Over the past eighteen months there has been much
discussion about development in our town. Are Emmitsburg’s
planning and zoning ordinances and regulations adequate? Are
they old and out dated? Do they need to be refined and
amended? If you answered yes or you’re not sure about these
questions or you have questions and concerns of your own,
you need to be aware that the town will soon be reviewing
and updating the comprehensive plan.
The Emmitsburg Town Planner with the Planning & Zoning
Committee will take the lead in updating the current
comprehensive plan. During the review of the comprehensive
plan citizens will be asked for their input. This is the
time to express your thoughts. Don’t wait until after the
plan is updated and approved. It will be another five years
before it is reviewed again. You do not need to join a
committee to give public input; your thoughts and comments
are accepted at all planning & zoning committee meetings.
After the Planning and Zoning Committee make their final
revisions to the plan, they will pass it on to the Town
Council for them to review and make any changes they feel
appropriate. After the Town Council has made their final
changes, they will approve it as the official Town of
Emmitsburg Comprehensive Plan. Once the Town Council
approves the plan it becomes one of the major tools used by
the Town Council, Planning & Zoning Committee and outside
developers to make recommendations and requests for future
development.
A good comprehensive plan that has the true and realistic
vision of the town can be a valuable resource. A
comprehensive plan that does not have the true vision of the
citizens in town, but is put in place just because the town
is required to do so, will undoubtedly become the thorn that
begins the cycle that creates unwanted irreversible changes
to the town.
As you are aware, the town is currently going through an
unusual amount of development. This can be a scary time for
some. In today’s society, change is inevitable. We all know
as the State of Maryland changes, Frederick County changes.
Emmitsburg will change too. We cannot stop change, but we
can control it. But, we can only control it if we work
together and create a vision for the town and document it.
The Mayor, Town Council and Planning & Zoning committee
members are required by law to follow written policies and
ordinances. In the next few months the Town’s Planning &
Zoning committee will start the process to begin the
updating of the comprehensive plan. Watch the Town’s Cable
Channel 99; check out the Planning & Zoning meeting
agendas on our website for
more information on the comprehensive plan; or call
Mike Lucas, Town Planner, at 301-447-2313.
I can assure you that the Town is taking the current
development and requests for future development very
seriously. Some of our oldest sewer lines and water lines
are in the process to be replaced and plans are being
discussed to replace several others. The Town’s water supply
is adequate for all of the planned development. However, the
town’s sewer and water delivery systems’ pipes are a serious
concern. Due to the poor condition of many pipes, the town
has lost as much as 80,000 gallons of water per day through
leaking pipes. We are currently addressing leaks in our
system and will continue to search for and repair other
leaks.
