FIXING THE PLACE OFF.
SIGNS OF LIFE? I JUST CLOSED, AND IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE'S MOVING IN.
>> THE GENTLEMAN RAISED HIS HAND BACK HAVE YOU?
>> WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ORIGINALLY DEVOLVE, IN GENERAL, WHAT PERCENTAGE ROUGHLY OF THE INDUSTRIAL PARKS ARE BUILT OUT OR OCCUPIED?
>> WELL, I MEAN, IS IT 50% OR 90% OR 10%?
>> OCCUPY, FROM ANECDOTAL KNOWLEDGE, TALKING TO BUSINESS OWNERS, 70%.
THERE ARE SOME VACANT STRUCTURES.
FRANKLY, THERE IS INTEREST IN THE STRUCTURES.
I REALLY DON'T WANT TO MENTION. I DON'T WANT TO PICK ON.
BUT GENERALLY, THE ONES THAT ARE VACANT ARE BECAUSE THE OWNERS ARE ASKING TOO MUCH FOR LEASE OR FOR SALE.
SAVVY INVESTORS KNOW THAT AND THEY WALK AWAY.
[01:15:01]
>> I MEAN, A SIDE, BUT THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE SITUATION [INAUDIBLE].
>> YES. I MEAN PROPRIETARY INFORMATION.
I WAS HAVING NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE BUSINESS I WAS THINKING ABOUT COMING HERE AND THAT ELECTED BUT WASN'T IN OFFICE YET.
HE STARTED TALKING TO US THE DAY AFTER.
HE WAS ELECTED, YOU COULD SAY, AND THOSE ASSOCIATIONS JUST STOPPED [INAUDIBLE].
>> BUT OVERALL BIG PICTURE, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO, SOMETHING WE CAN CHANGE.
I KNOW TRAVIS DOWN HERE, HE'S GOING TO THROW SOMETHING AT ME WHEN I SAY THIS AGAIN BECAUSE HE HEARS IT FROM TIME TO TIME.
IS THERE A WATER AND SEWER ISSUE? IS THERE SOMETHING? BECAUSE MAYBE SOME DAY THE COUNTY MIGHT BE IN THE WATER AND SEWER BUSINESS.
I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT.
BUT AGAIN, AS WE TALK ABOUT PUSHING STUFF CLOSER TO THE TOWN, YOU ALREADY HAVE EXISTING STUFF, WHO CAN WE WORK? BUT BIG PICTURE WE TALKED ABOUT IT.
WE CAN STAY THE SAME, BUT YOU CAN'T MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF SCHOOLS WE GOT.
YOU REALLY LIKE COMING HERE OUT OF CHICAGO?
>> I TRIED MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA FIRST.
I TOOK A JOB AT THE STAR DEMOCRAT, AND AFTER A YEAR, I WAS LIKE, THIS IS WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
>> WELL, IT TAKES US A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY TO MAINTAIN WHAT YOU LIKE SO MUCH? WE CAN'T, UNLESS SOMETHING IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AGAIN, WHO ARE WE? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE? ARE WE JUST GOING TO BE A BEDROOM COMMUNITY? LET'S BUILD A TON OF HOUSES, AND WE'LL SHIP ALL OUR WORKERS SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND WE'LL HAVE THE MOVIE THEATERS IN THE MCDONALD'S, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE.
OR ARE WE GOING TO HAVE BUSINESSES? WE GOT A LOT OF OPEN LAND THAT YOU COULD SMART GROW.
YOU COULD GROW AND STILL BE SMART.
>> THERE ARE SOME ENCOURAGING SIGNS.
>> SOMETIMES IT'S NOT THE DATA. IT'S HOW YOU READ IT.
CAROLINE COUNTY IS GETTING YOUNGER, OVERALL.
FRANKLY, THAT CAME OUT OF THE 2020 CENSUS.
>> IT'S NOT? I THOUGHT IT WAS.
>> OUR LARGEST DEMOGRAPHICS ON THAT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THOSE CHARTS FOR LESLIE IS, IT'S LIKE THE 55, 60, 65.
>> THEN [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] I AGREE.
THEN THE NEXT LARGEST AGE GROUP IS VERY YOUNG, LIKE 3-5, 3-7-YEAR-OLD.
>> MAYBE A WHOLE LOT MORE FIVE-YEAR-OLDS.
>> MAYBE. [OVERLAPPING] THE FIVE-YEAR-OLDS ARE NOT GOING TO BUILD A HOUSE TOMORROW.
>> NOW, WE'RE AN AGING POPULATION HERE.
>> WE ARE. MAYBE WHATEVER I LOOKED AT WAS EITHER MISLEADING.
>> WELL, AND THAT'S ANOTHER FACT THAT THE AGING POPULATION ISN'T YOUR WORKFORCE AGES ARE BELOW OUR LARGEST AGE GROUP.
>> WELL, HOW MANY 55-PLUS COMMUNITIES DO WE HAVE IN CAROLINE COUNTY?
>> BUT WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF NURSING HOMES HERE PER CAPITAL.
>> I GET NOWHERE IN BETWEEN, TRAVIS. I GO RIGHT IN PERSON. [LAUGHTER]
THE QUESTION IS, WHY? I MEAN, DO THEY FIND THAT IT'S CHEAP? IT'S EASY. WHY ARE THEY HERE?
>> I DON'T KNOW. THEY'VE BEEN HERE HISTORICALLY ALL I DON'T KNOW OF ANY NEW NURSING HOME, BUT WE ALWAYS HAD A LARGE.
I DON'T KNOW. IT'S JUST IF YOU NEED TO GO TO THE DOCTOR, YOU GO TO TALBOT COUNTY.
IF YOU NEED TO GO TO THE NURSING HOME, YOU COME TO CAROLINE COUNTY. [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT WAS SET UP, I DON'T [OVERLAPPING]. I DON'T THINK.
>> WITHOUT A HOSPITAL AND DOCTORS.
IT WOULDN'T BE A NURSING HOME.
WHO WOULD PUT A NURSING HOME HERE?
>> WELL, WE HAVE AND AGAIN, SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SOMEBODY'S GOT TO BE FIRST, SOMEBODY'S GOT TO ASK THE WALMART TO COME, AND THEN EVERYBODY ELSE WILL COME.
WELL, YOU GOT TO INVITE SOME HERE FIRST AND GET THEM HERE, AND THEN THE SKILLED WORKER WHO TELLS YOU THAT, I LIKE GOING.
I LIKE A REALLY NICE RESTAURANT.
BUT I MEAN, WHO'S OUT DRIVING THAT TRAIN, TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO COME HERE AND SAY, TAKE A CHANCE ON US.
YOU CAN'T HAVE BILLY BOB DO IT, BECAUSE HIS POCKETS AREN'T DEEP ENOUGH.
YOU GOT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A LOSS FOR A LITTLE BIT UNTIL YOU GROW.
[01:20:02]
>> TO A POINT PRIVATE SECTOR INDUSTRY, THE ONES WHO ARE DOING IT RIGHT.
BOY, I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THIS.
THINKING BACK TO MY WORK WITH THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.
I HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WHERE BUSINESSES WERE DESPERATE FOR HELP.
LET ME TELL YOU I COVERED THE ENTIRE EASTERN SHORE OF DELAWARE AND SOMETIMES PHILADELPHIA.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT CAROLINE COUNTY SPECIFICALLY, BUT I DID HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS IN THE COUNTY, TOO.
ONE GOOD HELP. YOU'VE GOT TO PAY FOR IT.
A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT I TALKED TO WERE WONDERING, DIDN'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT APPRENTICESHIP, WONDERING IF IT COULD HELP FILL THAT GAP BECAUSE THEY HAVE 70 PEOPLE, THEY NEED 40 MORE.
IS APPRENTICESHIP THE ANSWER? HOW MUCH ARE YOU PAYING? NO, APPRENTICESHIP ISN'T THE ANSWER.
YOU'RE NOT PAYING ENOUGH. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF THAT TO THIS.
WE BENEFIT FROM BEING NEAR DELAWARE, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO DRIVE ACROSS THE STATE BORDER TO COME WORK HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY EVERY DAY BECAUSE THE SAME JOB HERE PAYS $0.75 MORE AN HOUR THAN IT DOES IN DELAWARE.
>> AS FAR AS DEVELOPING LOCAL TALENT, I AM TELLING YOU, CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF EMPLOYERS HERE THAT OFFER HIGH-PAYING JOBS THAT DO NOT NEED A COLLEGE DEGREE.
LI WOOD ELECTRIC AND FEDERALS IS WHAT COMES TO MIND.
THEY ARE PARTNER WITH CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE MORE ELECTRICIANS THEY HAVE, THE MORE WORK THEY CAN DO.
WORK IS HERE. THE JOBS ARE HERE.
THE TRAINING IS HERE. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF GETTING THE WORD OUT. YOU.
>> I KNOW, AND HE JUST BROUGHT IT UP, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT SOONER, BECAUSE I'M A FAN OF TECH SCHOOLS.
>> I AM PROUD OF THE TECH SCHOOL, AND I'M A FAN OF TECH SCHOOL.
WE HAVE ONE. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH RESOURCES THEY'RE POURING INTO IT TO MAKE IT BIGGER TO MAKE IT GROW BECAUSE YES.
>> IT'S GROWING SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE.
THEY HAVE A LOT MORE TO OFFER.
>> SOME OF THE EDUCATION IS CHANGING WHERE IT USED TO BE COLLEGE, AND THEY FIGURED OUT THEY DEAL WITH SOMEBODY TO BUILD A COLLEGE.
THEY ARE SHIFTING SOME OF THAT, BUT AS PART OF OUR ECONOMIC SUPPORTING THE COUNTY, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO SUPPORT THEIR TECH PROGRAM AND EXPAND THEIR TECH PROGRAM, BECAUSE THEY COULD BE TWICE THE SIZE OUT THERE.
>> OUR TECH PROGRAM HERE EVEN HAS A BUS THAT GOES TO TALBOT COUNTY.
TALBOT COUNTY STUDENTS THAT COME INTO NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL.
BUT FOR TECH EDUCATION[OVERLAPPING]
>> THEN TO QUEEN ANNE FOR THE TECH SCHOOL.
>> CAROLINE IS DEFINITELY A HUB.
CAROLINE COUNTY IS A HUB A LOT FOR THE EDUCATION.
>> IS THERE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDING FOR WORKFORCE TRAINING IN SCHOOLS?
>> BECAUSE I ALWAYS WONDER THE SCHOOLS HAVE SO MUCH GOING ON, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO GO AFTER GRANT FUNDING FOR EDUCATION-RELATED.
BUT IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WHEN I SAY WE, I MEAN YOU CAN EXPLORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAMS FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN SCHOOLS TO HELP EXPAND FACILITIES OR BROADEN WHAT THEY OFFER IN TERMS OF TRAINING?
I'M NOT SAY, DEDICATING FUNDS FROM MY OFFICE'S BUDGET TO THAT.
>> NO, BUT ARE THERE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?
>> WE DON'T GIVE YOU THAT MUCH [LAUGHTER].
>> BOB GOT PRETTY HEAVILY CUT THIS YEAR.
WE'RE WONDERING WHAT YOU MEAN, THOUGH.[OVERLAPPING] IT'S POLITICIZED, BUT BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE IS MOST DEFINITELY FUNDING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS USING THOSE FUNDS WELL AS FAR AS I CAN SEE.
>> PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WHERE INDUSTRIES WHO ARE DESPERATE FOR THE LABOR, WHO KICK IN MONEY FOR THE TRAINING AT THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF THEIR OWN BUSINESS.
[01:25:06]
>> YES, THAT IS HAPPENING. IT IS.
>> BUT THAT'S NORMALLY WHEN THEY ALREADY HAVE A FACILITY HERE IN A DEMAND.
IT'S EITHER THE DEMAND FOR THE WORKFORCE.
I THINK YOU GOT TO GET THEM HERE AND GET IT ESTABLISHED.
I THINK A LOT OF THIS COMES DOWN IS REALLY OUT OF OUR CONTROL RIGHT NOW.
TO JEFF'S POINT WITH THE SEWER AND WATER.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH ANY DEVELOPMENT'S GOT TO GO IN A MUNICIPALITY.
I KNOW AN EXAMPLE OF A BIGGER PROJECT THAT IS ON WELL AND SEPTIC, PROBABLY IN AN UNINCORPORATED AREA, IS IN QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, DE MA SASH AND DOOR, WHICH IS NOW, I THINK, REEVE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> I KNOW THEY'RE ON A SEPTIC, AND THEY'RE PROBABLY IN AN UNINCORPORATED AREA OF QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY.
BUT I THINK THOSE TYPES OF PROJECTS ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN JUST BECAUSE OF THE WATER AND SEWER CONSTRAINTS, THE EXPENSE OF PUTTING FIRE SUPPRESSION IN THOSE LARGER BUILDINGS, AND YOU GOT TO HAVE A PUMP BUILDING AN OUTSIDE TANK WITH A WELL.
I THINK A LOT OF INDUSTRY IS LOOKING.
UNTIL THE COUNTY DOES GET INTO WATER AND SEWER GAME, I THINK WE ARE LIMITED TO WHATEVER THE MUNICIPALITIES WILL ALLOW BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY THE ONLY SEWER WATER SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTY.
>> NOT ONLY ALLOW BUT, CAPACITY.
>> WE HAVE, I THINK, OUR STOCK OF DEVELOPABLE INDUSTRIAL AREA WAS GETTING LOW.
THE DENTON INDUSTRIAL PARK WAS SOLD OUT, BUILT OUT.
WHEN WE USE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MONEY THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE HOGAN ADMINISTRATION, THAT'S GOING THROUGH MENSCH REGIONAL COUNCIL, TO BUILD THE INDUSTRIAL PARK ROAD BEHIND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, TO BE ABLE TO POTENTIALLY EXPAND THE DENTON INDUSTRIAL PARK.
I THINK WE'RE ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
FEDERALSBURG HAS A LARGE STOCK OF UNDEVELOPED INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY.
THEY'VE GOT PROBABLY, I'M GUESSING, 300 ACRES, 400 ACRES OF PROPERTY THAT'S ZONED FOR INDUSTRIAL THAT HASN'T BEEN DEVELOPED YET, THAT'S STILL IN INFIELD.
THEN, REALLY WHAT WILL BE A BIG LIFT IS WHEN WE FINALLY GET THROUGH THIS RIDGLEY TECH PARK THING, THAT'LL GIVE US SOME MORE INDUSTRIAL SPACE AT THE NORTH END OF THE COUNTY.
