TOWN MEETING MINUTES
Minutes of the November 5, 2003 Town Council Meeting
7:00 p.m., Trappe Town Hall


President Cheryl Lewis called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commissioners Danny Adams, Edgar Harrison and Norm Fegel were present. Everyone stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. President Lewis explained that we overlooked a step in advertising Ordinance 6-2003 when we introduced it on September 3, 2003. We are going to re introduce tonight.

Attorney Booth explained that Ordinance 6-2003 repeals and reenacts section 14 and 15 of the floating zone relating to fees, charges and expenses. She stated Ordinance 6-2003 was enacted 62 days ago, but we overlooked the step of advertising. We are re-introducing it here tonight in a 2nd public hearing for your input.

AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF TRAPPE REPEALING AND REENACTING SECTION 14 OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE RELATING TO FEES, CHARGES AND EXPENSES, AND REPEALING AND REENACTING SECTION 15 OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT PROCEDURE, AND AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO CREATE SECTION 30 ENTITLED “FLOATING ZONES”.

Commissioner Harrison read:
  1. That Section 14 of the Zoning Ordinance is hereby repealed, and that Section 14, as attached to and incorporated into this Ordinance is hereby adopted.
  2. That Section 15 of the Zoning Ordinance is hereby repealed, and that Section 15, as attached to and incorporated into this Ordinance, is hereby adopted.
President Lewis asked if anyone had any comments. Hearing none, a motion was made by President Lewis to introduce Ordinance 6-2003.

The motion was seconded by Commissioner Harrison.

Vote:

Adams – Y, Lewis – Y, Harrison – Y, Fegel – Y

Commissioner Harrison asked to close the meeting and move into the public hearing. The meeting was closed at 7:17 and moved to the public hearing.


PUBLIC HEARING
November 5, 2003, Trappe Town Hall


President Lewis opened public hearing for comments.

She asked everyone to state their name and address.

Mr. Mark Bower, 2382 Chancellors Point Road, Trappe, Maryland. Mr. Bower asked if the Ordinance became effective on September 3, 2003. President Lewis stated that the Ordinance would not take affect until 45 days after an affirmative vote.

Mr. Mike McKale, 1787 Chancellors Point Road, Trappe, Maryland. Mr. McKale asked if the concept is similar to what the County Council looked at 18 months ago. Mr. Hall asked Mr. McKale if he was referring to the private retreat club concept. Mr. Hall explained the difference between the County project and the floating zone proposed by the Town of Trappe. Mr. McKale asked what was the advantage of the floating zone. Attorney Booth stated that floating zone allows for greater flexibility for quality design and gives the town more power to control the development. Mr. Hall added that a floating zone application requires an additional public hearing which gives the public more involvement compared to Euclidian zoning.

The public hearing was closed at 7:14 p.m.


PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 7-2003, AMENDING ZONING ORDINANCE
November 5, 2003, 7:15 p.m., Trappe Town Hall


President Lewis opened the public hearing for Ordinance 7-2003 and stated that there are two amendments to the Planned Neighborhood (PN) Ordinance recommended by the Planning Commission.

Mr. Hall explained the details of the proposed amendments and that the PN Ordinance would be applicable to any large annexation or development project in the whole town.

President Lewis opened the hearing for comments.
  1. Ms. Peggy Paul, 1352 Chancellors Point Road, Trappe, MD. Ms. Paul asked if the developer is required to use any of the three (3) housing types or is it the developers’ choice to exclude 1 of the 4 housing types. Ms. Paul was concerned that the developer may exclude the housing type that may provide affordable housing. Commissioner Harrison explained that any of the four housing types could be used to provide affordable housing.
  2. Ms. Rebecca Ellison, Oxford, MD. Ms. Ellison requested clarification about how multifamily housing is calculated into the residential unit count pertaining to density. Mr. Hall answered that each apartment is considered a unit according to density. Ms. Ellison asked if the Town has talked to the County about the Planned Unit Development (PUD). Mr. Hall explained that the County knows it is always welcome to attend Town meetings and offer their input.
  3. Mark Bower 2383 Chancellors Point Road, Trappe, MD. Mr. Bower asked if the County and Town Comprehensive Plans are working together with the concept of inter-jurisdictional transferable development rights (TDR)? He also asked, when you will be meeting with the County. President Lewis said the Town has addressed the concept in the adopted Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Hall explained that the Town of Trappe is ahead of the County in setting the stage for an inter-jurisdictional TDR program. However, the County is behind in adopting their comprehensive plan and it remains to be seen if the TDR concepts proposed in the draft County plan survive the recommendations of the new consultants hired by the County. Mr. Hall explained that the Town is ready to work with the County to develop the TDR program.
The public hearing was closed at 7:45 p.m. by President Lewis.
Respectfully submitted:

Cheryl Lewis, President

Joedy Cecil, Clerk



Minutes of the November 5, 2003 Town Council Meeting
7:30 p.m., Trappe Town Hall


The meeting was reopened at 7:49 p.m.

Commissioner Harrison made motion to adopt the October minutes as presented.

The motion was seconded by Com. Fegel.

Vote:

Adams – Y, Lewis – Y, Harrison – Y, Fegel – Y

The Financial statement was accepted as presented.

Old Business

President Lewis stated that Ordinance 6-2003 Floating Zones will be eligible for vote by the Council at the December meeting.

President Lewis presented for vote Ordinance 7-2003 Amending the Zoning Ordinance to create Section 31 entitled “PN Planned Neighborhood District”.

Motion was made by Com. Harrison to adopt Ordinance 7-2003 “PN Planned Neighborhood District”. Motion was seconded by Com. Fegel.

