Opponents of a recently passed Big Box law in Queen Anne’s County are in a race to get 3,000 signatures to stop the law from taking effect. The new law strikes down the 65,000-square-foot floor area limit established eight years ago under the Queen Anne’s County Comprehensive Plan and would allow commercial development of “unlimited” size in areas zoned Suburban Commercial.
“We’re looking to get 1,500 signatures by the September 14 deadline,” said Stan Ruddie of Up Against the Wall, as he gathered signatures outside the Safeway on Kent Island. “People have been very enthusiastic to sign. I’m very optimistic even though we’ve had some really big setbacks–with the earthquake, hurricane and now all the rain, but now we are really rolling. We really want to put in at least 2,000 signatures because some will not be accepted. The signatures will be submitted to the Board of Elections in Centreville so their staff can go through and make sure the signators are bona fide QAC voters…and on the current voter rolls.”
Ruddie has been scrambling to get enough signatures to stop the law from taking effect until it can be put to a referendum in the 2012 general election. Ruddie and several dozen volunteers need to collect only half the required signatures by next Wednesday in order to be granted a 40-day extension by the QAC Board of Elections—in order to collect the remaining signatures. The 3,000 signatures needed represent ten percent of all QAC registered voters, which is the legal litmus test to challenge the law.
The effort to strike down size limitations has pit pro-growth developers. who see large retail stores as job creators and mechanisms to to increase tax revenue, against a coalition of citizens, nonprofits, and small businesses who believe large retailers are behemoth corporations that siphon local dollars out of circulation, undercut small businesses, and blight the rural landscape with asphalt, ugly structures, and increased traffic congestion.
Queen Anne’s Conservation Executive Director Jay Falstad said the Comprehensive Plan is a citizen based plan, and any changes to the plan should allow citizens to vote on the new law.
“In the end, there is no reason for not allowing this matter to be decided by the people,” Falstad said. “It was the people, after all, who determined the language in Comprehensive Plan, and the three Pro-Box Commissioners are ignoring the citizen’s Comp Plan. If the petition effort is successful in getting this matter on the ballot, it’s simply providing citizens with the opportunity to decide what they want for their county…and that’s the way it ought to be.”
D Williams says
Please post locations where the signatures are being collected, especially in the northern part of the county.
Otto B says
Kent County is going to be the collateral damage with the two parallel fights going on in QAC.
One fight is the county democratic officials and county school board elected officials using this issue to make the current commissers look bad- shame on them.
The other fight is the ongoing fight for economic opportunities in the county.
Prissy says
How embarassing for the petition creators to organize and widely publicize locations that aren’t correct.
What kind of group assumes that their loud political actions are agreeable to the property owners and those who manage the facilities? Seems to me that it’s a group that continues to ignore basic property rights, like the definition of trespassing.
Trespassing is when you go on someone’s property without their permission. Looks like a bunch of novices without good judgment or common sense. The police have had to be called in one situation. That reveals a lot about this group of activists.
Former Marylander says
I grew up in Kent County but had to move because there is no opportunity. I came back recently to visit family, I went grocery shopping in Acme and the new store and found stuff is way over priced. Those two stores are taking advantage of people, we need more competition in Chestertown to bring the prices down for one thing. Another point is that this town is suppose to attract tourist, well if I was a tourist and saw the vaccant buildings in the shopping center I would not come back. Chestertown is becoming a ghost town, what’s next to go out of business, Peebles? I guess then we can have another dollar store, or drug store, what a joke. The county and town officials need to wake up and see that the older generation will be gone soon and the town needs to change. The younger generation is moving away because this place offers no future as of right now. Just depressing.
Clyde in Sudlersville says
The petition efforts are uncoordinated and sloppy. Reflects on the group of individuals. Stan Ruddie stated in the Record-Observer that Jay Falstad and Queen Anne’s Conservation Assn were leading the efforts, but then Jay denies this on other sites. Why?
