Doughoregan Manor

Perhaps you saw the Baltimore Sun Opinion piece about this historic property. Honestly, I didn’t. A reader brought it to my attention and I think it is worth bringing to your attention too.

Doughoregan’s fate
This is apparently a fine piece of investigative work on the part of Howard County Sun reporter Larry Carson.

This is a story 300 years in the making… I quote the first paragraph.

Doughoregan Manor – the more than 1,400-acre, roughly 300-year-old estate in the middle of Howard County – is among the nation’s most significant private properties. Questions about its future are now in the air. These can only be satisfactorily resolved with funds and creativity from county, state and federal officials – and public-spirited generosity by the manor’s owners, direct descendents of Charles Carroll III of Carrollton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, whose grandfather founded the estate and who is buried in a chapel there.

Now my initial opinion is I am all for property owners rights. My reader seems to have no argument about property rights either, but brings up some very valid points.

I am respecting the anonymity of the reader, but here (with permission) is what the reader shared with me.

The property owners approached the County because they wanted more than what is currently allowed to them under law. They wanted part of the property zoned differently, they wanted an extension of the planned service area and they wanted 24$ million in Ag pres money. Under the existing zoning they can develop roughly the same number of houses and preserve the same amount of open space- but not get the $24 million. Additionally- the more intense multi family zoning of the PSA extension would generate more dollars for development than the current well/septic set up. The current zoning-however- would likely scatter the open space- rather than consolidate it and may threaten the historic setting or resources. Current zoning would require them to cluster the homes 1 unit per 4.25 acres… on one acre lots and set aside the rest in open space. Current law also allows reservation of land by a public entity for public use- if that public use is clearly outlined in the General Plan or Capital budget. Both parkland and school sites are goals of the general plan (and at this geographic location) and both have line items in the capital budgets…So…”under current law”… they (the Carrolls) can’t pretty much do what they want… but they can do a lot. So the questions are: If we expend millions and millions in public dollars do we have a right to public access? Is it better- fiscally- to buy land for parks and school sites and stop the development that will cost more money in infrastructure… or not reserve/pay for the land for public use- allow it to be developed- but bear the associated costs of providing adequate facilities? Do we really want to fulfill our goals for Agricultural land, park land and school sites… or are we just talking the talk because those costs are dramatically more than anyone ever envisioned? Should we ever extend our PSA? Under what circumstances? Is the 40K per acre price offered to the Carrolls- open for other farm owners- or just this farm? Can the owners make the same money by transferring their development rights to someone who wants them- say Town Center? Perhaps these answers will be forthcoming at tomorrow’s meeting.

Very well said and a very informed reader. I am humbled that I was asked for my opinion, and even more humbled by my pathetic answer to the initial question.

This is not an issue that will be settled soon. It probably will be settled by the next administration and County Council. So, future Council Members and County Executives. Where do you stand on this issue? And what a question to ask, because this one issue is loaded full of implications!

For more in depth background on this historical property click HERE

Tom Snyder who?

I overlooked this yesterday.

State environmental official is resigning post

The director of the Maryland Department of the Environment's air pollution control division said yesterday that he is resigning to run for political office in Howard County.

Thomas C. Snyder, a 14-year veteran of the department, said his resignation is effective Feb. 3.

"I was not pushed out. It was my own decision," Snyder said. "I like to believe that I'm a strong environmentalist … and I feel I can make an impact in Howard County, where we have a big growth problem that I'd like to talk about."

Snyder, 50, who lives in Ellicott City, said he will announce later what he's running for.

His decision to step down comes as his agency is rewriting air pollution rules proposed by the Ehrlich administration in November.

Well who is he and what is he running for? Rumor has it he may run for County Executive. He is a registerd Republican living in Ellicott City. Will Merdon have a primary? Good, it will help him sharpen his message.

Interestingly enough he has a letter to the editor in the Howard County Times today.

Inter-agency cooperation will help prevent tragedies

Honestly, I am active in the party and I never heard of this guy. Ok, maybe he was the guy people mentioned to me last summer that may come from State Government and run for District One. I don't remember if he was the guy or not. Point is what kind of support from the Party does he think he is going to get? The Centeral Committee by its own rules will remain neutral in a primary, but some of the most active members of the Central Committee are active on Merdon's campaign. If Tom Snyder ever showed up at a GOP Club function I would not know about it.

He has every right to run. But you would think he would have some kind of track record with the local party. Don't you?

Much ado about nothing…

The Ho Co Times tries points out a couple of issues I have already addressed here.

Take a look for yourself. Dems deny party feuds, but some disagreements emerge

and its sister article

County GOP sees chance for wins, despite numbers

The best quote in the “Party Feuds” article is this gem:

“It sounds like a modern-day political Peyton Place where you need score cards to keep track of debt tolls and allegiances,” said Keith Haller, CEO of Potomac Incorporated, a non-partisan political polling firm in Bethesda.

