The Finksburg News

         Finksburg Planning Area Council, Inc. Newsletter

 

To Promote A Finksburg Community,

Whose Objective Is To Preserve The Fundamental Quality Of Life Where Farms, Families And Businesses

 May Coexist In A Manner Beneficial To All

 

Finksburg Library a “Blivit”

Open Forum for Citizens in June

Cedarhurst Neighborhood Bombarded

with Lousy Industrial Neighbors

 

Next General Meeting Date of the Finksburg Planning Area Council:    Thursday, June 27th at 7 PM Canceled

Where:    Sandymount United Methodist Church Meeting Hall, 2101 Old Westminster Pike

 

 “An informed citizenry behaves in an informed manner,

An uninformed citizenry … well they get what they deserve.”

                                                                                                          Anonymous

June Meeting: FPAC has learned that the Commissioners have entered into a contract to purchase only 3 acres of land off Deer Park Rd. near Rt. 91 to locate a new library headquarters and community library. The idea of a library for Finksburg sprang from FPAC, however, we are opposed to the purchase of this site for several reasons, not the least of which is that it is what is known in the development trade as a “Blivit”.  A Blivit occurs when a developer tries to put 10 acres worth of stuff on a site which will only hold 5 acres worth. In this instance it appears the County is trying to fit a multi-use building, parking, well, septic and stormwater management on just three acres when much more is needed. The FPAC Board feels this site is also an inappropriate location for a Finksburg community center and that it does not leave room for expansion for a future senior center. FPAC did not ask the County to move the Library Headquarters here, however we would welcome that operation in a more appropriate location. Surely a site could be found closer to the center of our community, nearer Sandymount Park or perhaps relocated into the vacant Jubilee Foods Store in Finksburg Plaza.

FPAC has invited Carroll Library Director Linda Mielke to fill us in at the June Meeting.

 

MD State Highway Administration officials have been invited to speak at the June meeting about upcoming plans for Rts. 140 and 91 in the Finksburg corridor.

 

An Open Forum for Finksburg Citizens will be held in June. Bring your gripes, your compliments and your questions!

 

FPAC will be sponsoring Candidate Forums at future meetings. Mark your calendar now for the July 25th Picnic– we have invited all the candidates for House of Delegates to speak, and for August 22nd we will have all of the candidates for County Commissioner in forum format. In October FPAC will again invite the Commissioner candidates who survived the Primary to address our local issues.

 

The Finksburg Banner: This is our quarterly print newspaper which is distributed free to all residents and businesses in the 21048 zip code. If you did not receive a copy in the mail please notify us at neil@finksburg.com Area businesses are encouraged to take advantage of the inexpensive advertising rates and residents are asked to patronize our advertisers. The next edition of the Banner will appear in October and will be full of information about the candidates for County offices and the issues affecting Finksburg. We are looking for articles and photos of local interest. If you have any ideas, contact Denny Broderick at  410-833-4255

 

Cedarhurst Rd. Neighbors get Industry’s – and County’s  - Backside: Residents of the tidy Cedarhurst Road Community have asked FPAC to help with some problems they are encountering with the nearby businesses that back up to their properties. The businesses are located in the IR zoning district along Dede Road which parallels but lies above Cedarhurst Rd and is adjacent to a stream which flows directly into Liberty Reservoir. After inspecting the area, Board members heartily agreed that these residents were being subjected to far more disruption than they should have to. Unfortunately, FPAC has learned that the rubble fill that Roll Off Express is using to expand its site may be fully within the County and State law. This is indicative of an intentional failure on the part of County Government to contact adjoining property owners whenever site plans are reviewed. In the course of investigating the complaints against R O E , FPAC learned that another Dede Rd. business, BFI, was expanding their building with the intent to operate a waste transfer station form the site. FPAC has requested a public meeting from MDE officials so that neighbors concerns about noise, vermin, odors, site lighting and hours of operation can be taken into consideration during MDE’s permitting process.

Subdivision News:

Seven Eleven Convenience Store: to be located at the intersection of Bethel Road and Rt. 140. FPAC has concerns about a new traffic configuration which may prove impossible for area farmers to use as well as aesthetic impacts such as a sign which is twice the size necessary. Planning Commission approval of the Site Plan is being sought on Tuesday June 18th. There will be a lot of pressure brought by the site owner, Commissioner Julia Gouge’s brother Sterling Walsh, to get this Plan approved!

 

Reach a Board Member:

Debbie Ridgely                     President                               (410) 239-7840

John Lopez                            Vice President                       (410) 239-6820

Doris Edwards                      Secretary                               (410) 876-1278

Martin Schmidt                     Treasurer                               (410) 526-6685

Neil Ridgely                          Communications Director   (410) 239-7840

Dan Bleclic                            Board Member at Large      (410) 840-9302

Wilfred Hoff                          Board Member at Large      (410) 848-6989

Marilyn Caple                       Board Member at Large      (410) 840-2826

Maureen Ackerman             Board Member at Large      (410) 848-1318

ü       Save a Stamp: Receive your newsletter electronically. Send your e-mail address to dan@finksburg.com.

ü       Mark Your Calendar: General Council meetings are the 4th Thursday of the month at the Sandy Mount United Methodist Church. Meetings begin at 7 PM. Board meetings are usually held on the 1st Wednesday of each month. The next Board meeting will be held on July 3, 2002 and General Meetings on Canceled For June and August 22nd

ü       Directions to the Meetings: From the West take Rte 140 East to the intersection at Sandymount Rd. Turn South (right) on   Sandymount to the Stop sign. The Church is immediately to your left, straight across from the Stop.

 From the East take Rte 140 West to the intersection at Sandymount Rd. Turn South (left) on Sandymount Road to the Stop sign. The Church is immediately to your left, straight across from the Stop.

 

 


Yearly Membership Fee: $10 per Household, $25 per business

 

______ I would like to join the Finksburg Planning Area Council, Inc. a not-for-profit organization.

_____ I would like to renew my membership. (Dues and donations not tax deductible)

______ Yes, I would also like to volunteer. (Board membership, roadside trash pickup, county meeting attendance, etc.)

______ I would like to make an additional donation of $______________ to the FPAC.

 

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Finksburg Planning Area Council, Inc.      P O Box 70      Finksburg, Maryland      21048