Accokeek is in a unique position: we are split between what is called the Rural Tier and the Developing Tier.
All of us in Council District 9 (Accokeek, Clinton, Brandywine, Upper Marlboro, Baden-Aquasco, Croom) may seem rural in character, but many sections are designated as Developing. That means that they will continue to be developed until they reach a certain (very high) level of density, at which point they will be �Developed.�
TDRs have worked well in some counties (Montgomery), but not others (Charles.) In theory, they are a good idea: When a developer builds a subdivision in the developing or developed tiers, s/he is required to buy TDRs (a landowner's right to develop the land.) In doing so, they are paying for that land to be preserved in perpetuity. The land is generally in the rural tier, in large swaths, and is thus prevented from being developed.
The TDR bill has almost reached its final form, so we have to drive our main message home with a sledgehammer NOW before it becomes a foregone conclusion.
Please click on this link to copy (and modify if you wish) and send a letter expressing your support for CB-5-2006.
When I called, Mrs. Bland's aide who is handling TDRs (Mr. Pressley) said, �Her position is your position!� This is why your response is so important � we need to counteract developer pressure with voter pressure.
What I said we want:
1. All of Accokeek and part of Clinton to be put into the rural tier. Doug Peters (District 5) just put 700 fairly random acres in Bowie into the rural tier; if he can, she can
2. TDRs must apply to the Bevard Properties, not exempted as some Dean and Peters projects have been, but she exempted them anyway
3. The rural tier moratorium on development continued (it is due to expire March 31; the Council has decided not to extend it)
4. Mandatory downzoning for the entire county, which makes TDRs worth something � if allowable density is lowered everywhere, more TDRs must be purchased, and more land will be preserved; part of the rural tier was downzoned. All of the rural tier is zoned R-A (you can build on 2 acre lots) or O-S (you can build on 5 acre lots.) O-S was downzoned to 1 house per 25 acres
5. The bill to be killed if the loopholes and sneaky language are not taken out making TDRs optional; they must be mandatory for developers; some progress has been made here, and we are hoping for continued improvement, especially after the Council hears from you!
Mr. Pressley and I discussed the fact that District 9 has historically been rural in nature, if not in title, and that we would like to see TDRs and restrictions on density help direct developers out of District 9 to other Districts where their developments can be better served by our County's scant resources and public facilities. I emphasized a lot that areas such as Clinton and other parts of District 9 which are designated "developing" are getting developed too fast for the County to handle, and in a way that is inappropriate for the existing communities, which have long consisted of farmlands and small, old-fashioned neighborhoods.
Although Ms. Bland's aide, Mr. Pressley, called me back twice, and read my comments to me verbatim to make sure that they were correct, he is new in her office, and she may not be giving him the same consideration that she may be giving to more established staff members. I am encouraged by emails I have received from other people who have contacted Ms. Bland's office with the same message, but we need more!
Ms. Bland is not the friend of the rural tier she pretends to be. She is increasingly accomodating to developers who are destroying District 9 in countless ways. If she does not hear from enough voters in her district who support the TDR bill, it will not pass, and we can prepare to be paved over.
PLEASE call or write now!
Thank you to GACA (Greater Accokeek Civic Association), the Prince George's chapter of Sierra Club, and other civic groups who are working with us to promote a unified message.
Since the Moyaone Reserve as an institution chooses not to be politically active at all, I implore Moyaoners to call and identify themselves as Moyaoners. During hearings, the Moyaone�s absence of expressed opinion is often represented as tacit approval of bills in direct conflict with the Moyaone�s published guiding principles.
Other civic groups take note as well: if you don�t give an opinion for the record, your silence is likely to be manipulated by developers to mean that you support things you may not.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Ms. Bland�s aide, Anthony Pressley, can be reached at 301-952-5552. Chairman Dernoga can be reached at 301-952-3887. Council Vice Chair Camille Exum is at 301-952-3690. All of the council members' contact information is on our contacts page.
Let me know what happens, and please call or write if you have questions.