>> I THINK THAT, IN TALKING WITH THIS, IT'S A WAY OF THINKING.
IT'S JUST THAT ARE WE SITTING.
PEOPLE HAS GOT TO OPEN THEIR MIND, THE LEGS IT IN.
YOU RIDE DOWN AND SEE THAT MARINA, YOU GOT TO OPEN YOUR MIND, SAY, WHAT CAN WE DO? LET'S HAVE A PARTY. LET THEM BRING THEM.
BUT IF YOU GOT YOUR BOAT DOWN THERE, YOU CAN'T BUY SOD IN JOS.
>> I FEEL LIKE I'M PREACHING THE CHOIR HERE.
IT'S A LITTLE VILLAGE, AND IT'S IN THE CRITICAL AREA.
>> BUT WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST BUENA DELAWARE, TOO, WHERE YOU GOT HOUSING.
YOU'VE GOT MIDDLETOWN, AND YOU'VE GOT INDUSTRIAL, AND THOSE COMPANIES, WHEN THEY SEE ALL THAT HOUSING COMING IN.
>> TRAVIS AND WE DON'T WANT TO SEE IT LIKE THAT, BUT IF YOU LOOK, DELAWARE HAS TO HAVE A WAY OF THINKING BECAUSE YOU CAN'T RIDE DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD WITHOUT THEM KNOCKING TREES DOWN AND STARTING THE DEVELOPMENT.
THEN WE'LL START IT IN A MINUTE.
THE HIGHWAYS. THEY ACCESS THE HIGHWAY ALL TIME.
YOU CROSS INTO MARYLAND, AND THEY WON'T LET YOU HAVE ACCESS OFF THE HIGHWAY.
IT'S A WAY OF THINKING THAT STIFLES IT DOWN.
THE PERSON BEHIND YOU AS A QUESTION.
>> IS IT DOWN WHAT PERCENTAGE OF WORKING-AGE PEOPLE IN CAROLINE COUNTY ACTUALLY WORK WITHIN THE COUNTY? HOW MANY COMMUTE OUT THE COUNTY AS WELL?
>> THERE'S YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
>> THANKS TO YOU FOR READING SOME OF THE STATISTICS THAT I DID NOT COMPILE WAS VERY HELPFUL TO ME, ESPECIALLY WHEN PUT OFF AGAINST THAT.
>> WE ALSO HAD A STAT IN ONE OF THESE ON REMODEL PERMITS, TOO, AND I SUSPECT YOU COULD PROBABLY MULTIPLY,[LAUGHTER] 100 IF YOU WANTED THE TRUE NUMBER.
>> [LAUGHTER] YOU GOT OUT BACK RAVE [INAUDIBLE] HONEST TO GOODNESS.
THE MOST OFTEN I DRIVE INTO SUSSEX COUNTY, I'M USUALLY GOING TO LOWES OR WALMART AND SEAFORD, OR MAYBE I'M HEADING OVER TO BRIDGEVILLE.
BUT FRANKLY, ONCE I CROSS THE DELAWARE BORDER JUST OUTSIDE OF FEDERALSBURG, GOING DOWN CANYON ROAD, AND I CROSSED THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND HEAD TO LOWES.
I DON'T THINK I WANT ALL THAT STRAW HERE. YOU GOT TO STRIKE DELAWARE.
>> THAT'S WHAT I SAY. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT DELAWARE IS DOING, I'M NOT SAYING THAT I AGREE WITH IT. THERE'S AN OPEN-MINDEDNESS.
[01:30:04]
AN OPEN-MINDEDNESS OVER THERE THAT SOMETHING'S GOING ON.NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GETTING ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE. I DON'T KNOW.
>> I HESITATE TO MAKE THIS STATEMENT, BUT IT'S HONEST.
THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, I LIKE THEM RESPECT.
THEY'RE NOT DRIVING THE POLICY; THEY'RE ENFORCING IT.
SUSSEX COUNTY, DELAWARE, DOESN'T HAVE THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OR THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
HERE ENVIRONMENT, THE BIGGEST INHIBITORS I FIND TO GROW HERE ARE STATE REGULATIONS.
>> PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE ASKING FOR TOO MUCH FOR THEIR PROPERTIES.
THEY WANT SOMETHING THERE THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET.
>> I CAN TELL YOU ALL THAT THAT STATEMENT IS TRUE IN PROBABLY 80% OF MARYLAND, NOT JUST IN CAROLINE COUNTY, THAT IS VERY TRUE.
ALSO, JUST FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF BEING SOMEWHERE ELSE AND NOW BEING HERE AND BEING IN PLANNING FOR ALMOST FOUR DECADES NOW.
TAKE A MOMENT. I AM FEELING WORSE OFF 55 AND OLDER, IN THE NURSING HOME? THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE MET IN ORDER TO GET THE PERFECT STORM OF WHAT YOU NEED FOR.
WHEN YOU BRING IN BUSINESSES, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE HOUSING.
WELL, IN ORDER TO HAVE THE HOUSING, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT MEANS WATER AND SEWER FOR ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THE TOWNS, BECAUSE THE WAY THE PARK TEST AND THE SOILS RUN, YOU'RE JUST NOT BEING ABLE TO DO MAJOR SUBDIVISIONS.
I'M SURE THAT MATT, LESLIE AND CRYSTAL CAN TELL YOU HOW MANY YEARS IT'S BEEN SINCE YOU HAD A MAJOR SUBDIVISION, AND TRYING TO WORK ON THE HOUSING ISSUES, EVEN WITH ALL OF THE LEGISLATION THAT'S COME ABOUT THIS YEAR OF INCREASED DENSITY AND ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND TRAILERS AND MORE, IT SOUNDS WONDERFUL.
BUT STATE REGULATIONS WITH PERC TESTS, CRITICAL AREAS, STORM WATER MANAGEMENT, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, ALL OF IT, THERE'S PROBABLY NINE OR 10 ON THAT LIST THAT WENT TO MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING WITH THAT ANNUAL REPORT.
UNTIL YOU GET REGULATIONS THAT ARE REVISED TO ALLOW MORE BUILDING, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
YOU CAN'T MEET THOSE NEW LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS.
BUT THE OTHER THING TOO, THIS COUNTY IS A BEAUTIFUL COUNTY.
I AGREE WITH YOU. I GREW UP IN A COUNTY THAT LOOKED LIKE THIS WHEN I WAS GROWING UP THAT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THIS ANYMORE.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I SAID IN MY INTERVIEW WAS.
WE DID A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT, BUT WE DID A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER.
PLEASE LET ME HELP YOU ALL NOT TO EVER GET TO THAT POINT.
THE LACK OF WATER AND SEWER, AND THE LACK OF THE ABILITY WITH PERC TEST, HELPS IN THAT REGARD, BUT YOU STAGNATE.
THEN WHAT'S THE NEXT CHOICE? IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOME GROWTH, COMMERCIAL, HOUSING, INDUSTRIAL, IT'S GOING TO BE RAISING TAXES.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT IN THIS AREA WITH WHAT PEOPLE MAKE, OR BETTER, WHAT THEY DON'T MAKE? HONESTLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND THE PLACES IN MARYLAND, OTHER STATES, TOURISM.
YOU BRING THEM IN. THEY HAVE FUN.
THEY SPEND THEIR MONEY AT THE RESTAURANTS.
THEY HAVE TO GO TO WALMART BECAUSE EVERYBODY FORGETS SOMETHING OR NEEDS SOMETHING.
THEY'RE HERE FOR A WEEKEND? THEY STAY AT A HOTEL, WHATEVER, AIRBNB. THEY GO HOME.
EVEN IF THEY SAY, OH, I LOVE IT OVER THERE, I'D LOVE TO MOVE OVER THERE.
WELL, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING.
SORRY. BYE. YOU GET THE NEXT YEAR'S FESTIVAL.
YOU'RE PUMPING SOMETHING EVERY WEEKEND OR EVERY OTHER WEEKEND, EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR, MUSIC, ARTS, FESTIVALS, BIG FOOD.
THERE'S A LOT OF PLACES THAT WILL DO NOTHING, BUT HERE'S THE FIELD OF FOOD TRUCKS.
COME ON OUT. THEN YOU SLOWLY ADD MORE AND MORE THINGS TO THAT.
>> THAT'S JUST A WAY YOU START THINKING.
THIS IS, LIKE, IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE FIVE YEARS AGO, IF YOU SAT WITH A COMMISSIONER MENTIONED WATER AND SEWER, THEY JUST SCREAMED IN HOWARD AND MARINA.
NOW YOU'VE COME TO A POINT WHERE AT LEAST TRAVIS GO, WELL, MAYBE.
BUT SO YOU'RE STARTING TO CHANGE BUT YOU GOT TO CHANGE?
[01:35:02]
WHO DON'T LIKE A FOOD TRUCK SITTING THERE? WHAT? YOU DON'T LIKE A FOOD TRUCK.>> WHEN Y'ALL WERE TALKING ABOUT THE MARINA, WHICH I REALLY NEED TO GET DOWN THERE AND SEE IT.
I SAW THE PICTURE BECAUSE YOU KEPT POINTING OUT IT AT THE APRIL MEETING.
WHEN YOU HAVE THE WEEKENDS AND EVERYBODY'S DOWN THERE, ARE THERE FOOD TRUCKS DOWN THERE? BECAUSE IF THEY'RE NOT, THERE SHOULD BE?
>> WHEN YOU LOVE TO GET SOMETHING TO DRINK, GRAB A SANDWICH, GRAB SOME STUFF, TAKE IT OUT ON THE BOAT.
>> THIS IS WHAT WAS DISCUSSED, TOO, IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE CAN SIT THERE AND BRING UP THESE IDEAS, BUT IT'S NOT THE COUNTY'S JOB TO GET THE FOOD TRUCKS IN.
>> WE COULD DO LIKE A ROTATING SPOT.
RECREATION AND PARKS COULD SAY, HEY, WE WANT TO ENTER AND SEE IF THIS IS VIABLE. COME DOWN HERE.
I WILL GIVE YOU A SPOT FOR A YEAR AND SAY, AND THEN MAYBE EVENTUALLY, WE START CHARGING FOR THE SPOT IF IT TOOK OFF.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF TOWNS AND ALL AND COUNTIES THAT HAVE EVENTS.
THEY'RE NOT PUTTING THEM ON. THEY'RE PRIVATE PARTNERS THAT ARE COMING IN AND JUST PUT THEM ON FINE TIME.
>> THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. THAT IS A GOOD ONE BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF DELAWARE, A LOT OF DORCHESTER COUNTY, A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE USE THAT.
>> NO, YOU HAVE IS LIKE[OVERLAPPING].
>> AROUND CRITICAL AREA CONCERNS, AND WE CAN SAY A RESTAURANT TO VILLAGE OF SHOP TANK.
>> WELL, REALLY, TO JEFF'S POINT, IN ORDER TO GET ANY TYPE OF STORE DOWN THERE, YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE A SEWER AND WATER SYSTEM.
THERE ARE HOUSES ARE ABOUT FAR APART, AND THEY'RE ALL WELL IN SEPTIC.
THE ONLY REASON THEY'RE THAT WAY IS BECAUSE THEY WERE BUILT WELL BEFORE.
>> IF YOU SUDDENLY HAVE FAILS DOWN THERE, GOOD LUCK.
>> WOULD OUR ZONING ALLOW FOOD TRUCKS DOWN THERE?
>> WELL, SEE, THAT'S THE THING. THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT.
>> THAT'S JUST WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
I'VE BEEN PLACES WHERE THEY HAVE A PARCEL OF LAND, AND THEY CALL IT A FOOD TRUCK PARK, AND YOU'LL GO, AND THERE'S FIVE OR SIX DIFFERENT ONES.
THERE'S FACILITIES THERE FOR ELECTRIC FOR THEM TO PLUG INTO.
PEOPLE COME BECAUSE IT'S LIKE THERE'S OTHER THINGS NEARBY.
THERE'S NO LOCAL RESTAURANT, BUT THERE'S THE PLACE TO GO, AND YOU'LL SEE MOST OF THE FOOD TRUCKS THERE ARE LOCAL.
IT'S SUPPORTING THE LOCAL BUSINESSES, TOO.
>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU OFFER AT THE MARINA.
>> BUT THE BIGGER THING IS JUST A DIFFERENT WAY OF THINKING.
MOST OF PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY DON'T LET THE MARINA'S SITTING DOWN THERE UNLESS YOU'VE GOT RENT ONE OF THEM SLIPS THAT YOU'VE RENTED FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS, BECAUSE IT'S 500 BUCKS.
YOU OWNED THREE OF THEM, AND YOU RENT THREE OF THEM, AND TWO OF THEM STAY EMPTY.
>> WELL, HERE'S THE THING YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO MISS OUT ON NEXT SUMMER, AND WE'LL BE WRAPPING UP THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN HOPEFULLY BY THE MID-SUMMER.
THEN IN THE FALL, STARTING ON THE ZONING CODE AND THE ZONING MAPS, WHICH WILL PROBABLY TAKE ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF FOR SO.
I KNOW. OH, AND YOU'RE SMILING AND LAUGHING BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST HAPPY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING ALL THIS. YES.
>> BETWEEN STEWART AND THE WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE WITH LESLIE AND CRYSTAL.
I'M SURE THAT THERE IS SOME WAY THAT YOU COULD DO SOME INTERMEDIATE.
>> HERE'S A SPECIAL ZONING OR SPECIAL PERMITS TO ALLOW THAT BEFORE THAT ZONING CODE GETS UPDATED.
>> WE KEEP SAYING MARINA JUST BECAUSE IT'S SITTING THERE.
>> WELL, IT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE.
>> DON'T WE HAVE A BIG PARKING AREA?
>> YES. THERE'S A BIG PARKING AREA.
>> SO THAT'S WHERE THEY CAN GO.
>> IT'S IN THE HIGH. DRY AREA.
HIGH TIDE WON'T CHASE THEM OUT.
>> BUT YOU HAVE, BUT AGAIN, WE MENTIONED THE AIRPORT.
>> I MEAN, HAS ANYBODY EVER BEEN DOWN TO THE EASTERN'S FLY-IN? THEY HAVE A CRUISE, EXCEPT THEY FLY AIRPLANES.
PEOPLE COME IN. THEY JUST HANG OUT.
WE HAVE AN AIRPORT HERE THAT GOES TO YOUR THING.
YOU COME, ENJOY YOURSELF NOW, LEAVE, PLEASE?
>> THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM OUR AIRPORTS PRIVATELY.