The Centreville Acme forced them to leave, and the management received numerous complaints from shoppers who were offended. Did the group not know that shopping centers are private property, and that it is essential to get permission before organizing some kind of event in a parking lot? Why don’t they do it at their private homes? or the Courthouse green? Then the Sheriff would forcibly remove them, as they would any group of trespassers. And then to go to Church Hill Elementary School? Like a school would allow adult trespassers to go into a parking lot with kids- that’s what pedophiles do- hang out in school parking lots, when allowed… Kudos to the school for being aware of questionable people on the property.
Bottom line. You don’t see political signs on shopping center grounds or on school grounds (other than voting day). Why is that? Because the general public gets offended one way or another, and the liability to the property owners is huge. Real Estate #101, for those who claim that they know all about property in the County…
Stellal says
People are doing a thorough job given the little time available. Apparently, Mr. Scheaffer(sp?), has had
those in his pocket…commissioners, etc….. make the collection of signatures very difficult. Wow. Let the voters in
Qac decide, not those in office who are clearly under influence.
Lainey says
The word is out all over the place where you can go to sign the petition. Word is out that petitioners are willing to come to you to gather your signature with no more effort than a phone call. Check out the websites of those organizations or even facebook. It is not hard to find a petition to sign.
Should petitioners ask permission of property owners before camping out? Certainly.
Should petitioners be allowed access to our public property? Certainly, but they must ask first and with recent budget cuts, our schools are now “rental facilites” so they are welcome to pay the fee too.
If they gather the signatures, good for them. If they dont, I hope that same message is heard. I dont believe this is some political slamming from the dems to the all new republican commission. I find it funny that it is a former republican commissioner who is writing lettters to the editor that it he finds it astounding that 3 folks of this county have inflicted thier will on its residents. Who do they think they are? Hmmmm…. maybe they think they are the duly elected officials who were recently chosen by the voters to do exactly what they just did – vote on issues facing the county. That same former commissioner is the one who boycotted his own budget hearings. Atleast this batch of commissioners was in the room when the decisions were made.
Stellal says
The police showed up at the acme in Centreville because two people were near the parking lot collecting sigs.
Evidently, a number of powers that be are controlling this and trying to sabotage efforts for a referendum.
Is QAC turning into a banana republic?
Clyde in Sudlersville says
The empty accusation of “sabotage” is a good excuse when an effort cannot attract enough interest.
This just points to the harsh fact that those who advocate against growth in QAC have no presence in the community, short of their voices.
How can it be that the huge landowners and donors to Queen Anne’s Conservation Association (the petition lead sponsor) own no property where a petition collection site could be organized? What’s wrong with having it on these large farm tracts along Rt. 544, or on Wrights Neck Road and the Corsica River, or in Millington? Those areas have plenty of room for cars and trucks to park. Certainly those people would be overjoyed to have the general public on their properties. Just think: big event with port-o-potties and kegs of beer.
The claim of sabotage is hollow and whining.
rachel says
good lord – to infer mr shaefer is paying people to interfere is irresponsible.
all stan and jay et al had to do was call these places first to ask permission – this would not have taken an inordinate amount of time.
…and to say it was wrong of acme or the elem school to ask them to leave is unfair – liability is an issue – along with the safety of the children. there are plenty of ways to collect signatures – to say they didn’t have time to prepare and to blame others seems childish.
Stellal says
When three very suspect men turn up their noses at their own planning commission and disregard the hard work that hundreds of QAC citizens –the outcome being last year’s comprehensive plan–they are certainly not answering to “the people”. They are listening to the influence that a very small number have. Some people’s palms are being well greased. And when shop owners say they fear repercussions for allowing QAC residents from collecting
Sigs for a referendum, this whole thing stinks to high heaven. Very dirty business done by those opposing the
Right of QAC to decide the fate of their home.
John says
I love all you dumb people who oppose the big box act. There is too many houses in centreville, church hill, and chestertown. But there is not enough places to shop with reasonable prices, The simple fact that there are not alot of shopping centers and more people building more houses, are causing some of the price hiking in this area. The Cops showed up to stop them from collecting signatures at the ACME because they didn’t have permission. It is a private property.
