A coalition of petitioners, working to postpone a “Big Box” law from taking effect in Queen Anne’s County, delivered to the QAC Board of Elections on Friday what they say are over 2,300 valid signatures from QAC registered voters–that demand the new law be put to a referendum in the 2012 election.
“This has been a great job by all of you,” said Up Against The Wall Executive Director Stan Ruddie to a crowd of volunteers in the BOE lobby on Commerce Street.
This is the first submission from QAC Conservation Association and Up Against the Wall and will buy signature gatherers another 40-day extension to reach the target number of 3,000, which represents 10 percent of all QAC registered voters–the number required to get the law on the ballot.
The new law passed in August would allow owners of property zoned Suburban Commercial to build Big Box retail developments without restrictions to floor-area size. The current law enacted in 2003 under the Queen Anne’s Comprehensive Plan restricts retailers to floor space no larger than 65,000-square-feet.
Many residents are also concerned that a wave of landowners without Suburban Commercial property could begin applying for zoning changes if the law was to effect at the end of this month.
During the signature drop-off, there was some back-and-forth between Jim Campbell of QAC Conservation Association and QAC Election Director Brittani H. Thomas on whether 175 signatures missing middle-names could be resubmitted.
“If they go through the verification process, whether it is rejected or accepted, it will be considered a duplicate if they sign the petition again,” Thomas told Campbell.
Duplicates are automatically disqualified, according to Campbell.
After a brief discussion, Campbell, Ruddie, and QAC Conservation Executive Director Jay Falstad decided to draw lines through the signatures that needed middle names–so not to submit them for verification–choosing instead to go back to the original signators to fill in missing information.
Robert Fox and his wife were credited for lassoing 800 signatures.
Joan Smith says
Hurray for the Foxes and for all of these good people in Queen Anne’s County for their work! Thank you!! (Future generations will thank you!)
Mrs. T says
Will the general public get to see the list of signatures? I hope so.
Len H says
@Mrs. T
I do too want to see thesignatures. No way of telling but I would bet that the majoriy of the signatures are people from the South County.
Stellal says
There have been people in states across the country who have been cheering this grass roots effort.
Keep it up..this is an inspiration for all those fed up with dirty politics.
stan ruddie says
BTW- This does not decide the issue. We now have the freedom to vote to see if the majority of folks here want a big box mega store.
Good is the convenience of buying cheap basics without driving to Easton or Denton, a trip of 20 miles from Kent Island. There may be some additional property tax collected for the county. There will be a large number of jobs for cashiers, stock clerks etc.
Bad is that the fellow who proposed this wants to build one on his property is further from Kent Island than Easton or Denton. There may be a net loss of revinue after the traffic mitigation and additional county services like the Sheriff, courts and the costs associated with low income housing for these low paid employees. Then again, the small business people here who are put out of business can take these jobs. I always wanted to be a WalMart greeter. Doesn’t look that hard and who needs benefits if you have Medicare? The money from the national chains does not get spent here or even get to stay in local banks. Then there is the traffic. How does 900 cars an hour on our already clogged roads sound? In any case, when we vote for our next president we will vote on the Big Box bill. I can readily accept the decision of my friends and neighbors rather than just three who have $$$ signs in their eyes. If they get the money they expect we can look forward to lowering the new and improved tax rate (NOT).
Len H says
@ stan ruddie
Good is the convenience of buying cheap basics without driving to Easton or Denton, a trip of 20 miles from Kent Island.
Bad is that the fellow who proposed this wants to build one on his property is further from Kent Island than Easton or Denton.
GOOD is the convenience of buying cheap basics without driving to Easton, Denton, Middletown or Dover a trip of 20+ miles from the northern County.
GOOD is that the fellow who proposed this wants to build one on his property that is CLOSER then Kent Island, Easton, Denton, Middletown or Dover to the NORTHERN COUNTY.
2 GOODS ARE BEET 1 GOOD AND 1 BAD.
rachel says
i thought you still needed another 1,000 valid signatures…and why is Kent Island the focus? IF a larger retail store is built at 544, Centreville residents will have a shorter commute – as will all of the residents NORTH of town…and for all of the “environmental concerns” – i suppose car exhaust doesn’t count?