>> BUT I MEAN, THAT'S YOUR PRIVATE PARTNER THAT YOU WORK WITH. SAY, HEY.
>> YEAH, HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF FLYING? MAYBE WE CAN HELP YOU GET SOME FOOD TRUCKS OUT THERE.
>> WE GET SOME FOOD TRUCKS. AGAIN.
>> I'M A FOODIE; EVERYTHING SHOULD BE DRIVEN BY FOOD.
OH, YOU NEED SOME BARRICADES? WE GOT A FEW BARRICADES.
WE CAN LET YOU HAVE. YOU KNOW?
>> YEAH, SO I'M ACTUALLY HIS NAME IS COMING.
[OVERLAPPING] BUT TALK TO THE AIRPORT OWNER EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS.
>> PROPRIETARY, I'M SORRY. [LAUGHTER]
>> I WANTED TO AS YOUR QUESTION, 44% OF OUR WORKFORCE WORKS WITHIN THE COUNTY.
THE OTHER 56 WORK IN ANOTHER COUNTY OR OUT OF STATE,
[01:40:03]
WHICH I PRESUME IS LIKELY DELAWARE.>> I CAN SPEAK. YOU GUYS HAVE A HARD TASK, I THINK, BECAUSE MANY OTHERS ARE FOR SOME EVOLUTION OF THE COUNTY.
BUSINESSES. STUFF. BUT THEN, I LOOK AT HORROR ISL.
DELAWARE. BUILD A TOWN, LITTLE COUNTRY TOWN.
BUT I GO BACK TO THE OLD SONG BY JONI MITCHELL PABSAL PARKING NO.
THESE PEOPLE ARE COMING TO SEE THE CORN, ALL THAT. BUT.
>> ALL THAT IS COMING RIGHT DOWN 13.
I MEAN, MIDDLETOWN I I'VE LIVED HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY SINCE 2010.
M. I GO THROUGH MIDDLETOWN JUST ENOUGH EVERY FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS TO WHERE I'M RUMB EVERY SINGLE TIME OVER ALL THE DEVELOPMENT THERE.
>> I'M SURE TO EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE GOT ALL THIS DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTS YOU NEED A NEW FIREHOUSE.
>> YOU HAVE YOUR I MEAN, WE SEE ANNAPOLIS COMING ACROSS THE BRIDGE.
>> MIDDLETOWN IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE THAT JUST BLEW UP.
BALANCE IS WEIRD. I'M I HAVE NO DESIRE TO LIVE IN THE KEN ISLANDS OF PAIN.
MIDDLE TOWN OF PAIN, I MEAN, YOU RUN TRUCKS ALL THROUGH THERE.
>> WE'RE TALKING NOT HAVING TO CLOSE DOWN, EXITS.
AN AMBULANCE. THE FIRE TRUCK WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THERE BECAUSE OF THE LOG JAM.
NOW, TO A POINT, THERE'S, IT'S KEN ISLAND.
THERE'S A NATURAL BOTTLENECK THERE. YOU NEED THE BRIDGES.
YOU'RE EITHER CROSSING THE BRIDGE OR YOU'RE NOT.
THAT MAKES THEM A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
BUT YEAH. I MEAN, THERE'S NEXT TO NO ROOM TO FILL IN THERE ANYMORE.
>> BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW YOU FIND A BALANCE? I MEAN.
>> YOU ALL LISTENED. WE TALKED ABOUT IT, AND THE PEOPLE OF GREENSBORO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE HIGH WATER BILL.
>> WELL, YOU ONLY HAVE 1,800 PEOPLE.
>> PAYING THE BILL. YEAH. KEN ISLAND THEIR WATER BILL IS LESS THAN YOURS, BUT THEY HAVE 100,000 PEOPLE PAYING THE BILL. IT'S THE BALANCE.
>> ANOTHER ANGLE TO YOUR QUESTION.
I PUT IT SOMEWHERE IN THE NOTES I BROUGHT IN.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE IT IS IN THE DRAFT.
IT'S IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PLACES. HOLD ON.
LET ME LOOK. THE BULLET ON PAGE 2.
LET ME FIND IT. FOSTER COORDINATED PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE COUNTY, TOWNS.
MUNICIPALITIES, SUPPORT WATER.
SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANSION.
COLLABORATE, ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES PROMOTE TOURISM.
ENHANCED COUNTYWIDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
>> THAT'S ON THE VERSION I HAVE, IT'S RIGHT HERE.
>> THEN IT'S ALSO AT THE VERY END, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, ON PAGE 15.
NOW, LET ME SAY THERE'S A REASON WE'RE NOT EXPELLING STAFF IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, TALKING ABOUT THE STATE.
AS LONG AS THEY KEEP PASSING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN EXPENSES DOWN TO THE COUNTY, THERE'S A REASON I DON'T HAVE MORE STAFF.
IT'S A TOUGH TIME TO BE BUDGETING ON YOUR BEHALF.
>> ON YOUR BEHALF, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT WE'VE SAID BEFORE.
AGAIN, TRAVEL THROUGH SOMETHING DOWN.
>> WHAT INTERESTS ME IS NOT SO MUCH THE STAFF AS [OVERLAPPING] STAFF COLLABORATING WITH TOWNS. [LAUGHTER]
>> DO WE CO DO YOU COLLABORATE?
>> YOU COLLABORATE WITH THE TOWN?
I THINK TO A POINT THAT, AT A HIGH LEVEL, IS THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION.
IT'S COLLABORATING WITH THE TOWN.
I DON'T NECESSARILY NEED MORE STAFF TO DO THAT.
BUT IT IS VERY, VERY CHALLENGING IN THAT I'D TELL BIGGER TOWNS, RIGHT? I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT HILLSBORO OR MARDEL HILLSBURGH, CREST, DON.
[01:45:06]
NEW BUSINESS INTERESTS, ISSUES THAT BUSINESSES ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING WITHIN THE TOWNS.TOWN STAFF. LEADERSHIP REFERS THEM TO ME.
I DON'T GET TO TELL THE TOWNS WHAT TO DO.
[OVERLAPPING] BUT I OFTEN DO MY BEST TO HELP YOU.
BUT I END UP REFERRING THEM RIGHT BACK TO TOWN BECAUSE I CAN HAVE ALL THE IDEAS IN THE WORLD.
I AM REDEVELOPING BRIDGE AGREE.
BUT I WORK FOR THE COUNTY, I DON'T WORK FOR OGLE.
>> COORDINATION IS THERE SOMEWHERE IN HERE; IT MENTIONS REGULAR MEETINGS COORDINATED.
>> BECAUSE WE'VE. THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ASKED.
WE'VE ASKED FOR A MEETING WITH THE OTHER TOWNS.
>> BECAUSE IT'S A VERY HARD THING TO PULL OFF.
BUT SOMEWHERE IN THE SHRAP HARD THING TO PULL OFF? WHAT'S THE CAUSE THAT EACH TOWN HAS ITS OWN PRIORITIES? EACH TOWN HAS ITS OWN LEADERSHIP.
>> IT'S LIKE GOING INTO SOMEONE ELSE'S HOUSE, TELLING THEM HOW THEY SHOULD DECORATE IT.
THAT. BUT I THINK IT'S A VERY DEEP SUBJECT.
>> BUT THE THING IS, DOES THE COUNTY CORRESPOND WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES? RIGHT. YOU SAID THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING A ROAD IN OUT THERE.
THERE'S NO WATER. SEWER OUT THERE, RIGHT?
>> WE ARE EXTENDING THAT AS A PART OF THE ROAD, BUT.
>> IS THAT GOING TO BE IN TOWN?
>> THAT'S THE NEXT STEP. WE GOT TO WORK WITH THEM TO GET IT ANNEXED.
>> IT IS NOT YET, BUT WE DO HAVE AN MOU THAT SAYS WE ARE BOTH GOING TO PURSUE ANNEXATION.
WE'VE GOT TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING.
>> TO GIVE TO GIVE IS WE'RE GOING TO PAY SOME.
>> RIGHT. THAT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE THAT YOU'RE LEADING INTO, KEITH.
ON THAT ONE, YEARS AGO, WHEN THAT PROPERTY WAS BOUGHT, THE COMMISSIONER SAID, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT A COUNTY PARK.
IT'S GOING TO BE ALL COUNTY NEEDS OUT THERE.. THE TOWN SAYS, WAIT A MINUTE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY TOWN TAXES.
WE'RE NOT HE FOR THAT, WE'RE NOT RUNNING WATER.
SEWER OUT THERE TO YOU. [OVERLAPPING] HARD WATER.
SEWER EDU IS LIKE GOLD BECAUSE EDU WON'T WON'T GIVE ANY MORE.
WHAT WE DID WAS, WE SAID, RIGHT, LOOK, WE WANT TO KEEP 22 ACRES.
WE WANT TO KEEP THE PART INSIDE THIS CRESCENT PIECE.
IT'S GOING TO BE CREATED WHEN WE HOOK THIS ROAD THROUGH.
WE WANT TO RETAIN THAT FOR COUNTY USE.
WE WANT TO TAKE THE OTHER 50 ACRES.
WE AGREE TO SELL IT OFF SO THAT YOU GET SOME TAX BASE.
WE GET TO KEEP SOME, SO IT'S LIKE A WIN-WIN FOR BOTH PARTIES.
YEAH, YOU'VE GOT TO WORK TOGETHER.
THE TOWN OF DENTON IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT'S THE COUNTY SEAT.
WE HAVE TO USE MOST OF OUR OFFICE SPACE, KEY INFRASTRUCTURES HERE.
WITH THE OTHER TOWNS, I MEAN, YOU HAVE A GOOD POINT.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE ON MY LIST TO DO BETTER AT.
BUT I DON'T REALLY EVER SEEM TO HAVE THE TIME TO INTERACT BETTER WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
BUT LIKE LESLIE SAID, LESLIE'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LOT LONGER THAN I HAVE.
EACH TOWN, WE GOT TWO OF THEM, FRANKLY, THAT COULD GO BROKE ANY DAY.
THEY MIGHT BE OUR PROBLEM ANYWAY.
>> OUR PROBLEM MIGHT BE SOLVED BECAUSE WE MIGHT BE TAKEN. [LAUGHTER]
>> YOU MIGHT BE IN CHARGE OF THE WATER.
>> THE WATER AND THE SEWERS ARE IN THE TOWNS.
RIGHT. THE OBVIOUS GROWTH IS WHEREVER THE TOWN'S AT THE NEXT STEP IN WHATEVER DIRECTION.
ALL RIGHT. TO GO TO THE TOWNS.
SAY, HEY, HERE'S 50 ACRES, WE WANT YOU TO ANNEX INTO TOWN.
>> IF THEY WANT IT. PRESTON HAS BY.
LARGE, SAID, WE'RE HAPPY TO 500 PEOPLE.
WE'RE [INAUDIBLE] YOU SAID IT OUT LOUD.
KEN ISLAND'S PROBABLY GOT WAY CHEAPER SEWER BILLS THAN GREENSBORO.
BUT THEY CAN'T GO GROCERY SHOPPING ON THE WEEKENDS CAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH TRAFFIC.
[LAUGHTER] YOU'VE GOT TO PICK. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> WHAT THE THING IS, IS WE START TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
YOU CAN'T BUILD A HOUSE IN THE COUNTRY. BE AFFORDABLE.
>> RIGHT? IF I HAVE A FIVE-ACRE PARCEL, I CAN PUT ONE HOUSE ON IT.
IF I HAVE A FIVE-ACRE PARCEL THAT'S ATTACHED TO THE TOWN,
[01:50:04]
I PUT 50 HOUSES. RIGHT?>> THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION.
>> THE ANSWER IS FOR THE COUNTY TO GET INTO SALT SALTWATER BUSINESS, IF WE WANT TO HAVE CONTROL OVER.
PICK. CHOOSE A FEW AREAS WHERE WE WANT TO DO IT.
IF WE ACTUALLY WANT TO HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTY, OTHERWISE, WE ARE TOTALLY BEHOLDEN TO THE MUNICIPALITIES.
>> THAT'S THE HEAVY ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS OF THE STATE.
>> BUT YOU CAN'T GO INTO A TOWN.
BUT. THAT'S. THAT'S THE TRICK.
>> BUT THERE ARE PERSUASIONS THAT YOU CAN SAY, HEY, YOU GO TO NEED TO UPGRADE YOUR SEWER PLANT HERE.
WE'RE THE COUNTY'S GOING TO KICK IN TO HELP YOU UPGRADE THAT. THAT'S GOING TO GIVE YOU.
>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?
>> I MEAN, IT'S LIKE YOU GAVE [OVERLAPPING] HE'S GOT THAT LOOK THAT WAS LIKE PRESTON.
GOOD LES, THEN GIVE YOU $100,000 TO PUT A NEW GARAGE ON YOUR HOUSE.
>> I'D SERIOUSLY. I'D PROBABLY DO IT.
>> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PUT IN A BEDROOM ON BECAUSE.
>> WELL, THE COMMISSIONERS' RIGHT.
THE COMMISSIONERS TRIED THIS YEARS AGO WITH JONESTOWN, RIGHT? YOU WERE BOTH HERE FOR THAT.
YOU KNOW THAT STORY BETTER THAN I.
BUT JONESTOWN WAS UNDER A CONSENT ORDER TO ADDRESS WATER.
SEWER ISSUES. THEY LEANED ON THE TOWN OF PRESTON TO RUN IT OUT THERE.
THE TOWN OF PRESTON WAS LIKE, WE DON'T NEED YOU.
>> THANK YOU. GOODBYE. NEVER CALL US AGAIN.
>> THEY HAD TO BE FAIR, THEY STILL DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, POLITICS IS EVERYWHERE.
THEY GET TO VOTE FOR THE COMMISSIONER, TOO. [LAUGHTER] I CAN'T.
>> AT SOME POINT, IF WE DON'T GROW, YEAH, THE TAXES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO INCREASE.
WE'RE NOT GONNA BUILD $100 MILLION SCHOOL.
>> DO NOT RAISE THE TAXES OR HAVE SOME INCOME COMING IN.
>>THAT'S WHY I SAID MY STATEMENT EARLIER ABOUT THE TOURISM FACTOR, BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED THE HOUSING FOR THAT.
ON THAT NOTE, BOB, DON'T SAY YOU DON'T NEED STAFF, BECAUSE IF YOU INCREASE TOURISM.
YOU DO A WHOLE LOT WITH THE COUNTY.
>> I'M NOT SAYING I DON'T NEED STAFF.