Keith Thompson says
Stella writes, “The police showed up at the acme in Centreville because two people were near the parking lot collecting sigs. Evidently, a number of powers that be are controlling this and trying to sabotage efforts for a referendum. Is QAC turning into a banana republic?”
A banana republic? Really? I’m sure if people were collecting signatures to get FASTC on the ballot in the last election and they showed up on or near your property to collect sigs, you’d call the police to remove them too.
Clyde says
I have a long memory, and I do remember various factions in the county calling for a boycott of members of Queen Anne’s Chamber of Commerce. The despicable creatures who called for that boycott are now involved in this effort, but more for retribution against those who were elected to the commissioner positions.
The businesses that currently are housing the petition will now go on my boycott list- I have shopped in those stores named on sites as being located in Kingstown and Centreville, and will go somewhere else for my business, whether that is mailing services, pet food or eye glasses. Any business owner who has poor judgment enough to get political with his/her business should be prepared to lose my patronage.
Freddie says
Yes, we are becoming a banana republic.
BANANA= build absolutely nothing anywhere near anyone
Critical Areas= Critical of Everything in the Area
Lainey says
Sounds like signature collection efforts arent going well, accusations of sabotage, bribery, fear of repercussions, undue influence…..
Sad, just sad.
It is the voices of the people who are calling the police, the voices of property owners/taxpayers.
Talk about “Very dirty business being done by those” not getting what they want……….
Gerry Maynes says
Hi, Remember Acme is a business and when customers complain about being harrashed, and permision was not given. You better believe that the collecters are going to be asked to leave. Pehaps, with a little common sense they should have asked the store manager( an extremly nice lady) first for permision and the whole ugly thing could have been avoided. You got to believe that the last thing that Acme wants is a Walmart for a Neighbor.
Even politicians such as Senators, congressmen, and even the Governor of Delaware ask first before shaking hands in front of supermarkets. It is only common courtesy.
Pleased says
So annoying. The commissioners were elected By the people, For the people. It is their job to make decisions. Now that one was made that you dont like, your group goes on the offensive. Tshirts, petitions, ads in the newspaper, etc.
The majority of people in this county would welcome this development, especially us in the northern end. Problem is – we all work. Since our commutes are so long (because there are no jobs over here), we have no time to stand and wave flags and signs, print t-shirts, come up with ads in the newspapers or my favorite – stand in front of businesses – telling people to turn away businesses. Obviously, if you were for this amendment, you wouldn’t be signing.
I read there’s only 2 or 3 places in the county that this type of development could even happen. So, no, the Kingstown area will not “turn into Glen Burnie”. The already half closed shopping centers in Chestertown will not suffer any worse than they already are (without the help of “big boxes” might I add). In fact, it may actually attract some busniesses to them.
I’ve been furloughed, reduced, denied raises and cost of living increases and I have to do more with less – all in the last 4 years. I would request that when the next attempt at any kind of development is brought up, please donate the monies for signs and tshirts to my bank account.
Anything other than “business as usual” in this county is exactly what I would like to see.
Stephan Sonn says
Keith
I did not know that exercising legitimate means of protest
via petition was a police matter,
Your chickens seem to have come home to roost.
How disappointing for a media person to take that view.
StellaL says
Wow–this whole lot is dumber than I thought. How very amusing …
Average Joe says
Looks like the Will of the People is being demonstrated, aptly on 9/11
Majority of moderates in the QA Commissioners seats
Backlash against the years of “special interest” politics
Cries of foul play by those who fought FASTC and other projects using the dirtiest tricks possible
No sympathy for those who think nothing about the Average Joe while living on the interest from tax-free bonds on their low tax properties
The vocal minority has proved that it IS a minority in QAC.
Stellal says
All you opposing those trying to bring this to a vote — yes, I am sure it’s embarrassing defending the actions of
nefarious types but please open your big-box-spell-bound eyes and admit how wrong this entire “process”
has been. Once in awhile it is good to get one’s head out of the sand.
And please, can we move on from this FASTC ordeal? Like big box stores will solve the unemployment
problem. No one but developers and guileless believe that.