Vote:

Adams – Y, Lewis – Y, Harrison – Y, Fegel – Y

GATEWAY ZONING – Mr. Hall

Mr. Hall reported that the County Council did pass a resolution on gateways to form a committee to study and make recommendations on the issue. They asked for someone from the Town Council to serve on the committee. There will be no moratorium. Com. Harrison asked to serve as the appointed member on the Committee and President Lewis stated she would also like to attend the meetings. President Lewis also requested that Mr. Hall attend, and asked Mr. Hall to send a letter to the County Council confirming Mr. Harrison’s appointment.

President Lewis made a motion to nominate Com. Harrison to be on the Committee. Motion was seconded by Com. Fegel.

Vote:

Adams – Y, Lewis – Y, Harrison – Y, Fegel – Y

PAUL MOORE:

Attorney Booth stated that Mr. Moore had submitted a letter requesting annexation of approximately 25ft of land to the rear of his lot on Howell Point Road that is planned for 9 building lots. The Town boundary line cuts off the back part of Mr. Moore’s property in the R-1 district. Mr. Moore would like to petition for annexation to clean up or straighten town lines. In compliance with Article 23A Section 19 of State law, the Town must prepare an annexation resolution and conduct a public hearing when a legal request for annexation has been submitted. Attorney Booth recommended that we prepare the annexation resolution for introduction. Com. Harrison recommended that she prepare the resolution and notify the rest of the property owners with similar boundary problems to see if they are interested in annexing the back parts of their lots. The landowners will have to pay for the annexation and advertising costs. Mr. Hall will notify the property owners.

COMMUNITY EVENTS COMMITTEE:

President Lewis read the procedures for a Community Events Committee to establish a Committee consisting of members from the town, local community groups, town churches, local schools, local businesses, and etc. to initiate and/or oversee Community Events for the benefit of all Town Citizens. President Lewis suggested we will make an oral resolution.

Com. Harrison made a motion to adopt Community Events Committee. Motion was seconded by Com. Adams.

Vote:

Adams – Y, Lewis – Y, Harrison – Y, Fegel – Y

DAVIS, BOWEN & FRIEDEL - President Lewis President Lewis stated that Davis, Bowen & Friedel Engineers were contracted to review plans of Rocks and Rauch infrastructure. Annie from Davis, Bowen & Friedel made a recommendation that the Town should co-sign the discharge permit application. By co-signing the application, the Town will be involved in the entire process.

Motion was made by Com. Adams to co-sign the application.

Motion was seconded by Com Fegel.

Vote:

Adams – Y, Lewis – Y, Harison – Y, Fegel – Y

Old Business

CABLE – CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS - ATLANTIC BROADBAND LLC.

President Lewis announced that Atlantic Broadband LLC has sent us a contract to sign up with their company verses Charter Communications. She would like to make a recommendation to set up a workshop for someone to review what is going on with the two companies. She asked that Com. Fegel head this up. The workshop is set for November 13th at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Skip James is the representative for Charter Communications. President Lewis requested to have someone from each company attend the workshop.

IMPACT STUDIES

Attorney Booth stated she received a proposal from Urban Analytics (Mr. Dean Bellas) to prepare an impact study for the Rocks & Rauch development. She stated that according to Mr. Bellas it will be in six phases. The study will analyze impacts to the town for 1800 to 2400 residential units and how it will affect the Town and County. The cost of the study will be reimbursed by the developers per our annexation agreement. According to the annexation agreement the Town has the right to hire whomever they want to do the study. The cost estimate is $24,250.00, this may change. The study will take approximately 120 days to complete.

Motion was made by Com. Harrison to approve initial funding to start the study.

Motion was seconded by Com. Fegel.

Vote:

Adams – Y, Lewis – Y, Harrison – Y, Fegel – Y

STATE HIGHWAY REQUEST FOR STREET:

President Lewis stated that the State Highway Administration is requesting the yearly forms to be filled out, requiring the streets in the town to be listed and if any additions have been made. She asked if the Town should add the streets taken in in our recent annexation to our road inventory. The County now receives the revenue for Barber Road and Piney Hill Road even though they have been annexed into the Town. President Lewis believes this is the time for us to bring these roads in the town. There was a discussion on whether or not to take the roads into the town. Mr. Hall was asked to contact Talbot County to ask their position and to move forward with submitting the paperwork needed to add the roads to the Town’s street inventory.

ANNEXATION AGREEMENT:

President Lewis said that the annexation agreement allows for the cost of a Town Planner which would include any cost necessary to perform his job. She made a request to purchase computer equipment for Mr. Hall in the amount of $15,415.18. The funding will be reimbursed by the developer Rocks and Rauch, per the annexation agreement..

Motion was made by Com. Fegel to authorize the funding for purchase of the planners equipment. Motion was seconded by Com. Harrison.

Vote:

Adams – Y, Lewis – Y, Harrison – Y, Fegel – Y

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS: The Town Clerk, Mrs. Joedy Cecil, made a request to purchase some new Christmas lights for the Town. The Town has been selling pottery, and we are having a spaghetti dinner to raise the money to purchase the new lights. President Lewis made the recommendation to expend the money from the Parks and Rec. Fund to purchase the new Christmas decorations. The money will be replaced after all pottery sales are final.

WORKSHOP:

President Lewis made an announcement to everyone that they are welcome to attend the workshops after the Planning meetings. The workshops are a good opportunity for the public to learn what is going on in the town.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Respectfully submitted:

Cheryl Lewis, President

Joedy Cecil, Clerk