>> I'M SAYING I UNDERSTAND, WHY DON'T I HAVE STAFF? [LAUGHTER]
>> HE SOUNDS LIKE SOMEBODY TRYING TO RUN FOR POLITICS. [NOISE]
>> THAT WAS SO POLITICALLY CORRECT.
>> BUT KEITH IS RIGHT, I MEAN, TO TALK ABOUT GROWTH.
PLANNING. INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU REALLY NEED TO DO IT IN THE SAME ROOM WITH ONE TOWN AT A TIME, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HELP THE PROXIMITY TO TOWNS.
THAT'S WHAT OLIVIA IS WORKING ON IS JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS, OR WHERE THERE ISN'T A REALLY ACTIVE PLANNING COMMISSION, HAVING A COMMISSION TOWN COMMISSIONER COME IN.
WE DON'T WANT TO VIOLATE ANY OPEN MEETINGS ACTS.
WE HAVE A TOWN COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE A VOICE IN THE ROOM TO SAY, TO HEAR THEM SAY, WE'VE GOT 100 INFILL LOTS THAT WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH.
WE'VE GOT DEVELOPERS COMING IN WHO WANT MORE THAN THAT.
WE'VE GOT A GROWTH AREA, BUT JUST TO HEAR WHAT THEIR STRUGGLES ARE.
TO HEAR WE DO WANT TO GROW OR WE DON'T WANT TO GROW.
KNOW THAT UP FRONT BEFORE WE START SAYING, WE SHOULD EXPAND.
OUR R ONE AROUND EVERY TOWN WHEN EVERY TOWN IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH WHAT THEY HAVEN'T DEVELOPED IN THE TOWN.
RIGHT. ANY INFRASTRUCTURE HAS TO SERVE INFILL LOTS IN TOWNS FIRST.
EVEN THOUGH THEIR CAPACITY MAY BE ONLY 50%, IF HALF THEIR TOWN HASN'T BEEN BUILT OUT, THE OTHER 50% ALREADY HAS TO GO TO WHAT IS ALREADY EARMARKED.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING.
IF WE'RE GOING TO SAY, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU EXP.? SO WE CAN SQUEEZE IN SOME HOUSES OUT HERE, THEN WE HAVE TO COME TO THE TABLE WITH MONEY, OR WE HAVE TO FIND A DEVELOPER WHO'S WILLING TO COME IN WITH MONEY.
KICK-START. IT IS ALL ABOUT TALKING TO THEM ON A COMMERCIAL LEVEL.
KEEPING GROWTH. AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
>> I THINK OVERALL, WE'RE PRETTY GOOD WITH ALL THE TAXES, RIGHT?
>> DO THEY STILL GOT QUARTERLY MEETING?
>> LOOK, THERE HAS BEEN TIMES [OVERLAPPING]
>> JEFF, THERE HAS BEEN TIMES WHEN THE COUNTY IN THE TOWN, IN THE NOT-SO-RECENT PAST, HAD BEEN IN LITIGATION OVER ANNEXATION.
TYPICALLY, IT'S BEEN IN DIRECT CONFLICT [OVERLAPPING]
[01:55:04]
>> DOES MAKE COUNTY OR TOWN, AND THE MEDIA ALL OVER THE PLACE.
>> HERE THE THING FROM THE COUNTY LEVEL AND THE TOWN LEVEL, IT SERVES NOBODY'S GOOD FOR ALL TO BE ARGUING OVER A DRAINAGE PIPE.
>> THE WAY FUNDING IS NOW AND STAFFING CONSTRAINTS, EVERYBODY'S WORKING UP TO HERE.
>> BUT I WILL POINT THIS OUT. I'M SORRY.
IT TURNS OUT THE COUNTY WAS RIGHT BECAUSE THEY BUILT ANYTHING OUT THERE.
>> SINCE THEY'VE BEEN [INAUDIBLE].
>> BUT THE THING IS, AND AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO THIS WHOLE THING, DIFFERENT WAY OF THINKING.
YOU CAN GO IT ALONE AND WE KNOW PEOPLE THAT TRY TO GO IT ALONE AND YOU DON'T GET NOWHERE.
>> WORK TOGETHER WITH DYLA [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU DON'T WANT TO [OVERLAPPING]
NONE OF US HAS A WHOLE LOT, BUT TOGETHER, WE HAVE A GOOD [OVERLAPPING]
>> OR WE BRING THE MUNICIPALITIES WITH A COUNTY WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM, AND WE TAKE OVER THE COUNTY [LAUGHTER]
>> HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU HAVE?
>> I CAN START THAT RIGHT NOW, AND 32 YEARS LATER, YOU'LL BE RIGHT WHERE YOU WERE.
>> I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY AN INTERESTING SOLUTION.
>> Y'ALL BEING RECORDED [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE LAUGH ABOUT SOME OF THIS STUFF, BUT AGAIN, IT COMES BACK TO SOLVE SOME OF OUR PROBLEMS. HE CAN KEEP VOTING TO RAISE TAXES, IF YOU WANT.
DON'T THROW THAT STONE AT ME. WE HAVEN'T RAISED, [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU CAN IF YOU [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH, YOU DON'T TO HAVE TO.
>> NOW, LOOK, ONE THING WE'RE MISSING HERE IN THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION IS THE IMPACT OF SOLAR.
YES, IT'S AN ASSHOLE AND IT'S A DISASTER.
WE'RE EVENTUALLY GOING TO GET TO THE LAND USE CHAPTER. I HOPE.
>> IT'S JUST A QUICK DISCUSSION.
>> IN THE LAND USE CHAPTER, IT SAYS, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE COUNTY.
BECAUSE IF IT'S SOLAR, IT GOES WHEREVER.
IT CAN COVER SAND, WHICH WE JUST HAD THE SAND APPLICATION.
YOU CAN COVER ALL THIS MINERAL DEPOSITS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY, NOT WITH HOUSING, ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTION WE RECEIVED FROM MDP, BUT YOU CAN WITH SOLAR.
>> IT'S A LOT OF CONTRADICTION HERE.
THEY TELL YOU ONE THING, AND IN REALITY YOU KNOW IT'S THE OPPOSITE TO THAT ONE.
>> THAT'S ROAD PROJECT. THAT IS AN AREA WHERE DENTON COULD JUST NATURALLY GROW, BUT SEEMS IT'S GREEN SOLAR INSTEAD.
>> THAT GREEN SOLAR FIELD IS RIGHT IN.
>> THAT'S GREEN'S RULE GROWTH AREA.
>> WELL, THEY DIDN'T GIVE IT AWAY.
>> WHEN IT GETS DOWN TO IT, NOBODY COULD SAY NO.
>> BUT I STARTED DOWN THAT LINE ON THE TAX AND THEN I PEELED OFF ON BUT I GOT DISTRACTED BY MYSELF.
BUT THE TAX REVENUE THAT'S COMING FROM SOLAR IS GOING TO BE A BIG LIFT BECAUSE IT'S A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND THE SAND MINES, FRANKLY, THE APPROVAL THAT WE JUST DID, THAT'S WHAT WAS IT, 200 ACRES OR 100 ACRES?
>> HUNDRED AND ELEVEN ACRES THAT'S COMING OUT OF THE AG ASSESSMENT OF $500 AN ACRE.
MR. CARBA IS NOW GOING TO HAVE TO PAY TAX ON ABOUT 8,000 AN ACRE.
>> IF THE TAX OFFICE CHANGES IT.
>> IT GOES TO THE COMMERCIAL RATE.
>> IT GOES TO COMMERCIAL RATE.
>> IT GOES TO COMMERCIAL RATE.
>> ONCE THE USE CHANGES, SO NOT UNTIL HE STOPS FARMING, AND IT'LL COME OUT OF A $500 ASSESSMENT AND GO TO AN $8,000 ASSESSMENT, ROUGHLY, WHATEVER.
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT ARE GENERATING REVENUE.
THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY THE THINGS THAT WE NECESSARILY LIKE TO SEE, BUT ANYWAY.
>> ONCE THE FINISH IS COMPLETELY DONE AND THE REMEDIATION IS DONE, THEN AT WHAT LEVEL IS THAT TAX CAP?
>> IT REVERTS BACK, SO IT SUNSETS.
JUST LIKE THE SOLAR, AS WELL, WHENEVER THOSE SOLAR PANELS ARE DECOMMISSIONED, AND I'M ASSUMING HOPEFULLY, THEY'RE CLEANED UP AFTER IT'S TURNED OFF.
BUT I'M ASSUMING ONCE THEY'RE TURNED OFF, THE PROPERTY TAX RATE WILL GO BACK.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. WHEN YOU SAY IT REVERTS BACK, IF IT WAS AG ASSESSED BEFORE, HOW DOES IT REVERT BACK TO AG UNLESS YOU PROVE THAT IT CAN BE AN AG USE?
>> BECAUSE IT'S EITHER WATER OR WOODLAND.
IF IT'S A RECREATIONAL USE, I THINK IT STILL GETS THAT PREFERRED ASSESSMENT.
[02:00:02]
IF IT CAN'T BE DEVELOPED, IF IT HAS NO OTHER USE, I'M PRETTY SURE IT REVERTS BACK.ONCE IT'S RECLAIMED BECAUSE THEN IT'S A RECREATIONAL USE.
BECAUSE A LOT OF HUNTING PROPERTIES DOWN IN DORCHESTER COUNTY AS WELL THAT AREN'T IN ACTIVE AGRICULTURE, IF THEY'RE JUST WOODED AND USED FOR HUNTING, THEY GET THAT REDUCED ASSESSMENT AS WELL.
WHEN THESE MINES GET RECLAIMED, THEY'RE JUST GOING TO BE A RECREATIONAL USE.
IT'S NOT JUST AG, IT'S AG AND RECREATIONAL OR WOODED.
>> CAN WE PUT ALL THE CATFISH IN THERE.
I'M PUTTING OUT THE INCREASED REVENUE NOW.
YOU ALSO GOT TO BE CAREFUL THAT YOU DON'T FALL OFF A CLIFF IN FUTURE YEARS, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU'RE FORCED TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES LIKE DORCHESTER HAD TO DO.
>> BECAUSE YOU CAN USE TO THIS LEVEL.
>> WELL, THERE'S FLOATING SOLAR NOW GOING INTO [OVERLAPPING]
>> SORRY, ABOUT YOUR CATFISH DREAM.
>> I THINK [INAUDIBLE] CHICKEN NOW.
>> FISH FRY ON FRIDAY NIGHT, RIGHT?
>> BUT ANYWAY, SO, HAVE WE BEAT UP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENOUGH?
WHEN WE SET UP THESE MEETINGS WITH THE TOWNS, MUNICIPALITIES, I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL IF [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT YOU AND ONE OTHER STAFF, OR YOU ARE GOING TO BE WITH ALL YOUR STAFF?
>> IT'S GO TO GO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
>> WE'RE GOING TO SAY, HEY, WE'LL GET A LOT.
I'VE ONLY BEEN DOING THIS THREE YEARS, BUT I JUST GOT A FEELING THIS IS HOW IT'S GONNA GO, "WE THINK YOU SHOULD PAINT ALL OF MAIN STREET PURPLE," AND IT'LL BE, ''NO, WE THINK IT SHOULD BE GREEN.''.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THEIR OWN DIFFERENT IDEAS.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY.
IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR US TO KNOW THAT.
>> WANT TO HEAR WHAT THEY [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE THINK THAT WAY AND THEY'RE THINKING THAT WAY.
>> IT'S REALLY WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
>> HERE, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME [OVERLAPPING]
>> [INAUDIBLE] PAINT A STREET? [LAUGHTER]
>> WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT ANYBODY WENT TO THE TOWN AND SAID, ''WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU?''
>> WELL, I DO IT ALL THE TIME.
>> I KNOW EVERYBODY GOES, ''LET'S GO SEE LESLIE AND GET MONEY.''.
>> AT LEAST ONE PERSON IN ANY OF OUR TOWNS THAT I CAN CALL AND HAVE A GOOD HONEST CONVERSATION WITH, AND IF I DON'T NECESSARILY LOVE WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, OR THEY DON'T LOVE WHAT I'M SAYING.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF TURNOVER THERE, AND THE REGULATIONS.
A LOT OF US ARE IN BUSINESS, OR UNDERSTAND THE EVOLUTION OF REGULATIONS OVER THE LAST 20, 25 YEARS.
YOU'RE IN BUSINESS, YOU'RE DOING IT, YOU SAW IT IN POLICING, AND NOW IN TRUCKING, HANNAH'S IN AG, AND WE SEE ALL THESE REGULATIONS.
IMAGINE BEING A MUNICIPALITY OR A COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
SINCE CRYSTAL AND LESLIE HAVE BEEN THE LEVEL OF REGULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF DIFFERENT RULES THAT WE'VE ALL FACED, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE FACED THAT AS WELL.
THE MUNICIPALITIES HAVE A LOT OF TURNOVER IN STAFF.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE BENEFIT OF TENURED EMPLOYEES LIKE WE DO.
IT'S GOT TO BE LIKE A FIRE HOSE FOR THEM.
TO COME IN AS A NEW TOWN MANAGER, AND HAVE TO IMPLEMENT ALL THIS STUFF WITH LIMITED STAFFING, NOT MULTIPLE PEOPLE.
>> I'LL TELL YOU, A LOT OF TIMES.
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF THINGS WHERE I FEEL LIKE WE'RE JUST GETTING THE BALL ROLLING AND STAFF ISSUES CALL THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEHIND.
THE FOLKS WHO ARE MAKING THE DECISIONS, IT ALL COMES TO A SCREECHING HOLE.
>> BUT WE ABSOLUTELY [OVERLAPPING]
>>I SAY, ''WELL, CALL ME WHEN YOU'RE READY TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AGAIN.''
>> ANOTHER LITTLE BIT OF A GRIPE THAT I HAVE WITH THE SYSTEM IS THAT REALLY ANY AUTHORITY THAT WE HAVE AS COMMISSIONERS IS DELEGATED TO US BY THE STATE.
IT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S SET UP.
SAME WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES, AND WE'RE BOTH IN THE EYES OF THE STATE LOOKED AT AS EQUALS.
WE REALLY DON'T HAVE MUCH LEVERAGE OVER MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS.
WHAT WE RECENTLY FOUND OUT IS UNTIL THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR BILLS ANYMORE AND THEY DROP THEIR CHARTER, THEN IT BECOMES TOTALLY THE COUNTY'S PROBLEM.
BUT WE HAVE NO ABILITY TO LOOK AT HOW THEY'RE SPENDING THEIR MONEY, WHAT THEIR AUDIT SAY.