Rcg: please..a liability collecting signatures. That takes naivety to a level that is hard to believe.
Keith Thompson says
@Stephan
There’s a huge difference between exercising legitimate means of protest via a collection of signatures and trespassing. Collecting signtatures on private property such as a supermarket parking lot without permission is a form of trespass and therefore it becomes a police matter. This distinction is something that, as a media commentator, I’m not only justified in pointing out but have a responsibilty to do in the name of fairness.
By the way, I’ve been involved in a signature collection drive or two as a political activist and back then I was fully aware of the difference between political protest and trespassing.
Rick says
New Idea, Lets just fire everyone who is in office here and every place accrosed the country. For every issue will have public mettings where every one puts together a plan, then will wait till elections and everyone will vote on it. Or will just do it for this issue thats fair. Come on cut the BS out the people voted for this last election all this is doing is wasting time and money. Its mainly people who no longer have to work or are close to it that fight groth any how. Then you have the folks who moved over here from the westren shore. They never moved here to get away from growth they moved here because growth gave them money so they could move here by selling there home for way more money then it was worth before there was growth. It made there job able to pay them way more then if there was no population. Now they no longer need growth so that forgot how it helped them to live there dream and dont care that theres people who have grown up here that cant affored not to have growth. Some cant even affored to live here now.
StellaL says
They all had permission. Who’s the “populist” here???
Rick says
Only if we had voted on FASTC. Things might be diffrent and for anyone to say that the small group of people that fought it won is a joke all they did was push it away so FASTC could avoid law suits. If it was voted on it would be here by a large win. Its like a theft why would he rob the guy with a gun rack in his truck when down the street theres a home where a little old lady lives that has a sign up saying God forgives. Thats what FASTC did and thats why we lostn out
StellaL says
Can someone please interpret a couple of the above remarks. Is this this new QAC language? I do hope your
charished big box sells Rosetta Stone….
Pleased says
“I do hope your charished big box sells Rosetta Stone….”
…It will…and probably cheaper than I’d ever find it in Chestertown.
Stephan Sonn says
Keith
You may be technically incorrect about “private” parking lot.
Years back I was called to testify against a lawyer who
loudly asserted himself
in a enclosed mall down in Miami.
Turns out he won the case under freedom of speech
because only the store owners could expel him
from their particular store by that ruling
Internal byways were considered quasi-public
and it seemed headed for more litigation.
The local petitioners could have asked permission but
the food store manager might also have been
more moved by the likely orderly access for fellow citizens
who shop at her store.
Did these customers riot or otherwise misbehave.
Standing on technicalities in a commercial environment,..
What harm were they really doing.
StellaL says
Pleased – wow, you’ll save maybe $3:00 and pave the county with copious impervious surfaces. You could drive
30 minutes and save the land from this antiquated-type development. How self-adsorbed.
Keith Thompson says
@Stephan,
The biggest things left out of your story of the lawyer asserting himself loudly in a Miami mall (whatever that means) are…who actually owns the mall; the arrangment the mall owner has with the city or with the tenants; and the ordinances in Miami or Florida. If that Miami mall is publicly owned, then it would make sense for the individual tenants to make such decisions pertaining to their stores. If the mall owner has an arrangement with the city or if a city or state law designates shopping malls as public or quasi-public, then the public has more rights.
As for what harm is being done by collecting signatures in the parking lot? Depends on your perspective. Customers may not want to be botherered by people while entering or exiting the business. The landlord or tenant may not want loiters nor would they want to set the precedent of allowing petitions on his/her property for fear of having someone undesirable on their property such as a hate group. It could even be that there is a fear of having another Tucson. Of course, the more cynical answer is that the landlord may simply not want the property used for a political cause that will adversely affect them. Here, the property owner simply didn’t want signature collectors on their property and it didn’t matter if they were behaving and not causing harm. The aggrieved party certainly has the right to challenge in court that their First Amendment rights are being violated.
I certainly remember the grocery store where my wife worked in Delaware having to run off people who were either doing fundraisers or collecting petition signatures without receiving prior permission first. Again, I remember having to obtain permission first on ballot access drives I was involved in. Setting up a petition drive without obtaining permission first is either a sign of ignorance, laziness, or arrogance.