Lainey says
Stan Ruddie says “I can readily accept the decision of my friends and neighbors rather than just three who have $$$ signs in their eyes.”
So does this mean you wont be filling a lawsuit if your petition and/or ballot initiative fails?
And where did you get the number of cars clogging our roads? 900 cars an hour, really? Please cite a source for your numbers.
“The money from the national chains does not get spent here or even get to stay in local banks”
Do Walmart greeters not get a paycheck? Do those folks not spend their money here, I mean they work here so I would assume they spend here and bank here too. Some of those workers may even be able to afford to shop here with lower prices the national chains can bring.
“There may be a net loss of revinue after the traffic mitigation and additional county services like the Sheriff, courts and the costs associated with low income housing for these low paid employees.”
So let me get this straight, your lawsuit wont cost us a dime, but the low paid employees who require low income housing are a bunch of criminals?
You have certainly made my mind up for me. I will not be signing your petition.
Stephan Sonn says
The mere mention of jobs is intoxicating.
Even a low paying job are a lure.
This is a version of holding relief for ransom
Like the Tea Party does in DC
StellaL says
I’ll take someone making a periodic drive 30 minutes to wade the acres of big boxes to having one as a veritable
welcoming sign into Kent saying “hail all black top” as one enters a county that actually adhers to their citizen’s comprehensive plan.
If QAC is so dead set on this and if all those who want this so much to maintain their consumer life styles,
than i recommend that this be moved, along with all the advocates, to some place like 301. Howabout it?
It could be a huge, say, WalMart with an adjoining subdivison with street names as “Sam’s Special of the Day Place” or “Corrupt Commisssioner’s Corridor”,” Minimum-wage Way”. Usually these developments are named after the depleted natural resouce – like “Meadow way” or even “Debby Street” (the developer’s daughter or trophy wife), but I would think in this case going with the big “job’s /shopping provider” theme would be apropo.
It would, of course,eventually become the ghetto of QAC when all the residents realize what a sucky
place all that development has spawned….
Stephan Sonn says
So they paved paradise over
and turned it into a parking lot.
AESTHETICS aside, this could boil down to
a traffic pollution/SAFETY issue
clogging a two lane highway,
endangering access to rural areas.
Maybe this is a matter for the courts to decide.
Stephan Sonn says
There needs to be a funded bi-county formal, group formed
to put an end to what could turn into a giant warehouse
with the retail as hardly more than a small adjunct section.
That is the best way for big box to do this place
and save money by cheap central distribution
to other more populous areas in range.
Combining the areas of Kent with the areas in Queen Ann’s
can’t produce a population base to support a self-sustaining Big Box store,
however close and convenient it may be for some people posting here.
Enter Wal-Mart as they did once before just a few miles up the road.
Effective formal strategy is the issue here
not petition and prayers.
The greatest cost would be legal
Can you think of a like experienced lawyer
who would step up up to the plate.
Duh!
rachel says
walmart may not be buying anywhere in QA’s county…i get that folks don’t want the possibility of a business whose store will be larger than 65Ksf – it has been covered that two 65Ksf buildings could be built side-by-side according to current SC zoning…
will a business/building 65Ksf be fought off if they want to buy the 544/213 property?
what if walmart wants an existing spot in kent co? will that be fought?
Stephan Sonn says
Rachel I am afraid i am missing your point here,
which is perhaps due to my advanced age;
Are you expressing futility of resistance,
or just postulating the thrust and scope
of future big box agenda’s?
Kent has already had and won that battle with Wal -Mart
rachel says
there is a possibility WM could come to an existing space – so – i am always curious abt different perspectives – is it anti-WM (lowe’s, home depot etc) or anti-WM et al on what used to be farmland…?
if the zoning doesn’t change, 544/213 is still zoned SC – so, will there be a fight against the next buyer of that land if they want to build a 65Ksf building or two? – will there be a fight against any business that is built on farmland?
is the real thrust to stop any new businesses/building?