>> ALL WE CAN DO TRY TO HELP THEM WHEN THEY GET IN A JAM.
[02:05:04]
>> IF WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HELP THEM AVOID A DISASTER.
>> LESLIE WILL TELL YOU THAT OFTENTIMES OUR SMALLER TOWNS CALL FOR HELP.
BECAUSE THEY EITHER HAVE STAFF TURNOVER.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REGULATIONS ARE, OFTENTIMES [OVERLAPPING]
>> EVEN THE CIRCUIT RIDERS WHO [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE TRYING TO ASSIST THE TOWNS, THEY CAN'T KEEP UP WITH IT.
>> THEY'RE FACING SOLAR PRESSURE, TOO, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
THESE TINY LITTLE TOWNS ARE HAVING SOLAR DEVELOPERS WHO COME [OVERLAPPING]
>> TWO ALREADY HAVE. GREENSBORO AND [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY WANT TO TAKE ALL THE LEFTOVER LAND THEY'VE GOT AND PUT SOLAR ON IT, AND THEY'RE LIKE, DEER AND HEADLIGHTS.
BUT THEY HAVE ALL DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CHALLENGES LIKE THAT WITH A FRACTION OF THE STAFF ABILITY TO DEAL WITH IT.
>> WELL, AGAIN, AND THAT COMES AGAIN AS WE'RE DOING OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, EVERYBODY IS DOING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
LET'S GET OVER OURSELVES AND START WORKING TOGETHER BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S GOT PROBLEMS, AND EVERYBODY NEEDS TO GROW A LITTLE BIT IN EVERYBODY.
I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE I'M WRONG, BUT I HAVEN'T MET ANYBODY THAT GOT ALL THE BRAINS IN THE WORLD, THEY SURE DIDN'T GIVE THEM ALL TO ME, SO IT TAKES EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER.
I GOT A GREAT PICKUP, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BOTH DROVE THEM AND GO SOMEWHERE.
>> TO YOUR POINT, AND IN A WAY, IT'S AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION LOOSELY, WHAT DO WE DO TO DO BETTER WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INCREASING THE TAX BASE.
FOLKS, ASK ME WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING.
SAW YOU IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT WHAT DO YOU REALLY DO? IF THEY'RE FRIENDS OF MINE, AND WE'RE JOKING AROUND, I SAY, ''WELL, I'M A PUBLIC SERVANT, AND LIKE ANY OTHER PUBLIC SERVANT, IF 52% OF THE PEOPLE I'M WORKING WITH ARE HAPPY, AND 48% OF THE PEOPLE I'M WORKING WITH ARE REALLY UPSET, I'M DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT.
>> I GUESS WE NEED TO WRAP THIS UP. YOU HAD THIS?
>> BECAUSE I SAID, I MADE EDITS BASED ON E MAILS BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN US TODAY.
>> HAVE THROUGH CONVERSATION GONE OVER ALL THE NOTES I HAD.
>> I'M VERY HAPPY WITH IT, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT IT.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT IT AND OFFER MY NOTES, AND SOME OF IT HAS BEEN WORKING HERE.
>> WE ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE REVISIONS AS WE GO IF SOMETHING COMES UP.
>> FINAL DRAFT. FINAL TO YOU, DRAFT TO ANYBODY ELSE..
>> I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD ALL START SINGING THE FINAL COUNT DOWN WHEN WE GET NEAR THE END.
YEAH. [BACKGROUND] I DO WANT TO SAY REAL QUICK WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT, GETTING READY TO MAKE A MOTION THAT BACK TO THE POINT ABOUT STREAMLINING PROCESSES AND REGULATIONS AND ALL, YOU ALL HAVE DEFINITELY DONE A GOOD JOB BECAUSE I HEAR THE NUMBERS OF HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR PERMITS AND REVIEW ON THE PLANS.
THERE'S NEVER AN END TO HOPEFULLY IMPROVING THINGS.
POSSIBLY SOME CREATIVE WAYS TO MAKE THAT QUICKER OR SOMEHOW, I WILL SAY, A LOT OF IT FALLS BACK ON REVIEW TIMES.
IT'S NOT THE COUNTY OR THE REVIEWS ON THAT END.
WHEN IT GOES BACK OUT, IT'S THE ENGINEER, AND THEY WILL FLIP STUFF BACK THAT'S INCOMPLETE, BUT THEY GET TO SAY, IT'S NOT US.
IT'S AT THE COUNTY. WHEN YOU CAN TIGHTEN THAT UP, AND THERE ARE WAYS, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT WHEN WE GET TO THAT, A YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS.
>> FROM NOW. BUT THAT WILL SHORTEN THE TIME FRAME BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T GO THROUGH EIGHT REVIEW CYCLES, AND IT TAKES A YEAR AND YOU ONLY DO THREE OR FOUR, AND IT TAKES FOUR MONTHS, THERE YOU GO, YOU'RE SAVING TIME AND MONEY ON EVERYBODY'S END.
I JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE FOR YOU.
>> IF I MAY, I'VE MADE THIS COMMENT BEFORE.
WHEN MATT OR PLANNING AND CODES GENERALLY IS GIVING FEEDBACK TO SUBMISSION, YOU'RE GENERALLY JUST SENDING IT TO THE PROFESSIONAL THAT FILED IT.
COPY THE CLIENT. THE APPLICANT, SO THAT THAT PUTS THE PRESSURE ON THE PROFESSIONAL TO DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME OR AT LEAST LISTEN TO THE COMMENTS AND SUBMIT THE SECOND ONE PROPERLY.
>> I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE CHANGES YOU ALL MADE AND GOES TO THE PROPERTY OWNER, TOO.
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SIT THERE AND YOU CAN'T DEFEND A BILL OR AN INVOICE THAT
[02:10:01]
YOU'VE GIVEN TO THE APPLICANT WHEN THEY'RE SEEING EMAILS THAT SAYS, ''YOU HAVEN'T ADDRESSED ITEM NUMBER 7." THEY SEE THAT THREE TIMES IN A ROW.YOU START CHARGING FEES ONCE YOU GET INTO ADDITIONAL REVIEWS.
BUT THAT'S ALL FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT. [OVERLAPPING] I JUST WANTED TO SAY YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB AT STREAMLINING.
>> BUT I THINK WE GOT FOR EVERYBODY.
WE HAD SOMEBODY SUBMITTED THAT PLAN WITH THE ONE ON [INAUDIBLE] WE TOLD HIM NO.
HE WAS DEMANDING TO COME TO THE BOARD.
IT'S LIKE, NO [LAUGHTER] YOU NEVER GOT PAST MATTHEW? [LAUGHTER] YOU NEVER GET TO US.
>> HE WAS DEMANDING. THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID.
HE WAS INSISTING ON COMING TO THE BOARD.
IT'S LIKE, NO, YOU'RE NOT EVEN-
>> GOT TO GO THROUGH THE REVIEWS.
>> ANYWAY. LAND USE, ANYBODY [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE GO TO TAKE MOTION? [OVERLAPPING].
>> ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PLEASE.
>> THE ONLY THING I WAS REALLY GOING TO ADD WAS YOU HAVE THE CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER.
AS A IMPLEMENTATION, WELL, IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING.
SHOULD THAT JUST BE WITHIN THE CHAPTER SOMEWHERE?
>> TELL ME WHAT PAGE. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?
>> PAGE 14, THE THIRD BULLET OF IMPLEMENTATION.
IT GOES INTO THE ON-THE-JOB TRAININGS, WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE IS AN OLD RUNNING PROGRAM.
>> I'M SURE OF A NAME FOR THAT PROGRAM AT CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
JUST INCORPORATE THAT IN THE CHAPTER SOMEWHERE, LIKE, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING.
IT'S CALLED XYZ, AND IT OFFERS SUCH AND SUCH PROGRAMS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT SAYS TO STRENGTHEN.
IS THAT THE ONE THAT YOU'RE ON? IS THAT THE BULLET?
>> IS THAT THE ONE THAT YOU'RE ON?
>> I GUESS YOU CAN KEEP IT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I MEAN, YOU COULD STRENGTHEN IT, BUT MAYBE IN THE CHAPTER, GO INTO DETAIL WHAT IS OUT THERE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BECAUSE THE WAY YOU READ IT IS WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING GOING ON, AND WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN IT, BUT WE ALREADY HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM.
I THINK IT'S MORE THAN WHAT CAROLINE REALLY HAVE.
>> FROM MY STANDPOINT, AS FAR AS ALL OF MY EVERY PERSON THAT'S EMPLOYED BY ME GOES THROUGH THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.
>> THE CAROLINE COUNTY SCHOOL DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO UTILIZE.
WHEN I SAY THAT, SO THE STATE SAYS THAT YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE X NUMBER OF HOURS ON THE JOB AND X NUMBER OF HOURS OF CLASS TIME.
>> EITHER ELECTRICAL IS VERY SPECIFIC AND MORE OR LESS UNIVERSAL, SO CAROLINE DOES NOT OFFER ELECTRICAL COURSES.
>> THAT'S WHERE THEY COULD STRENGTHEN.
>> AN EXAMPLE, WHEN THE TECH SCHOOL, I FORGET, ONE OF THE TEACHERS CONTACTED US.
THIS HAS PROBABLY BEEN 18 YEARS AGO.
I SAID, "HEY, I HAVE A KID THAT SHOWS VERY GOOD POTENTIAL, IF YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST, IF YOU HAVE A NEED SEND HIM OUT." HE WORKED FOR 13.
>> HE COULD HAVE AND HE STARTED THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IN SCHOOL, SUSSEX TECH OR CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE, AND THEY TAKE THE NIGHT SCHOOL CLASSES.
THAT'S WHERE FROM MY BUSINESS STANDPOINT, A TEACHER CALLED AND SAID, HEY, WE'VE GOT A STUDENT.
>> THROUGH THE BLUEPRINT BILL, THEY HAVE WORKFORCE COORDINATORS.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE TITLE OF THAT- [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES. HERE, THAT'S LINDSAY MCCORMICK. SHE'S AWESOME.
>> NO. I MEAN, EACH SCHOOL HAS A STAFF MEMBER ASSIGNED TO JUST BE THE LIAISON BETWEEN THE BUSINESS AND THE STUDENT.
YOU SHOULD REACH OUT TO THE SCHOOL AND YOU CAN GET.
NOW, THEY'VE GOT TO HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN DOING THAT, AND SOMETIMES, YOU HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT FOR THAT.
>> IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE LOOKED AT YOUR STANDARDS, BUT THEY OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE WHATEVER EDUCATIONAL PROVIDER YOU'RE USING NOW, IT COMES WITH CHALLENGES GETTING TO THE CLASSES AND ALL THAT.
>> I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THE QUEEN ANNE'S TECH BUILDING AT CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE RECENTLY, BUT IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WAS FUNDED AT A REDUCED DOLLAR AMOUNT.
THE COLLEGE HAD TO GO BACK AND REDUCE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE PROPOSED BUILDING TO STAY WITHIN THE BUDGET THAT WAS ALLOCATED TO THEM.
[02:15:05]
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT IS MOVING FORWARD WITH DESIGN.>> HOW WILL THAT WORK BECAUSE THE WAY THAT I BELIEVE, I MIGHT BE WRONG, WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL, I WENT TO SUSSEX TECH.
I WENT TO SUSSEX VOCATIONAL SCHOOL BEFORE SUSSEX TECH.
>> WE WENT TO ELECTRICAL TRADES CLASS WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL.
NOW I DON'T KNOW IF THEY OFFER IT NOW DURING THE DAY, BUT IT'S NIGHT SCHOOLS.
>> IS THAT A VO TECH KIND OF THING?
>>THE HOPE IS WITH THE NEW QUEEN ANNE TECH BUILDING THAT THE VARIOUS HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE FIVE COUNTIES THAT SUPPORT CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE.
IF A STUDENT IS INTERESTED IN A SPECIALIZED CLASS LIKE THAT, LIKE ELECTRIC, OR HVAC, OR NURSING, THAT THEY COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE THREE STUDENTS FROM TALBOT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS, HAVE TWO STUDENTS FROM QUEEN ANNE, FOUR OR FIVE FROM CAROLINE, ALL BUST TO CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE AND TAKE THAT COURSE SO THAT WE COULD DIVERSIFY THE COURSES THAT ARE OFFERED.
I THINK THAT IS THE HOPE AND CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE HAS BEEN VERY OPEN TO THE IDEA OF USING THAT FACILITY FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS DURING THE DAY.
THEN THEY WOULD SWITCH OVER AND ADMINISTER THEIR PROGRAMMING AT NIGHT, ESSENTIALLY.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE PLAN IS.
STILL A HARD PILL FOR ME TO SWALLOW TO BUILD A BUILDING IN ANOTHER COUNTY THAT, WHEN WE HAVE SCHOOLS THAT WE NEED TO BUILD HERE, BUT THE PLAN IS TO TRY TO MAKE THE BEST OF IT, AND IT MAY BE ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE IT'S A GREAT INVESTMENT, AND I'M TOTALLY WRONG FOR HAVING ANY HEARTBURN ABOUT IT, ANYWAY.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION SINCE YOU ALL DO NOT HAVE A COLLEGE IN THE COUNTY.
DO THE COUNTIES THAT DON'T HAVE THEIR OWN COLLEGE, IF THEY WENT TO THAT COLLEGE, DO THEY GET A REDUCED RATE? [OVERLAPPING] IS THERE ANY ASSISTANCE FROM CAROLINE?
>> FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, IT IS IN CAROLINE COUNTY, BUT IT'S NOT.
IT'S LIKE OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
THE FIVE COUNTIES ALL ARE EQUAL STAKEHOLDERS IN IT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S LOCATED IN QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY RIGHT ON THE TALBOT COUNTY LINE.
YES, OUR STUDENTS GET A REDUCED RATE.
IT'S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD, THE FUNDING FORMULA FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE COLLEGE IS BASED ON ENROLLMENT FROM EACH COUNTY, THOUGH.
THE MORE CAROLINE COUNTY KIDS THAT WE SEND THERE, THE HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET THE COUNTY HAS TO COVER EVERY YEAR, AND WE ARE ONE OF THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE-WISE. I THINK WE'RE- [OVERLAPPING]
>> SLIGHTLY BEHIND QUEEN ANNE.
TALBOT AND KENT ARE THE LOWEST TWO.
DORCHESTER, QUEEN ANNE, AND CAROLINE ARE THE THREE HIGHEST POPULATION PERCENTAGE.