Stephan Sonn says
StellaL:
Do you remember
what classic work produced the phrase
Pearls before Swine?
I hesitate to say more
else I be misunderstood.
StellaL says
Stephan Sonn – is it from the Sermon on the Mount? I think i understand your point. How true.
Stephan Sonn says
What you misunderstand Keith is the US Constitution
as it applies to free assembly and speech.
A parking lot or an indoor corridor in a shopping mall
may be quasi-public in certain circumstances
and there has been constitutional law precedent set in that area
I had a concession in that mall’s public areal.
The lawyer was arguing a hypothetical loudly
and he was disturbing me in the context of
my business as a kiost .
I lodged the complaint to mall security
because he would not move along and
take the noisy conversation elsewhere.
It seems that I had no right to alter his status
in the public area while shop owners
in their shop had that right.
This is a private V public issue
which perhaps you have not experienced
or perhaps you do not have
the intellectual grasp to understand.
I know I was surprised by the entire set of events.
Maybe you should research your criticisms.
and alter your mind set.
Not everything in the world happens
as it does on Delmarva.
NO TRESPASSING
seems to be your current engram.
Stephan Sonn says
Stellal
I am informed by my friend that
the quote Pearls before Swine
is from the Merchant of Venice
I should have guessed
It almost sounds biblical.
rachel says
“Rcg: please..a liability collecting signatures. That takes naivety to a level that is hard to believe.”
well – if a person is injured or becomes seriously ill while on someone else’s property – liability issues could arise…
why such attitude? maybe you will one day share with this forum who you are and how long you have lived here so we could better understand your thought process – but, i will say – if i had to choose between considered naive or uppity – i would gladly take naive…
i could care less abt the petition – go thru the process – whatever – but why? the comissioners were voted into office – we were all aware of the text amendment as far back as april – all it is really doing is making folks wait a little longer to properly market-to-sell their land – so we will sit and wait and listen to the whining and spinning and twisting…
Stephan Sonn says
CORRECTION:
it was Jesus and writers of literature that played the theme throughout history
Robert Fox says
My wife and I had something to do with the “threated arrests” situation in the Centrevillle Acme parking lot last week related to gathering signatures for a petition drive. Let me clarify what actually happened. Days earlier I had contacted the manager of Acme asking permission for us, two rather quiet septuagenarians, to gather signatures near the store. She checked with Acme higher-ups and permission was granted. The manager could not have been nicer. Two days later she approached me outside the store obviously stressed saying we had to leave because of complaints about our being there. While standing by our car packing up I noticed a fellow on the phone sprawled out on the roof ledge above Acme obviously reporting on our every move. I took that as a signal that petitioning in the parking lot was also out. From what I now understand our eviction originates with the owner of the shopping plaza. Thinking the permission situation was resolved (I don’t know details) two others returned later that week and the police were evidently called. This also explains the absense of signature gatherers at that site as advertized in the newspapers. We have moved on and are exercising elsewhere our Constitutional right to petition. The experience reminded us that practicing democracy can be a very sloppy matter.
Stephan Sonn says
StellaL
We have a bakers dozen of barbarians
both at the gate and within the walls.
It is part of the human condition.
It would be a betrayal not to fight the good fight.
Stephan Sonn says
Rachel
I have always hard time dealing with people here
who use theme handles and Identities like
The Green Lantern etc
Even a made up first name is more respectful
to the serious nature of this forum.
There are a very few serial instigators
and otherwise cloaked people posting here.
They are a minority without merit.
.
StellaL says
Sorry rcg but this process has been dirty from the beginning. I mean when local government workers in
QAC are fearful of loosing their jobs if their name is seen on the petition…as was told to a few collecting sigs..
this is filthy politics at it’s worst. Why is this considered “uppity”??
