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

FPAC To Tour New Grocery Store!!!!!

“Indecision is the thief of opportunity." Jim Rohn, Motivational speaker

The Finksburg Planning Area Council, Inc. has been invited to tour the new Bruns & Merkel grocery store at Finksburg Plaza, Thursday, August 28^th at 7 p.m.

Who: All residents of Finksburg and its environs are invited

What: To attend the Finksburg Planning Area Council general membership meeting

When: Thursday, August 28^th at 7 p.m.

Where: Bruns & Merkel grocery store

New Business Tour:

The owners of the new Bruns & Merkel grocery store at Finksburg Plaza have invited FPAC members and others in the community to tour the new store. We will meet at Bruns & Merkel at 7 p.m. and then hold our regular meeting in a second floor conference room of the plaza at 8 p.m. On the agenda is discussion on billboards and Suffolk Road pollution.

Billboard Update:

The County Commissioners held a public hearing on the proposed billboard restrictions on August 5. Seventy-people attended , including FPAC members, and about two-thirds of the crowd were in favor of the proposed restrictions. Opponents of the measure, included “Big Billboard” corporate representatives and property owners. The commissioners have allowed written comments to be made until August 15. If you want to send your comments to the commissioners, please address them to the Commissioners at 225 N. Center St., Westminster, MD. 21157 or e mail to Neil Ridgely at NRIDGELY@ccg.carr.org. The commissioners have tentatively set an August 18 date to vote on the measure.

Billboards, signs, aesthetics:

If you are interested in helping monitor billboards, signs, and building facades that are either good examples or poor examples of what you want to see in a gateway community please contact FPAC President Debbie Ridgely at finksburg.org. The information gathered, including pictures of advertisements and business locations, could be used when a new gateway committee is formed to look at county aesthetics.

Trash Cleanup:

The July cleanup of Route 91 was held July 26. We appreciate all of those who came out. Surprisingly the amount of trash was less than in previous pickups. It’s nice to know motorists are throwing their garbage away in the proper receptacles. Stay tuned for the date of the next trash pickup.

FPAC Picnic Follow-up:

The annual FPAC picnic was held July 24 at the Sandymount Park recreation area. More than 30 residents showed up to enjoy great food, drink and hospitality. Frank Johnson, Administrative Assistant to Commissioner Julia Walsh Gouge attended and updated members and guests about county issues, including billboards and growth.

Lost and Found:

Someone’s daughter left her purse (Lisa Frank model) with a ring inside at the annual picnic. If this is your daughter’s purse please contact Mat Tiahrt at mat_tiahrt@metronetworks.com.

Jason Acres Vandalism:

There was an incident last month on an early Sunday morning where several residents in the Jason Acres section of Finksburg had their mailboxes vandalized. One neighbor saw the whole thing and contacted State Police who stopped the alleged vandals. Kudos to that neighbor.

Coparts Update:

Nothing new to report on Coparts purchase of Vogt’s site. Coparts has to provide the county with a site plan before it can proceed with any alterations to the site.

Library News:

The County is still looking for land for a future Finksburg Public Library. If you know of land, five acres or more, for sale, please let the County Land Acquisition Office know about it. The number is 410-386-2035.

Mudgett Plan:

Mudgetts wants to rent business space out at a proposed business center along Dede Road and 140. The company received board of zoning appeals approval for a planned business center, which allows Mudgett to locate two or three retail businesses on the front of that parcel. There will be an opportunity for public comment on each proposed business that goes into the retail center.

Environmental and Zoning Complaints:

Some residents living in the Cedarhurst neighborhood have complained about possible environmental and zoning problems relating to some businesses along the Dede Road Industrial Park area. The county is currently investigating.

Growth Task Force:

The Growth Task Force will meet August 20 at 1:30 p.m. in the county office building. Board Vice President John Lopez is a member. Here is the latest on the Growth Task Force from a 8/12/03 press release from the county.

August 12, 2003

Growth Task Force Meeting to be Held

The Growth Task Force will meet in Room 300A of the County Office Building on Wednesday, August 20 at 1:30PM. The key item for discussion is the process for determining whether public facilities – schools, roads, utilities, and emergency services – are adequate. Currently, staff determine adequacy when a plan is submitted. At the last meeting, several members agreed that the Planning and Zoning Commission should approve adequacy of facilities in a public forum. Discussion at the August 20 meeting will focus on the timing and process under which the Planning and Zoning Commission would do so.

The Task Force will also discuss, as time permits, the specific standards by which public facilities are determined to be adequate. Specifically the task force plans to hear an update and ideas from the Emergency Services Subcommittee regarding police and fire and rescue standards. Also on the agenda is a discussion about school standards and including a test for state roads in the test for adequacy. Currently, only local county roads, not state roads, are tested for adequacy.

The public is invited to the meeting, which is scheduled to end at approximately 3:30 PM.

Major Court Decision:

The Maryland Court of Special Appeals ruled August 8 that it supported Judge Burns’ decision, which overturned the previous Board of County Commissioners rezoning of the Rash Brothers Farm. Bottom line is the Freedom Area Citizens Council won the case and the property will not be rezoned. This is a good example of community groups like FACC and FPAC fighting for what they believe in and providing a huge voice for citizen interests.

Web site:

Have you been to the new Finksburg web site? If not it's at www.finksburg.org

Board of Directors:

Debbie Ridgely- President

John Lopez- Vice President

Maureen Ackerman- Secretary

Martin Schmidt-Treasurer

Mat Tiahrt-Communications Director

Board members At-Large-

Richard Ackerman

Mike Davis

Doris Edward

Donald Hoffman

You can reach any of these board members by going to the finksburg.org web site.

If there is a neighbor or a business you regularly trade with, ask them if they would like the newsletter sent to them electronically. Send us their address so they are included in future mailings.

Be informed! Attend the Next Meeting!

FPAC Inc. Schedule

8/28 General membership meeting, Bruns & Merkle, 7 p.m. tour of store, 8p.m. regular meeting, 2^nd floor Finksburg Plaza. Billboard update and water pollution.

9/3- Board of Directors meeting 7 p.m.

9/25- General membership meeting- Corridor plan, Gerstell Academy, Library, 7 p.m. Sandy Mount United Methodist Church

Save a Stamp: Receive your newsletter electronically. Send your e-mail address to Richard Ackerman at richard.ackerman@finksburg.org.

ü Mark Your Calendar: General Council meetings are the 4^th 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.

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

Dues: If you haven't paid your dues for 2003 please do so. The organization uses money from dues to pay for the printing and mailing costs of this newsletter and other mailings.

______ 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