WE REALLY HAVE A LOT OF KIDS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
MY WHOLE HEARTBURN WITH THE SITUATION IS SOME OF OUR MOST NEEDY PEOPLE WHO COULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM THAT TYPE OF EDUCATION ARE REALLY FAR AWAY, AND THEY CAN'T GET TRANSPORTATION THERE.
THE SOUTHERN END OF THE COUNTY, PRESTON, FELLOWSVILLE, IN PARTICULAR, CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE MIGHT AS WELL BE IN PHILADELPHIA TO THEM.
THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION TO GET THERE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE WORKING A JOB.
WHAT I JUST LAID OUT WITH THE VO TECH AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL IS POTENTIALLY AN ADVANTAGE, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME.
KIDS FROM COLONEL THAT WANT TO GO THERE ARE GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME OF THEIR SCHOOL DAY ON A BUS, NOT LEARNING ANYTHING, TOO.
THAT'S JUST THE NATURE OF, I GUESS, WHERE WE LIVE AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
>> AS A BIT OF A COUNTERPOINT IF FOLKS ARE CAREER-MINDED WHO LIVE IN THOSE AREAS, AND THEY'RE ON THEIR ISLAND, VERY FAR FROM CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE.
BOY OH BOY, THE DELAWARE TECH SCHOOL SYSTEM IS BLOWING MARYLAND'S OUT OF THE WATER.
IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN THE TRADES, CONSTRUCTION, MANUFACTURING, I'D LIKE TO THINK SOME OF THOSE KIDS AND YOUNG ADULTS ARE BENEFITING FROM SUSSEX TECH AND ALL THE TECH IN DELAWARE.
THEY'RE PRETTY FAR FROM CHESAPEAKE, AND BOY, WOULD IT BE GREAT TO SEND THEM TO CHESAPEAKE, BUT IF THEY WANT IF YOU GO TO THE TRADE IT'S BETTER FOR THEM TO BE CLOSER TO THEIR TECHS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IF YOU GET TO VO TECH, YOU'RE PAYING OUT OF STATE RATE TOO.
>> THERE'S FUNDING FOR THAT IF YOU'RE IN APPRENTICESHIP.
[02:20:03]
I MEAN, FOR APPRENTICESHIP SPECIFICALLY, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SCHOOL YOU GO TO IF YOU'RE AN APPRENTICE.COSTS ARE COVERED, IS PART OF THE MODEL.
THAT'S JUST APPRENTICESHIP, THOUGH, NOT NECESSARILY PUBLIC TRADE.
>> BECAUSE I COULD BE TO DEL TECH IN 20-25 MINUTES.
BUT AGAIN, YOU'RE PAYING THOSE OUT-OF-STATE RATES.
>> DID THEY TEACH WATER [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING].
>> DELAWARE HAS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM FOR IT.
>> THAT'S ONE THING WE NEED WHEN TOWNS ARE NEAR.
>> DELAWARE WATERS ARE NONPROFIT GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION.
>> I THINK THERE'S ONE I THINK- [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE'S ANOTHER ONE WHERE IT'S VERY CHALLENGING IN MARYLAND BECAUSE THEY TEACH THE LICENSE.
THEY DON'T TEACH JUST THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF WASTEWATER.
> A LOT OF TIME HERE. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'LL PUT A LITTLE BLURB INSIDE THE CHAPTER OF WHAT WE HAVE.
I'LL PUT MORE DETAIL IN THE BULLET, BUT LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL WORKFORCE AND GET MORE.
>> I'M NOT SAYING TO TAKE IT OUT. I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IT MORE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] I DIDN'T KNOW. IT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE WE'RE NOT DOING IT.
>> WE ARE NOT DOING MUCH OF IT.
>> WELL, I DIDN'T READ IT LIKE THAT, BUT WELL, AND I CERTAINLY DIDN'T MEAN IT LIKE THAT.
YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE ABLE TO TRY TO INCREASE WHAT YOU HAVE AND IMPROVE.
I'LL BEEF THAT UP. I'LL RUN IT BY YOU.
>> I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION.
>> I'M MAKING A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DRIFT WITH THE CHANGER.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE NO MORE DISCUSSION.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY, AYE, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
[Land Use Chapter Discussion]
>> THIS IS- [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER].
>> WE CAN JUST TOUCH ON WHATEVER YOU'D LIKE TO TOUCH ON.
>> THIS IS A PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION.
>> BECAUSE IN A NORMAL WORLD, LAND USE WOULD BE LIKE THE CHAPTER THAT ENCOMPASSES EVERYTHING, IT'S LIKE YOUR STOMACH MUSCLES.
IF YOU'RE MOVING ANY PART OF YOUR BODY, YOUR STOMACH IS INVOLVED.
LAND USE IS LIKE THAT, ANYTHING THAT I SHOULDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
MOST OF THE GOALS THAT WE HAVE IN ALL OF THE OTHER CHAPTERS ARE OUR POWER TO COME UP WITH STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THEM LIES WITHIN OUR LAND USE POWER.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE STATE HAS PREEMPTED THAT POWER, SO IT'S A HOLLOW EXERCISE THIS TIME AROUND, THIS UPDATE.
HENCE, THERE'S A LOT OF LANGUAGE ABOUT FIGHTING BACK AGAINST STATE PREEMPTION OF OUR LAND USE POWER.
WHAT I DID WAS CONDENSE AND PUT IN GOALS AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES THAT HAVE FOLLOW A LOT OF THE DISCUSSIONS WE'VE BEEN HAVING ABOUT CONTROL OF OUR LAND USE AND ALSO IN PREVIOUS CHAPTERS WHERE WE SEE A NEED TO EXAMINE EITHER ZONING, WHAT'S ALLOWED IN DISTRICTS, JEFF'S POINT ABOUT WATER AND SEWER, DO WE PULL THAT TRIGGER? DO WE NOT PULL THAT TRIGGER? ALL OF THAT TIES INTO LAND USE AND LAND USE IS ENACTED THROUGH THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
THESE TWO SECTIONS, LIKE OLIVIA HAS BEEN DOING FOR PREVIOUS CHAPTERS, ARE THE SKELETON OF THE WHOLE CHAPTER.
WHAT ARE OUR GOALS, AND WHAT ARE SOME STRATEGIES THAT WE CAN CREATE TO HELP ACHIEVE THE GOALS? WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO IS TO LOOK AT THE GOALS.
IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO ADD BASED ON THE DISCUSSION WE'VE BEEN HAVING OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS OR TAKE OUT ALTOGETHER.
I KNOW WE'VE TOSSED AROUND A LOT OF IDEAS.
I'VE TRIED TO REMEMBER THEM ALL AND I'VE GENERALIZED THEM HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE GENERAL STRATEGIES.
WE WON'T GET INTO SPECIFICS UNTIL WE DO THE ZONING UPDATE.
[02:25:02]
YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME UP WITH THIS RIGHT NOW? THIS WON'T BE PRESENTED IN FINAL DRAFT OR DRAFT FOR REVIEW UNTIL NOVEMBER.>> WELL, I THINK ONE THING, AS I POINTED OUT EARLIER, WAS PRESERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR IT.
DOES PRESERVATION INCLUDE LIMITATIONS ON THE AMOUNT OF PERMITS THAT WE ISSUE IN A SET PERIOD FOR WARD, LET'S SAY, MINERAL EXTRACTION, SAY, SAND MINING IN PARTICULAR?
>> IT COULD, BUT OUR ABILITY TO DO THAT CAN BE LIMITED BY THE STATE'S ABILITY TO COME IN AND SAY, YOU CAN'T RESTRICT DEVELOPMENT OF SAND AND GRAVEL.
IT'S A PRIORITY. IT'S A RESOURCE, JUST A MINERAL RESOURCE.
>> WE HAVE CALLED OUT THOSE NATURAL HISTORIC CULTURAL, ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND SCENIC, BUT TRUTHFULLY, MINERAL RESOURCES IS ANOTHER RESOURCE THAT THE STATE TELLS US WE NEED TO PROTECT.
HOWEVER, THAT RESOURCE HAS ITS OWN DAMN CHAPTER, SO I'M NOT PUTTING IT IN THIS CHAPTER.
IN THAT CHAPTER, WE TALK ABOUT PROTECTING AND PRESERVING OUR MINERAL RESOURCES AND LAND.
BUT REMEMBER, THE GOALS THAT WE HAD IN THERE WAS TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T IMPACT OTHER USES AND RESOURCES IN THE COUNTY.
WE CAN ADD A GOAL THAT ESSENTIALLY SAYS THAT, OR ADD TO THIS ONE, MAKE SURE THEY'RE PROTECTED FROM USES THAT ENDANGER THEM, LIKE MINING.
>> WELL, THE TRICK IS, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE THE DEPOSITS ARE UNTIL SOMEONE COMES IN. [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE CAN LOOK ON A MAP AND SEE WHERE.
>> NOW, THERE'S THE GEOLOGIC MAPS THAT SHOW YOU WHERE THE FORMATION.
>> YEAH, BUT IT'S VERY SPECIFIC.
REMEMBER HOW I TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT SAND DEPOSITS.
EVERYBODY'S IN SEARCH OF CONCRETE SAND, WHICH IS A MORE CORE SAND AND MIXED IN WITH THAT IN DIFFERENT AREAS, YOU COULD HAVE THAT REALLY FINE MASON SAND AND NOBODY WANTS THE MASON SAND.
THE VALUE IS IN THE CONCRETE SAND.
IT IS REALLY FINICKY SPOT BY SPOT.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I DON'T THINK WE COULD REALLY GET A GOOD HANDLE ON WHERE BLOCK OUT WHERE THOSE AREAS ARE.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN USE IT FROM A PRESERVATION STANDPOINT AS AN ARGUMENT TO MAYBE JUST THROTTLE IT A LITTLE BIT AND SAY, WELL, WE'RE NOT AN ISSUE.
LOOKING AT IN MR. CARBOS SLIGHT PLAN, IT GOT ME THINKING ABOUT THE CHICKEN HOUSE ISSUE THAT WE JUST HAD WITH THE SCREENING.
HIS NEIGHBORS NOW ARE SIGNING OFF THAT THE SCREENING IS NOT A PROBLEM.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IN 25 YEARS, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S NOTHING THAT SAYS ROLAND HAS TO START DIGGING, TOMORROW.
HE COULD KEEP IT ACTIVE. HE COULD SIT ON IT.
WHAT DID CHENEY DO FOR YEARS DOWN AT THE END OF THE [OVERLAPPING] AND NOW I'M CATCHING GRIEF THAT HE'S TEARING UP JACKSON LANE, THAT CHENEY'S TEARING THE ROAD UP HAULING TO DELAWARE TO TOWN LANDFILL.
IT'S NOT EVEN STAYING IN THE STATE OR THE COUNTY, AND IT'S TEARING A TOWNSHIP ROAD UP.
THAT OPERATION WAS PERMITTED 25 YEARS AGO.
>> I WAS 15, I WASN'T EVEN DRIVING YET.
NOW I'M CATCHING GRIEF BECAUSE I'M THE COMMISSIONER THAT ALLOWED HIM TO START DOING.
I'M LIKE, NO. IT WAS HAPPENING 20 YEARS AGO, AND THEY JUST KEPT PAYING THE PERMIT RENEWAL FEE AND KEPT IT ACTIVE.
>> TWENTY YEARS AGO, THE $10,000 ROAD BOND WAS ACCEPTABLE. NOT TODAY.
>> I DON'T THINK ROLAND'S GOING TO SIT ON IT.
THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T CARE TOO MUCH ABOUT IT.
BUT, I MEAN, HE COULD POTENTIALLY SIT ON IT.
WHAT IF A REALTOR DOESN'T TELL THAT PROPERTY OWNER NEXT DOOR.
BY THE WAY, YOU GOT A SURFACE MINE NEXT TO YOU THAT'S PERMITTED.
YOU SHOW UP THERE AND IT'S CORNFIELD AND YOU SAY, OKAY, I'LL PAY 350,000 FOR THIS HOUSE AND MOVE ON IN, AND SIX MONTHS LATER, YOU START DIGGING.
THAT'S WHEN THE COMMISSIONER'S FOOT STARTS RINGING GOING, WHAT'S HAPPENING?
>> YOUR QUESTION IS, IN THE EFFORT TO CONSERVE NATURAL HISTORICAL RESOURCES, CAN WE SPECIFY THAT WE WOULD LIMIT ACCESS TO MINING IN ORDER TO PROTECT THOSE? I THINK WE NEED TO FIND OUT, THE ONLY TIME I HAVE EVER HEARD A STATE PERSON APART FROM SOLAR SAY,
[02:30:03]
IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU SAY.YOU'VE GOT TO ALLOW THIS WAS A STATE MINING GUY.
>> BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE IT IN OUR COMP PLAN EITHER.
>> NO, THE COMP PLAN IS I DON'T KNOW THAT THE MINING OPERATIONS OR.
>> WAS THAT MINING ONLY IN LAND USE OR IS A REFERENCE SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THEY COME?
>> MINERAL RESOURCE SOURCES ITS OWN ITS CHAPTER.
BEFORE IT HAD ITS OWN CHAPTER, WHICH I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT GOT IT.
I DON'T THINK IT HAD ITS OWN CHAPTER IN THE 2010 PLAN, YOU HAD TO INCLUDE MINERAL RESOURCES AND PROTECTION OF THEM IN YOUR COMP PLAN.
>> YOU ONLY GOT TO PROTECT THEM FROM WHAT? WHAT ARE WE PROTECTING THEM FROM?
>> I DON'T HOW YOU PROTECT IT.
IT WAS MOSTLY DON'T DENY THEM.
LIKE, THESE ARE A VALUABLE RESOURCE, AND YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ENABLING THE USE OF THIS RESOURCE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH FREEDOM WE HAVE IN CURTAILING THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF STEWART, WOULD IT BE IN LAW?
>> I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH ANY LAW.
IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT THERE, BUT I'VE NEVER ENCOUNTERED IT.
>> IT WAS, BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME WE HEARD IT ABOUT SOLAR, YOU REALLY CAN'T TELL US WE CAN'T.
REMINDED ME OF THE STATE MINING GUY COMING IN.
IN FACT, THE MINE THE GUY APPLYING FOR IT BROUGHT HIM ON HIS, I THINK, THIRD MEETING DOWN HERE TO SAY SO THAT HE WOULD SAY, YOU CAN'T TELL ME I CAN'T DO THIS.
BECAUSE HE WAS TRYING TO TELL US HE COULD DO IT.
HE GOT THE STATE GUY TO COME IN AND SAY, AND THE STATE GUY SAID, YEAH, YOU CAN'T LIMIT IT.