If you do not understand my thought process after months debating this issue, I am very sorry. However,
as i have lived here for over 26 years to a family who has for hundreds–whatever that has to do with this argument–I can not understand why one would not live near a big box if that is a priority in her life. Particularly,
when this area is one of the few anywhere without one. Bottom line? I believe it it underhanded and has to do with greed and a total disregard for the ecosystem here.
Nameless Resident says
@rcg:
without taking a side on this issue…what does your statement below have to do with anything?
“why such attitude? maybe you will one day share with this forum who you are and how long you have lived here so we could better understand your thought process”
Who is StellaL? Seriously? Who cares? If they didn’t disagree with you would you have a problem with the pseudonym? If you did find out, what would you do with the information? Send hateful emails? Troll their blog? Bombard their Facebook wall with nonsense?
And how long they have lived here? 5 years? 10 years? 26 years? Oh I forgot…only “from here’s” have a say here on the Eastern Shore…chicken neckers need not bother.
If you want to make an argument for whatever your cause today happens to be, you should be able to make it based on facts and logic without the personal digs…and it shouldn’t matter the “identity” of the person you are debating. If you can’t get by without getting personal and without a rabid need to find out who is not in agreement with you…it seems to me that perhaps your argument does not have much in the way of legs.
Stephan Sonn says
Robert , who actually signs his comments relays
a really strange sequence of events at a local Acme parking lot.
A self described elderly couple performing a civic function in that parking lot
was given management permission not once but twice to collect petition.signatures.
In the midst of all that they decided to shut him down
with a camera man filming it from the roof,
The event was far too well coordinated and
who actually ordered the halting.
Until someone steps forward with a good explanation of all this
It might be the twilight zone of voter suppression or the real thing.
rachel says
collecting signatures – not uppity…there is a history of personal character digs that frustrate me – i am certainly not just talking about myself – i read the Spy loyally and it happens frequently – agree to disagree, but why put people down? i don’t see the need…maybe THAT is naive…
i think so many comments are unfair – inferrences about people being bought and intimidated – comments about people shopping at Walmart and/or other large discount stores only having a desire for chinese crap when Walmart et al carry just about every well-known brand avail. we are only supposed to shop downtown – where there aren’t any cheaply made products? riiight – been to Rose’s lately?
the discussions that paving the county (i believe only 15% is approved for commercial property) is enviromentally irresponsible but it’s fine to have people pollute the air in order to drive 80mile round trips…the 544/213 parcel is already zoned commercial – two 65Ksq buildings could go there…and maybe two will be built – will that plan be fought – if those businesses aren’t considered “tasteful enough”?
there will still be open space and farmland but everyone deserves options –
what about the insults about wealthy businessmen/women are causing so many problems? they are greedy but the wealthy folks funding QACA et all are selfless?
i find it dis-heartening that more people aren’t worried abt opening up our counties to businesses that will provide more jobs for people – jobs and tax revenue for our infrastructure – money to help those in need…our taxes are rising…but wages and opportunites aren’t rising to match.
time spent looking for compromise and not throwing rocks seems like time well spent to me.
Stephan Sonn says
CORRECTION
The man on the Acme roof was not filming
but the writer thought he was
otherwise monitoring the event.
This gets a little shaky
but is still requiring an explanation.
rachel says
now – ‘nameless’ –
1. i was addressing being called naive – and not just naive, but the point that i took this characteristic to a new level…
2. “stella” has not shared too much over her time on the Spy while many folks give a bit of insight into their own personal situations – often background is helpful in understanding others and how and why they feel a certain way about issues.
3. ” Send hateful emails? Troll their blog? Bombard their Facebook wall with nonsense?” um – no! i do not send hateful emails, i read blogs (sometimes) and i post on my own FB page and other pages relating to issues about which i care.
4. “Oh I forgot…only “from here’s” have a say here on the Eastern Shore…chicken neckers need not bother.” I have never felt that way nor inferred such a thing.
5. “If you can’t get by without getting personal and without a rabid need to find out who is not in agreement with you…” I usually just post my thoughts/opinions or i take a devil’s-advocate approach…i find slander frustrating and will often comment if i feel false accusations are made…for you to write that i have a “rabid need” is quite the exagerration –