Leonardtown, MD — Maryland’s new planning director has logged in on the contentious Leonardtown Library site debate. Secretary of the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) David Craig (shown), in a letter to the county commissioners dated March 23, says he supports the downtown location.
The location on Lawrence Avenue near the central business district has been advocated by Leonardtown Mayor Dan Burris and the Leonardtown Business Association. The issue has been controversial within the town council, with some members preferring the Hayden Farm site.
The county commissioners have tentatively chosen the county owned Hayden Farm property at which the Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School is under construction. That site is preferred by the Library Board of Trustees.
Craig was a candidate for governor in the Republican primary, and the man who defeated him, Gov. Larry Hogan appointed him to the planning post. Craig’s background includes being mayor of a Maryland small town, Havre de Grace. In his letter to the commissioners, Craig invited them to visit Havre de Grace which is building a new downtown library. After that visit, he said, “We could then travel to Bel Air and visit the old armory which has recently been restored for public use.” He adds he would also like to come down to Leonardtown to visit the proposed site.
In his letter, Craig said, “In 2001, MDP staff visited both locations considered as possible library locations, the former Hayden Farm site and the downtown location, to consider their vehicular and pedestrian access, contribution to the communities’ economic development opportunities and consistency with the state’s Smart Growth policies. Though both locations would have a positive impact on the community, we found that the downtown location represents a much better opportunity to create a public library in a location that will also promote economic development for the community.”
Craig says that libraries help downtowns. He said in the letter that a 2003 edition of the Planning Commission Journal said libraries “draw 500 to 1,500 people a day, close to the draw of a small department store.” However the St. Mary’s County Planning Commission has come out in support of the Hayden Farm site for the new library.
Craig’s opinion could be largely a bully pulpit. Although the library project does have state monies involved, both properties are in town and in a state Priority Funding Area. The state provided monies for the Duke Elementary School that sits on the same property.
Contact Dick Myers at news@thebaynet.com