YOU CAN TRY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO WAIVE HIM THROUGH.
>> WELL, THE STATE IS BY STATUTE, THE STATE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO ISSUE A SURFACE MINING PERMIT UNTIL THERE IS WRITTEN CONFIRMATION FROM THE COUNTY THAT THE OPERATION IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL LAW.
YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT WAS ONE OF OUR APPEALS IN THE WOOD FARM CASE.
WAS THE STATE WAS PERSUADED BY THE APPLICANT'S ATTORNEY THAT THEY HAD THE FUNCTIONAL EQUIVALENT OF A CLEARANCE LETTER FROM THE COUNTY, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ALL TIED UP IN LITIGATION ON APPEAL.
I THINK WE'D HAVE WON THAT ONE.
IF THAT HAD NOT ALL BEEN RESOLVED, WE WERE GOING TO PROBABLY WIN THAT CASE BECAUSE THAT WAS CLEARLY IN VIOLATION OF THE STATUTE.
THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO JUST CRAM IT DOWN THE COUNTY'S THROAT.
BY THE WAY, IF I MAY SHARE A THOUGHT I JUST HAD, BECAUSE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE UNFAIRNESS OF SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT REALIZE THAT A MINING OPERATION HAS BEEN PERMITTED NEXT DOOR TO A PROPERTY YOU'RE ABOUT TO BUY.
THIS IS ALREADY HAPPENING WITH THESE POOR PEOPLE NEXT TO THESE SOLAR FACILITIES.
THEY'RE BITCHING AND MOURNING, WHAT ABOUT ZONING? I RELIED UPON THE CURRENT USE, AND I'M NOW BEING AMBUSHED AND YOU'VE DROPPED MY PROPERTY VALUES.
>> I WOULD NEVER HAVE MOVED HERE IF I [OVERLAPPING] KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> MY THOUGHT I HAVE IT'S ONLY HALF BAKED RIGHT NOW IS THAT PERHAPS A LOCAL ORDINANCE THAT STATES THAT ANYTIME WE PERMIT A SURFACE MINING AND FILL IN THE BLANK, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING ELSE TOO.
BUT A SURFACE MINING OPERATION THAT WE REQUIRE, I'M STILL THINKING OF HOW TO DO THIS, THAT SOMETHING BE PLACED IN THE LAND RECORDS IN THE CHAIN OF TITLE OF THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES.
>> YOU ARE ADJACENT TO A MINING OPERATION.
>> LIKE THE OR CONTRACTS OF SALE, HAVING TO INDICATE, REMEMBER, THE RIGHT TO FARM.
IT HAS TO BE IN CONTRACTS OF SALE, AND THAT'S ADOPTED COUNTY BY COUNTY.
WHAT ABOUT SOMETHING THAT SAYS, YOU'VE ALSO GOT TO DISCLOSE? YOU ALREADY HAVE TO.
THERE'S A STATE LAW THAT SAYS IN A CONTRACT OF SALE, IF THERE WAS AN AGRICULTURAL EASEMENT ON THE PRIOR PROPERTY, THAT IS MANDATED AS PART OF THE CONTRACT OF SALE DISCLOSURE THAT THE BUYER HAS TO BE NOTIFIED OF, AND THERE'S A SEPARATE ADDENDUM THAT GOES TO THE CONTRACT SO THAT THERE'S NO WAY THAT A BUYER [OVERLAPPING] WOULD BE TRAPPED.
WHAT IF WE ENACT SOMETHING THAT SAYS, SOMETHING ALONG THAT LINE WHERE YOU'RE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE WITHIN FILL IN THE BLANK, ONE MILE OF A PERMITTED SURFACE MINING OPERATION.
SOMETHING THAT PROVIDES SOME NOTICE TO AN INNOCENT BUYER.
I MEAN, IT TAKES CARE OF ITSELF IF IT'S ACTIVELY BEING MINED,
[02:35:03]
BUT THROW OUT THAT CHENEY EXAMPLE.JUST TODAY, I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT LOOKING AT IT.
BUT THE OTHER THING, BACK TO THE SURFACE MINING, THROTTLING OR PRESERVING THE RESOURCE BY NOT ISSUING TOO MANY PERMITS AT ONE TIME TO TIPS POINT EARLIER, IT REVERTS BACK TO THE OLD TAX.
YOU'RE SETTING THE COUNTY UP DOWN THE ROAD, FUTURE GOVERNMENT TO BE BANKING ON ALL THIS REVENUE FROM SURFACE MINING.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE DAY WHEN IT'S FULLY DEPLETED AND IT ALL FALLS OFF A CLIFF AND ALL THAT REVENUE? YOU LOSE ALL THAT REVENUE.
THEN THEY GO TO ANOTHER COUNTY.
THEN THEY MOVE OVER TO SUSSEX, SO THEY MOVE DOWN TO DORCHESTER FURTHER AWAY.
I MEAN, THE REASON WHY WE ARE A TARGET IS PROXIMITY TO THE BAY BRIDGE IN PROXIMITY TO PHILADELPHIA, HOW CLOSE OUR DEPOSITS ARE TO THOSE METROPOLITAN CENTERS.
>> DO YOU THINK LIMITING THE NUMBER OF PERMITS PER YEAR OR EVERY FIVE YEARS?
>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY YOU'D HAVE TO GO LIKE FIVE YEARS OR SOMETHING. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT IT.
>> WHY? I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.
IS HOW LONG IS SOMEONE GOING TO WAIT BEFORE THEY START THE OPERATION? FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS, 20 YEARS.
>> THE QUESTION WOULD BE [OVERLAPPING].
>> HERE'S THE EDGE. IF I HAVE MONEY AND I HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY, IT'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY EASIER FOR ME TO GET A SURFACE MINING PERMIT, SO YOU JUST, WELL, GET IT NOW WHILE YOU KNOW WHAT THE REGULATIONS ARE, BECAUSE IN 20 YEARS, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT'S GOING TO BE.
>> IF THE ONLY THING YOU GOT TO DO TO KEEP IT ACTIVE IS HAUL A TRUCK LOAD OF DIRT OUT.
YOU DO IT. IS THERE ANY WAY TO CHANGE THAT?
>> WHY ARE WE SAYING YOU CAN KEEP IT OPEN INDEFINITELY?
>> THAT'S A STATE SURFACE MINING PERMITS FOR THEM TO THE PERMITS A LEGISLATIVE.
>> WE JUST THOUGHT OF A LEGISLATIVE REQUEST.
THAT'S TO THE STATE. THAT'LL BE ON ME.
>> THAT IS A POTENTIAL WAY OF CURBING IT OR KEEPING IT UNDER CONTROL.
>> THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING I COULD GET DONE.
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT DOING THE CONTRACT OR SALE TYPE NOTIFICATION?
>> WHICH ONLY HELPS WHEN SOMEBODY FINDS SOMETHING, NOT FOR ANYBODY WHO'S ALREADY THERE.
MAYBE LIKE CHENEY WENT IN 25 YEARS AGO, YOU BOUGHT THE PROPERTY 10 YEARS LATER AND BOOM 15 YEARS LATER.
>> YOU HAD 15 GOOD YEARS AND THAT'S IT.
>> YOU CAN ALSO HAVE TO SEND CERTIFIED LETTERS TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS WITH WHATEVER [INAUDIBLE].
>> THAT IT'S HAPPENED. WELL, THEY GET NOTIFIED, DON'T THEY? ANYWAY? WHEN THEY ARE JOINING PROPERTY OWNERS GET NOTIFIED FOR THE SITE PLAN.
>> FOR THE SITE PLAN ONCE THEY GET THE PERMIT.
>> ACTUALLY, IT'S FOR MINING, IT'S MORE.
IS IT 500 FEET OR 100 FEET, THOUSAND?
>> THEY ARE NOTIFIED IN THE MOMENT.
>> BUT I THINK THE REST OF IT THAT YOU HAVE IN THERE PRETTY MUCH COVERS IT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO REVISIT THE PFAS IF THE STATE WILL ALLOW US DO THAT.
>> THE TDR PROGRAM IS BASICALLY DEAD.
>> WELL, THE ONLY THING THAT YOU CAN AND THIS WAS DISCUSSED, I THINK WHEN IT WAS FIRST DEVELOPED IS WORK WITH THE TOWNS, AND THIS IS ALSO GOING TO BE THE COUNTY IS GOING TO HAVE SOME SKIN IN THE GAME TO WHERE IT'S A DENSITY BONUS BENEFIT FOR ANYBODY WHO'S A DEVELOPER.
IT'S NOT JUST THE RIGHT ITSELF, BUT THE POTENTIAL TO INCREASE DENSITY BONUSES.
IF WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE INCENTIVES TO PEOPLE TO PRESERVE THEIR PROPERTY AND DIRECT DEVELOPMENT TO THE TOWNS THAT WANT DEVELOPMENT.
ONE THING THAT THE TOWNS WOULD PROBABLY LIKE IS SOME HELP IN EXPANSION OF A TREATMENT PLAN.
THEY HAVE CAPACITY TO HANDLE THAT.
THEN THE TOWNS IN TURN GIVE A DENSITY BONUS TO ANYBODY COMING IN WITH TDR RIGHTS.
THAT'S APPEALING TO A DEVELOPER.
HE'S GOT SOME INFRASTRUCTURE COVERED.
HE'S GOT SOME DENSITY BONUSES, SO WHERE BEFORE HE COULD ONLY DO 10 UNITS, HE CAN DO 15 OR 20.
[02:40:01]
EVERYBODY IN THE WHOLE CHAIN OF DEVELOPMENT IDEA HAS TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF IT.SOMEBODY'S GOT TO GIVE SOMETHING.
IF WE'RE THE BEGINNING OF THE CHAIN, WE'RE THE FIRST ONE TO GIVE.
IN RETURN, WE GET PRESERVED LAND BECAUSE ALL OF OUR DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS HAVE GONE ELSEWHERE.
>> WHOEVER'S GETTING THE DEVELOPMENT GETS MORE TAXABLE, WHICH IS AN INCENTIVE FOR THE TOWN.
>> WILL WE EVEN ALLOW A MAJOR SUBDIVISION IN THE COUNTY OUTSIDE OF A TDR RECEIVING AREA WHO PURCHASED A HAT?
>> [OVERLAPPING] TIER THREE SEPTIC AREA.
BUT AGAIN, ARE YOU GOING TO DO A MAJOR ON SEPTIC? DO WE EVEN HAVE? YOU NEED 100 ACRES.
>> WELL, I MEAN, IF YOU HAD REALLY GOOD SOIL, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY DO IT.
IF YOU HAD REALLY GOOD SOIL SOMEWHERE, YOU COULD PUT SEPTICS ON PROBABLY, YOU COULD GET DOWN TO ONE ACRE LOT SIZE, MAYBE.
>> YEAH, I MEAN, WE REDUCED THE R1 SIGNIFICANTLY.
>> [OVERLAPPING] COMFREY ZONING, BUT YOU'RE ABOUT TO START A NEW COMFREY ZONING.
>> THAT'S ONE DO WE NEED TO LOOK AT INCREASING R1 ZONING.
>> YEAH, I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO OPEN IT UP FOR IT, BUT I'M JUST ASKING THE QUESTION.
RIGHT NOW IN R1, YOU CAN'T DO A MAJOR.
THE MAXIMUM YOU CAN DO IS FOUR, I MEAN IN THE R.
>> THAT'S ALL DEVELOPED. THE R1 IS ALL DEVELOPED OUT, RIGHT?
>> [OVERLAPPING] ITS VERY LITTLE AND WE MAY BE LOSING 40 ACRES OF IT TO CHARITON.
THERE'S 700 SOME ACRES OF DEVELOPABLE R1.
THAT'S R1 THAT'LL PERK THAT HAS GOOD ENOUGH SOIL TO ACTUALLY DEVELOP THEM.
>> MAYBE IT IS BECAUSE THE SOIL IS NO GOOD.
MAYBE IT WOULD NEVER, [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT MAY NOT EVEN BE DEVELOPABLE.
>> RIGHT NOW IT DOESN'T HAVE STRUCTURES ON IT.
>> RIGHT. THAT'S PROBABLY WHY BECAUSE IT COULDN'T GET PERKED.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY TO KNOW, BUT SO IN THE R, YOU CAN'T DO A MAJOR SUBDIVISION NOW, YOU HAVE TO BE IN A TDR RECEIVING AREA, AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE SOMEONE'S TDRS IN ORDER TO GET MORE THAN.
>> WE DO HAVE A FEW LITTLE IN TIER THREE AREA.
>> YOU HAVE TO GIVE ME THAT MAP.
I KNOW IT WAS ON MY COMPUTER, BUT ALRIGHT. IT'S GETTING LATE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO, WE JUST HAD TO START IT, BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS I'M THINKING ABOUT IS, WE DO HAVE A LITTLE FLEXIBILITY THERE, BUT YOU'RE POTENTIALLY OPENING.
>> WELL, HERE'S THE THING, IF YOU WERE GOING TO EXPAND IT.
>> MY ADVICE WOULD BE TO LOOK IN ADJACENT TO TOWN GROWTH AREAS OR BOUNDARIES.
BECAUSE YOU HAVE RURAL VILLAGES ALREADY.
YOU GOT A DOZEN OF THEM. WE'VE STARTED THE VILLAGE, NEIGHBORHOOD AND VILLAGE CENTER ZONES, WHICH ENABLE DENSER DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
AND I THINK THAT'S ALL THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT YOU GUYS WE WANT TO GET INTO.
WE'VE GOT 12 AREAS WHERE WE COULD CONCEIVABLY EXPAND A BIT ON RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN 10 TOWNS WITH GROWTH AREAS AND PROPERTIES AROUND BOUNDARIES.
WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT LOCATIONS WHERE WE WOULD EITHER WANT TO ESTABLISH NEW R1 OR EXPAND VILLAGE PFAS.
WITHOUT HAVING TO GO OUT INTO THE REST OF THE COUNTY AND GO, WE'RE GOING TO PUT R1 THERE.
>> WHICH IS WHAT IT WAS BEFORE.
>> IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. YOU'VE ALREADY GOT ENOUGH LOCATIONS TO REALLY LOOK AT AND EXAMINE.
>> [OVERLAPPING]WHY DID THEY DO THAT BEFORE? WHY WAS IT JUST R1 RANDOMLY ALL OVER THE PLACE?
>> BECAUSE WE ALLOW, AND THEN I THINK SOME REZONINGS HAPPENED.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WAS AT START.
ANYBODY AROUND WHEN ZONING STARTED IN THIS COUNTY?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A PLAN.
