Freeland Community Association

September 2008:

 

 

Rezoning Process

Legislative Initiatives

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Next general meeting Tuesday September 9.

7 PM at Prettyboy Elementary cafeteria.

This meeting will be an open discussion centered around  the real estate situation and some associated issues that we hope to prevent by maintaining vigilance on the part of the community. 

These include:

Vacant lots & houses

  • Targets for crime, vandalism.

Unfinished developments

  • Potential environmental issues due to runoff from graded properties that are not landscaped.
  • Spread of invasive species in these vacant areas (thistle in particular) that can wreak havoc on neighboring properties and cropland. 

If you have observed any of these issues or activities, please bring evidence - photos, testimonial information, etc. and together we can bring this to the attention of county officials, law enforcement or the Dept of Environmental Protection and Resource Management (DEPRM) to prevent future problems. 

We will also discuss the 2008 rezoning process (which will be nearly complete at that point.)

 

 

 

 

Old news:

Gypsy Moth Suppression Program

Areas of the North County are scheduled for aerial spraying to mitigate the Gypsy Moth infestations that are predicted to be worse in 2008 than in previous years.

A map of these spray areas can be seen here:

http://www.mda.state.md.us/plants-pests/forest_pest_mgmt/gypsy_moth/baco.html 

Affected property owners should have received notices already.

Note that the maps show areas that will be sprayed with Dimilin in blue, areas to be sprayed with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) are in green. The majority of the spray areas are to be sprayed with Bt, which is an organic insecticide - a concentrated version of a naturally-occurring soil bacterium that produces poisons which cause disease in insects.

Dimilin is used to control gypsy moth populations in forest and recreational areas, and other insects in cotton, soybeans, mushrooms, and pastures. It is a manufactured chemical and does not occur naturally in the environment. Dimilin is controversial due to studies that show it may affect bird populations.

Here are a few links you may want to visit if you were notified about spraying with Dimilin and want more information:

Nontarget Impact of Gypsy Moth Insecticides http://www.wvu.edu/~Agexten/ipm/insects/nigmi.htm 

Virginia Dept of Health Toxicology report on Dimilin http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/Epidemiology/dee/PublicHealthToxicology/documents/pdf/dimilin.pdf 

If you are in an affected area, have received a notice, and wish to opt out of the program, you have the right to request this. Details are here: http://www.mda.state.md.us/plants-pests/forest_pest_mgmt/gypsy_moth/gm_policy.php#object 

 

IMPORTANT PROPERTY TAX INFORMATION

Assessments went out just before the new year. If you have not received your Assessment Notice from the MD Dept of Assessments and Taxation, call them immediately at 410-767-2165.

The deadline to file an appeal is February 11!

There are at least three things you should do before Baltimore County uses this information to compile your tax bill in July:

 

1. Everyone must reapply to receive the Homestead Tax Credit! Legislation passed in 2007 requires all homeowners to submit a one-time application in order to continue their eligibility for the homestead tax credit. This insures that your assessment increase is  limited to 10% annually for as long as it takes to reach the new assessed value. 

If your county property is your principal residence, you should immediately submit the application for the Homestead Tax Credit that came with your assessment. You can also do it online though the state tax website at www.dat.state.md.us 

 

2. You should request a copy of the worksheets that were used for your assessment. This way you can verify the information and if there are any errors, you have recourse for an appeal. Either call 410-767-2165 or follow the same link on the tax website for filing an appeal and choose the option to receive the worksheet.

 

3. Next July's tax bill will be calculated with the tax rates which local governments will set in the spring.  As part of the budgetary process, the property tax rates are established by the spending needs of each local government. Local governments may offset assessment increases by lowering their tax rates to the "constant yield" tax rate level.  The constant yield tax rate provides local governments with a stable level of property taxes from one year to the next. While Baltimore County limits increases to 4% of the previous year's taxable assessment, your tax bill could still grow substantially. Contact Councilman McIntire and let him know that you want him to make every effort to adjust the tax rate for Baltimore County so that the increase to the tax bill in July will not reflect the increase we will see if the rate does not change. Ideally, the change should be zero, given the belt-tightening our own households have had to endure this past year. Note that in 2007, the county received $36.4 million more than it did in 2006 because the rate was left at $1.10 per hundred dollars of assessed value despite the constant yield rate being $1.03. This local rate can affect  your tax bill in a much more immediate way than the assessment does, so we have to let the councilman know we're paying attention.