I wouldn’t characterize the Democrats that way at all. They hold the majority of elected seats in all but one body – The State Senate – and have for a while. Even the “non-partisan” Board of Education is made up of all registered Democrats save Diane Mikulas the lone registered Republican.

However, as the “GOP sees chance…” article points out and no one should over look this fact.

As of Jan. 12, Howard County had 60,885 registered Republicans and 80,753 registered Democrats, according to local election officials. The county also has 33,914 voters who are not affiliated with either party. Republican wins will “very much depend on voter turnout,” said Gimpel, adding that independent voters tend to support Republican candidates in the county.

Look at County Council District One. I am not calling this out because of Merdon, but because it is a swing district in a swing county. Merdon would not have won District One twice with large margins if it wasn’t for three factors (among others):

1. GOP turn out
2. Cross voters from the Democratic Party
3. Independents

Although it is interesting to ponder the personalities and circumstances in Council District 2 and House District 13, and the possible implications for the election it all remains to be seen.

County Council District 4

Josh Feldmark, who recently declared his campaign for this open seat, is the current chairman of the Columbia Council. Mr. Feldmark lives in the same precinct as Mary Kay Sigaty, and was elected to the Columbia Council while Ms. Sigaty lost in a Columbia Council race.

It is conceivable that Mr. Feldmark and Ms. Sigaty will split the base they both share in the Logfellow area of Columbia. However, based on what I learned this is Mr. Feldmark's race to lose.

Not to say that Ms. Sigaty is not a credible candidate. I have met her. I don't agree with her on some issues – but she is as sincere and dedicated to public service as are the other candidates (Mr. Feldmark and the GOP candidate Tom D'Asto).

Mr. Ulman's success in the 2002 election was, in large part, due to River Hill, which was still upset with Ms. Sigaty's participation in the school redistricting committee decision to move River Hill High Scool children to Atholton only a few months earlier before the election. For those voters it was pay back time. Voters have short memories, and they probably are comfortable with the redistricting at this point (it has been four years).

Mr. Ulman is likely to back Feldmark since Mr. Feldmark’s wife is Mr. Ulman's special assistant on the Council.

Guy Guzzone will likely support Mr. Feldmark. If you inspect Mr. Guzzone's campaign expenses you will notice in Mr. Guzzone’s finance report that he paid Mr. Feldmark for campaign management before Mr. Guzzone bowed out of the County Executive race.

Mr. Ulman now lives in River Hill and is firmly establish there. As such he may be able to rally much support for Feldmark from River Hill. Among the highest voting precincts in the county in 2002 were Longfellow and one of the precincts in River Hill.

Point is that Mr. Feldmark has strong Democratic support in a strong Democratic district.

To add to Ms. Sigaty's problems is the preception of holding a BofE seat that she would have to vacate if she won a council seat (after serving only 1 year of a 4 year term). The result would be an added burden that the rest of the BofE would have to deal with a very heavy work load without her. How long would it take for a new County Executive to appoint a replacement? Do you think the BofE (which is dominated by Democrats) is going to support her run? Perhaps she should give up the seat now so a that a new member can get acclimated. Remember, the board is going to turn over 5 members this year.

Joan Lancos, Ulman's GOP opponent in 2002, is reportedly helping with Ms. Sigaty's campaign. I suspect that they are both still resentful of Mr. Ulman's campaign tactics in 2002. Perhaps they have other mutual interests, but I wouldn't be aware of them. I wonder if Ms. Sigaty will throw her support behind any County Executive Candidate. Support Merdon and risk alienating the Democrats in her district, and the same treatment that David Rakes is geeting, or swallow hard and support Ulman given the facts mentioned above. A coup for Chris Merdon if Ms. Sigaty supports him in the General Election and not to be considered outside the realm of possibilities.

None of this bodes well for Tom D'Asto, the current GOP candidate on the surface.

However, think about this. If Mr. Feldmark is the man to beat in the Primary, and he has support from Messrs. Ulman and Guzzone it is almost a lock for Mr. Feldmark. If Mr. Feldmark wins the Primary then Mr. D'Asto needs to get Lancos/Sigaty support in the General Election in order to expand his base. If D'Asto can pull that off then why wouldn't Ms. Sigaty go ahead and endorse a Republican for County Executive. Merdon is a moderate and Sigaty is an independant and both are willing to compromise for the right reasons. I don't know her well enough to know if she would be willing to cross party lines to support D'Asto or Merdon, but the fact Joan Lancos crossed party lines to support her perhaps Ms. Sigaty is of like mind.

It would also help if Mr. Ulman stumbles in his campaign for County Executive.