I KNOW PFAS WERE DETERMINED BECAUSE THERE WERE LITTLE CROSS ROAD VILLAGES ALREADY.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN EIGHT HOUSES.
BUT IN A COUNTY THAT HAD ONE HOUSE PER 20 MILES, EIGHT HOUSES AT AN INTERSECTION WAS PRETTY BIG.
IT SEEMS LIKE THEY WERE ARBITRARY, BUT AT THE TIME, THEY WEREN'T.
THERE WAS ACTUALLY A CLUSTER OF PEOPLE.
THEY'RE LIKE, THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE.
>> IF YOU LOOK AT OUR COMMERCIAL ZONING, IT WAS VERY MUCH SQUARES AT INTERSECTIONS.
800 FOOT BY 800 FOOT AT THAT INTERSECTION, BECAUSE HISTORICALLY THERE WERE SMALL STORES AT THAT INTERSECTION.
>> [OVERLAPPING]SOMETHING WAS GOING ON THERE.
>> THERE WAS SOME COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY, USUALLY AT AN INTERSECTION.
>> IN [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY, WHEN WE DID THEIR PLAN,
[02:45:01]
AND THEY HAVE A BUNCH OF RURAL VILLAGES, WE TRACED THEM BACK AND IN ALMOST EVERY CASE, THERE WAS A CANNING FACTORY.>> THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT IT WAS HERE.
>> AND THEN SOMEBODY WOULD BUILD THEIR LITTLE SHACK WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE BECAUSE THEY WORKED THERE.
THEY BOUGHT A CHEAP LITTLE HALF ACRE AND STUCK A SHACK ON IT AND SOMEBODY ELSE DID.
THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THEM CAME FROM.
PROBABLY A LOT OF THAT HAPPENED HERE TOO.
I GUESS IT'S UNDER LAND USE, AND YOU CAN EDUCATE ME [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY THING.
IF I COME TO CAROLINE COUNTY AND I BUY TWO ACRES, HOW COME I CAME FOR THE HOUSE WORK?
>> YOU MEAN ANYWHERE YOU WANT?
>> I KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE IN A CERTAIN AREA, BUT I DON'T THINK I HAVE TO LIVE BY AN HIGH SCHOOL.
I MIGHT WANT TO GO OUT HERE GOING TOWARD DELAWARE AND I BUY TWO ACRES OFF A FARM AND I WANT TO PUT A HOUSE UP.
>> YOU COULD, BUT THEN YOU FRAGMENT YOUR LANDSCAPE.
>> AND THEN I PUT MY SEPTIC AND WELL ON IT AND ALL THAT.
>> YOU CAN RIGHT NOW UP TO FOUR TIMES.
>> [OVERLAPPING]IF THE LAND EXISTS YOU CAN BUY IT AND YOU CAN CREATE UP TO FOUR AS LONG AS YOU GOT 20 ACRES LEFTOVER.
>> I'M JUST COMING TO THE COUNTY AND I BOUGHT TWO ACRES I WANT TO BUILD ME A HOUSE.
>> WHY COULDN'T YOU DO THAT? WHY DO YOU THINK YOU COULDN'T DO THAT?
>> CAN I DO THAT? DIDN'T YOU SAY YOU HAD A MINIMUM.
>> THAT'S FOR CREATING THE LOT.
>> IF YOU CAN GET A PERK, YOU CAN.
>> THE CONSTRAINT IS USUALLY SEPTIC DRAIN SRA.
>> WHETHER OR NOT YOUR PROBABLY ON PERK.
>> BUT YOU'RE SAYING I CAN'T GO; HEY, HANNAH, THE CORNER THAT FIELD THERE, CAN I BUY TWO ACRES OFF THAT CORNER?
>> YOU CAN BUY IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN BUILD ANYTHING ON IT.
>> [OVERLAPPING]IT DEPENDS ON IF IT'S BEEN SUBDIVIDED.
>> SHE HASN'T ALREADY CUT THREE OFF FOR HER KIDS.
>> IF THERE'S ANOTHER ONE AVAILABLE, THEN SHE CAN SELL IT TO YOU.
>> [OVERLAPPING]BUT WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY.
IF SHE'S GOT A 200 ACRE FARM AND SHE'S CUT THREE OFF FOR HER KIDS.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH CUTTING FOUR OFF FOR ME AND NOW YOU'VE ONLY TAKEN SIX ACRES [OVERLAPPING]
>>AND YOU GOT TO HAVE 20 ACRES LEFT.
>> TO GET THAT EXTRA FOURTH LOT.
YOU GET EXTRA FOURTH IF YOU HAVE 20 ACRES REMAINING, AND THEN YOU GET SOME EXTRAS IF YOUR FARMS AND TRACKS.
>> THIS IS JUST PLANNING TO ENCOURAGE JEFF.
>> DIDN'T WE ALSO TALK ABOUT WHERE, AND IT'S IN LAND USE, WHERE IF I OWN A FARM, I WANT TO PUT A COUPLE OF HOUSES ON IT.
WHY DO I HAVE TO DIVIDE? WHY I GOT TO PUT A PROPERTY LINE? I'M GOING TO BUILD TWO HOUSES ON MY FARM.
I'M GOING TO BUILD THREE HOUSES ON MY FARM.
I WANT TO PUT THREE HOUSES ON MY FARM.[LAUGHTER] I'M GOING TO LET MY KIDS LIVE THERE.
>> YOU CAN, BUT THEY GOT TO BE A CERTAIN SIZE, ACCESSORY DWELLINGS.
>> YOU HAVE TO MOVE TO MONTANA, JEFF.
>> NO. WHAT I'M SAYING IS, WHY CAN'T WE DO THAT? THERE'S BEEN MORE THAN ONE FAMILY TALK.
WHY CAN'T I BUY FARM AND START A FAMILY COMPANY.
>> A COUPLE OF REASONS, BECAUSE WHO'S DOING THE FINANCING? YOUR KIDS CANNOT GET FINANCING, AND YOU WOULDN'T WANT THEM TO GET FINANCING [OVERLAPPING].
>> JEFF'S RICH. WHAT IF HE HAS A MILLION?
>> HOLD ON. FINANCE IS NOT THE COUNTY'S PROBLEM. THAT'S MY PROBLEM.
>> BUT THEN ON TOP OF IT, THEIR PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE GOING TO A BANK AND THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, WHAT IS YOUR COLLATERAL? WELL, MY DAD'S GOT TO OUR NEIGHBORS [INAUDIBLE]
>> WAIT A MINUTE, A BANK FOR WHAT? TO BUILD THAT HOUSE?
>> I'M GOING TO BUILD IT. I'M GOING TO BUILD IT BECAUSE WHEN THEY GET DIVORCED, THEY'RE NOT TAKING THAT HOUSE. THEY'RE LEAVING.[LAUGHTER]
>> WHERE ARE THE PROPERTY LINES?
>> THERE IS NONE. IT'S THE FARM.
>> YOU CAN START A MOBILE HOME PARK.
>>[OVERLAPPING] BUT MY MOBILE HOME PARKS, I WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT GATE AND THIS GOES TO BOBS HOUSE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] BUT THEN YOU WANT TO RETIRE AND YOU WANT TO SELL YOUR FARM, AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO DEAL OFF TWO ACRES TO YOUR KIDS WITH THAT HOUSE.
THAT'S AN ILLEGAL SUBDIVISION.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO TELL ME I CAN'T, AND I'M LIKE, OKAY, WELL THEN I'M GIVING MY FARM TO MY KIDS.
>> JEFF, I DON'T KNOW THE REASON WHY YOU CAN ONLY HAVE ONE PRIMARY RESIDENCE ON A PROPERTY.
>> BUT ISN'T THAT THE WHOLE WORLD.
[02:50:05]
>> [OVERLAPPING] HOW MAY TENANT HOUSES CAN YOU HAVE?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A LIMIT.
>> YOU JUST CALL IT AT 10 [INAUDIBLE].
>> BUT THEY HAVE TO EARN 50% OR MORE OF THEIR INCOME FROM YOUR FARM.
>> WE'RE MAKING IT HARD TO BE.
>> I HONESTLY I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THE POINT WAS TO NOT ALLOW MORE THAN ONE PRIMARY RESIDENCE ON A PROPERTY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE POINT IS.
I DO KNOW THAT SUBDIVIDING SMALL LOTS OUT INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE FOREVER, FRAGMENTS THE LANDSCAPE AND WHEN THE COUNTY'S PRIORITY IS PRESERVING THEIR RURAL LANDSCAPE AND AGRICULTURE, THAT KIND OF DEFEATS IT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] AND INFRASTRUCTURE TOO BECAUSE I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU KNOW WITH YOUR HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE, HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO THE NEAREST FIRE COMPANY? BECAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT WITHIN X AMOUNT OF MILES, YOU'RE GETTING AN EXTRA CHARGE ON YOUR HOME OWNERS INSURANCE.
>> I DON'T WANT TO BE RUDE WHEN I SAY; IT'S NOT YOUR BUSINESS.
DO YOU REALLY CARE IF MY HOUSE BURNS DOWN? NO. I WANT TO BUILD A HOUSE ON MY FARM AND I CAN'T DO IT. WHY NOT?
>> YEAH, WE'LL HAVE THIS DISCUSSION NEXT [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET OUT OF HERE TONIGHT.
>> [OVERLAPPING]I TURN INTO A POLITICIAN AFTER 9 O'CLOCK.
>> [OVERLAPPING]IS THIS THE CHAPTER WHERE THE GUY THAT CAME IN AND SAID YOU CAN'T RUN TWO HOME BASED BUSINESSES OF OUT OF ONE PROPERTY? IS THAT IT RIGHT HERE?
>> YES. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING ABLE TO EXPAND WHAT YOU CAN DO IN OUR ZONING DISTRICTS.
>> YEAH, IT JUST NEVER OCCURRED TO US THAT BOTH THE HUSBAND AND WIFE MIGHT WANT TO HAVE A HOME.
>>[OVERLAPPING] YES. IF ANYBODY THINKS OF ANY NEW STRATEGIES OR GOALS, SHOOT AN E MAIL AND WE WILL INCORPORATE THEM INTO THIS.
>> [OVERLAPPING]WE DON'T NEED TO VOTE ON THAT RIGHT?
>> NO, THIS WAS JUST FOR DISCUSSION.
WE INTRODUCED IT, BUT IT'LL BE HERE NEXT MEETING.
HOPEFULLY, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH SOME CHANGES.
WE AMENDED IT TO BE 100% OF WHATEVER MUTH IS PAYING OUT.
SO THE SOLAR COMPANY ORIGINALLY, I THINK WITH QUEEN ANNE'S PASSED, IT WAS 50% OF THE AVERAGE EASEMENT COST PER ACRE.
>> WHATEVER MUTH WAS PAYING OUT TO PRESERVE YOUR FARM, WHATEVER THEY WERE PAYING THE FARMER, TO PRESERVE THEIR FARM, THE AVERAGE FOR THAT YEAR, THE SOLAR COMPANY WAS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION, 50% OF THAT.
WE CHANGED IT TO 100 RIGHT NOW.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT WAS 50% OF THE FAIR MARKET APPRAISAL OF THE AREA OF LAND TAKEN OUT OF CROP PRODUCTION.
>> BUT THAT'S COUNTY OR STATE LAND PRESERVATION PRICES BECAUSE IT REALLY FLUCTUATES.
>> IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN STATE? THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHEN WE WORKSHOP IT HERE, BUT KEEP THAT IN MIND.
WE WENT 50-100 AND WE WANTED TO ADD A FEE FOR BATTERY ENERGY.
WE WENT AROUND ON THE BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE STUFF.
NOBODY WANTS TO ALLOW IT, BUT WE'RE PRETTY EXPRESSLY PREEMPTED BY THE STATE.
I DON'T THINK OUR MORATORIUM IS ANY GOOD AT THIS POINT.
A JUDGE IS GOING TO LAUGH US OUT OF A COURT ROOM AND WE SAY NO, WE GOT A MORATORIUM.
WELL, THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR SAY YOU DON'T. IT'S PRETTY CLEAR.
WE WERE THINKING ABOUT KICKING IN A FEE FOR EITHER THE PURCHASE OF FIRE EQUIPMENT FOR THE FIRE COMPANY OR FEE TO BE USED FOR TRAINING.
I DON'T KNOW. CRYSTAL AND STEWART GOT TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING CREATIVE THERE.
THAT WAS ANOTHER THING WE THREW IN THERE.
BUT I THINK IT'LL BE ON NEXT MONTH.
WHEN YOU GET IT [OVERLAPPING] LOOK AT IT AND GIVE US IDEAS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] OUR OCTOBER MEETING.
>> BUT IT WOULD STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH PUBLIC HEARING.
>> WHERE WILL WE BE AT IN OUR PROCESS AT THAT POINT?
>> IF WE APPROVE IT NEXT MONTH, THEN WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP.
>> WELL, SEE CHRIS AND I WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS VERY THING THIS AFTERNOON.
>> WILL WE ALREADY BE PAST THE PUBLIC.
>> THAT'S WHY OUR ORIGINAL SCHEDULE PROBABLY HAS TO BE MOVED.
>> YEAH. IT'S LIKE THREE STRAIGHT TUESDAYS, AND WE'RE DONE.
WE'RE LIKE TWO AND HALF WEEKS AWAY FROM THEORETICALLY ENACTING IT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] DAN TO GIVE THIS BODY AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON.
>> YEAH, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST REVIEWED IT.
[02:55:05]
[LAUGHTER].[BZA Update]
>> JUST REAL QUICK. SOMETHING I JUST THOUGHT
[Open Discussion ]
OF WHEN THEY PUT IN ON THOSE BIG SOLAR ARRAYS, THERE'S A LOT OF JOBS CREATED FOR A LITTLE WHILE.MOST OF THE PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE.
AND I UNDERSTAND THOSE PEOPLE THAT ONCE THE FACILITY IS UP AND RUNNING, IT'S TOTALLY AUTOMATED BECAUSE THERE ARE NO JOBS.
[INAUDIBLE] WAS THAT FARMING OR WHATEVER.
YOU HAVE FARMERS AND HELPERS AND FERTILIZER GUYS, [OVERLAPPING] SO YOU'RE KILLING SOME LOCAL JOBS.
>> IT'S A DOMINO EFFECT. [LAUGHTER] I'M JUST SAYIN. LET'S ADJOURN.
[Meeting Adjournment]
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO A JURY.
>> [OVERLAPPING] SECOND.[LAUGHTER].
>> THERE YOU GO.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.