Other important information can be found here:

State Dept of Assessments and Taxation

Balto County Property Tax Brochure

Support for legislation limiting non-residential uses on RC-zoned property

UPDATE

Our meeting with Councilman McIntire went quite well. The Councilman was receptive to our concerns regarding the current possibilities for non-residential (mainly institutional) development on rural land.

Most importantly, Councilman McIntire has agreed to draft legislation based on the proposal below. we should see the results within a month:

Richard Klein of Community Environmental Defense Services has drafted a proposal for legislation that would firm up a major shortcoming in the intent of zoning to preserve agricultural and natural resources:

"Nonresidential development on all Resource Conservation zoned lands, except Resource Conservation Commercial, shall not cover more than 5% of the site with impervious surfaces.  However, for those sites where impervious area exceeded 5% as of the effective date of this regulation, additional impervious area may be allowed provided it does not exceed 2% of the pervious area that existed on the site as of the effective date of this regulation."

The goal of course, is to prevent institutional development from taking hold in areas now reserved for agriculture or limited development. Most of us are familiar with the Shelley's Fields Sports Facility issue or Loyola Retreat Center, the former being reduced to something more reasonable and the latter on an apparent road to approval after an appeal ruling found in favor of the developers.

The addition of a large institution to our community, particularly one intended to draw visitors from far beyond the area, would surely dwarf anything we've seen suggested for our community so far. Legislation to limit the physical presence of impervious surfaces approaches this issue with a degree of fairness that is hard to deny. By limiting the impact of ANY development to a piece of property by virtue of the physical impact on the surrounding community and environment, you can still allow a use for the property that compliments the community that hosts it. 

This is what we should work towards in seeking meaningful legislation that respects the spirit of Resource Conservation zoning in the North County.

 FCA Cookbooks available!

Our community cookbook "Country Goodness"  is available at a reduced cost of  $8 a copy. These make great and unique gifts and include recipes from community members and items of historical interest. Send an email or call 410-374-0525 for a copy.


Read a little about the history of the Freeland Community Association and how it all began. Click here to read the rest of the message...  

Baltimore County Links:

What's my zoning?

 

Current Development Hearings & Meetings for our District

 

Other important resources

 

Community Environmental Defense Services

Excellent online resource for information on preventing or mitigating the impact of land use detrimental to the quality of life in your neighborhood.

 

North County Preservation

a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting rural life in Northern Baltimore County.

 

FCA 2008 CZMP Zoning Cycle Website

A summary of the issues filed in District 3 (north county) during the 2008 CZMP application process. Maps, photos and  information is provided on select individual issues. This site will be updated as information becomes available and other issues are introduced by the county council. 

 

 

YOUR HELP IS STILL NEEDED

We have outstanding legal fees for resolution of Shelley's Fields issue.

 

Click here for details on the settlement to the Shelley's Fields Development Issue.

The indoor facility and two fields have been eliminated. Covenants limit use and protect agricultural resources. Some neighbors have chosen to continue the battle. Please read our open letter to the community regarding these efforts

 

 

Not familiar with the Shelley's Fields Development Issue?

Click here for a short history of how this all came about.

 

 

2008 FCA Board

Officers:
President – Andy Rathgeber
Vice President – Renee' O'Neill
Secretary – Vacancy
                       Treasurer – Jeff Lambert

Board Members -
Jackie Gilbert

Deborah Maude

One vacancy

 If you would like to serve as an officer or board member, please contact us to discuss.

 

FCA Articles of Incorporation (Charter)

 

FCA By-Laws

 

 

 

Effective May 1, 2007; membership fees are $40 per household

 

 

 

Freeland Community Association • P.O. Box 52, Freeland, MD. 21053-0052
Send e-mail to
freeland@freelandcommunityassociation.org

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