La Plata, MD – A public hearing before the Charles County Planning Commission regarding the proposed land use study for Maryland Airport in Indian Head brought out throngs of residents to La Plata Monday, July 13.
Clive Graham of the consulting firm ERM told the planning commission that Mattawoman Creek runs south of the Maryland airport.
“There are wetlands with special concerns to the north,” Graham said. “It is an environmentally sensitive area.”
The study identified six areas of need in considering the plan: To propose land-use standards that minimize the public’s exposure to safety hazards and excessive noise from the airport; prevent the encroachment of incompatible land uses around the airport in order to preserve the future utility of the airport; ensure the growth of aviation compatible economic development activity within the areas surrounding the airport; assess future growth and development with respect to environmental conditions related to the Mattawoman Creek Watershed; explore the potential for return on investment to extend sewer lines to the area, including the Indian Head Science and Technology Park, and; develop a marketing strategy to promote the airport as well as potential commercial development and employment opportunities in the surrounding area.
“I wish open space had received a little more attention in your report,” board member Nancy Schertler stated.
Public comment weighed in heavily on both sides of the issue.
John Collier, president of the Southern Maryland Association of Realtors told the board his organization wholeheartedly supports the expansion of Maryland Airport.
“The airport was established in 1945,” he said. “We can, need and should establish land use policies to promote the airport. Charles County is in desperate need of an expanded industrial tax base. We need to lessen the impact on residents carrying the burden of taxation.
“We’re in direct competition with other counties when businesses decide where to locate,” he added.
Jim Long of the Mattawoman Watershed Society said that no new land should be considered for development.
“We have a strong interest because many of the recommendations would damage the health of Mattawoman Creek, which has reached a tipping point,” Long said. “Nearly all the land surrounding the airport is a forested target ecological area,” he added. “Too many other ecological studies are missing from the study.”
“Our members have felt at disenchantment for the western section of Charles,” stated Evelyn Hungerford. “This demands vision. We now have the long-awaited land use study and we are pleased with most of that. It is a privately owned business and up until now has not used any money from the county. I am pleased that the airport will pay 75 percent of the cost.”
“There are so many policies out there to protect our environment,” she said. “None of those are ever mentioned.”
Vince Hungerford focused on the word “squander,” which he said Webster defines as to lose and advantage or opportunity due to negligence or inaction.
“Think of the synergy here,” he said. “We are 25 miles south of Washington, D C. National Harbor is just up the road. They have had one accident at the airport and that was 40 years ago.
“This is the future economic engine for western Charles,” Hungerford noted. “Let’s not let it slip away because of inaction. Let’s not squander this opportunity.”
Kevin Grimes told the board that Indian Head was “a much better place to direct development.
“You would not have to run a sewer line, you would not have to run water,” he stated. “It will not be an economic engine.”
After someone in the audience interrupted his statement, Grimes got defensive.
“Does somebody else have something to say?” he asked. “I believe this is my three minutes.”
Grimes then asked the commission not to put profit before people.
“Do what’s right for the citizens, not just what will make a few people rich,” he concluded.
“I would like to note how much money we have already squandered,” Linda Redding stated. “The rich people I see on TV, I don’t think they’re going to fly to Pomonkey to rent a limo to go to Oxon Hill. I would like somebody to add up how much burden are you going to put on the citizens.
“Good ideas stand on their own two feet,” she said. “The reason this is not working is because it’s not a good idea. Plan our future, but don’t burden us with excess costs for bad ideas.”
Tempers flared when Gilbert Bozerman, owner of Maryland Airport, and Sue Greer of the Charles County Chamber of Commerce went way over the five minute window allowed for speakers.
As Greer continued to ignore people from the audience and continued speaking, someone yelled out, “No one else got another five minutes.”
“Well, we are,” she responded.
“I remember the movie ‘Field of Dreams,’ ” Ken Hastings said. “The main character turned his field into a baseball diamond and assumed the risk. This time we’re talking about economic development. If you build it, they will come, just on the chance that a number of ghosts will come play baseball. This time the public is at risk. This study is full of holes you could throw a bobcat through.
“I’m not a fan of this land use study,” he admitted. “When they land at that airport, they’re on their way somewhere else. They’re not going to shop at the two dollar stores. Don’t do it. They aren’t coming. Our land use study should reflect that fact.”
Jim Reed of La Plata, a pilot of 55 years, said there was a runoff problem at the airport, but that was mitigated.
“Now we have state of the art things that take the runoff into holding ponds,” he said. “The creek is more protected now than ever.
“The airport is a front door to the community,” Reed noted.
“All this is going to do is make a temporary fix,” said Jacob Tayman. “Yeah, maybe one or two people will come in. One speaker talked about the president of Ranger boats selling boats in the Walmart parking lot. It’s not helping the economy, it’s helping him. It’s not helping somebody selling boats in Charles County.”
“The airport is not for use by all of us, even though all of us ended up paying for it,” said Nina Anthony.
Douglas James, who does aircraft maintenance, said, “The list of hazardous materials in order to do aviation maintenance is staggering. If you do aircraft maintenance at Maryland Airport, it would destroy Mattawoman Creek.
Commission members voted to keep the public record open for 14 days before they will bring the land use study back before the board to make a decision.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com