Stephan Sonn says
As long as there are people like Phil Hoon
with a high moral code and legal genius
and many supporters of high motivation
there is thrust.
I would like to see all that formalized
in a regional vehicle protesting disruptive
or otherwise harmful development..
Lainey says
Unfortuantely I believe Rachel hit the nail on the head. The real thrust is to stop any new business on farmland. No business has been named for the Schaefer property. Walmart is the assumed business. Mr. Ruddie refers to Walmart constantly in his barage of misstatements attempting to garner support for HIS way. This is further evidenced by the fact that he has not cited any sources as I have asked him to do so above.
However building houses on farmland has been an accepted practice in QAC for the last 25 years. Business buildings dont destroy farming, farmers selling thier land to developers destroys farming.
Stephan Sonn says
There needs to be a sophisticated
vehicle to play this game.
The last time around
it gravitated around Phil Hoon.
This time if it is Wal-Mart again
they will asses their planning
according to their perception of the opposition.
I wonder if they will want to wage war
with the latest version of the players
that defeated them the last time around.
It takes a special combination
of skills and considerations
to keep the barbarians at bay.
how fare are they from the South Gate?.
StellaL says
Stephan Son: I agree with you. Also, why spend a year asking hundreds of QAC residents how their would like their county to grow if those elected ignore, quite questionably, such a comprehensive plan.
This is not specifically WalMart, but like Coca Cola, most any cola brand tend to be refered to as ” Coke”.
The frustration is the fact that almost every place in the country has big box stores and all the sprawl that
accessorize such stores. Communities have been held hostage by such growth and most regret
their influx. However, a few places–one being our area–remain free of this. That is why people are
livid.
Stephan Sonn says
Right Stella,
Wall-Mart is the generic model
for all big box. grid marketing efforts.
Now that Sarah/ Michelle joined at the waist
have coined a Crony Capitalism buzz word
As part of their burlesque review and pony show
I guess it is OK to say Predatory Capitalism too
Particularly in a strip-mining environment
Retailing architecture is forever changed
This whole thing reminds me of the cartoon character that
lived in a tiny house midst skyscrapers. They used to call it progress.
Just say no. Leadership in Chestertown did it once before.
Lainey says
Stephen Sonn wants a regional planning effort. That sounds great! We can combine to be the County of Kent Anne. Where should I send the bill for the increased taxes us current QACers pay?
Stephan Sonn says
I don”t recall saying combined government,
In fact I did not recommend this as a government action at all.
I never used any syntax to even suggest “planning”
Any proposal I suggest would be ad-hoc and REACTIVE
following principles deeply felt as true democracy respects.
Do you have a problem with that Lainey
Seems like your engram jumped the gun a bit.
And it is very telling.
giving context to your role here.
Interesting.
Stephan Sonn says
I think I could take it a bit further
without being offensive or too personal.
You just don’t like any dissent but your own.
You don’t like the petition and you paint me
as a big government Liberal.
So what is it that you are here to accomplish.
Why not state your case as an op-ed.
Lainey says
Stephan Sonn,
Maybe I misunderstood you
“There needs to be a funded bi-county formal, group formed”
and
“Combining the areas of Kent with the areas in Queen Ann’s”
led me to believe you wanted combined planning and zoning – I took the next step to the County of Kent Anne.
Stephan Sonn says
There is no maybe
about your misunderstanding me.
And with an attitude!
so you misunderstood
and acted out
on a quicksand foundation
I wish you no harm
but I see no point in
expending further energy
in events like this.
Good luck!
Stephan Sonn says
I see that Phil Hoon has another worthy cause…the rubble dump.
I can think of another ready to be addressed.
Progger says
Fact for the day, for those who see new jobs in a big box:
Studies show that for every new job created when a Walmart arrives, the surrounding area loses 1.4 jobs. On average, the area sees a NET loss of 150 retail jobs.
This comes from a study of 3,094 counties across the US, tracking Walmart arrivals from 1997-2002:
Neumark (U. Of California): The Effect of Wal-Mart on Local Labor Markets (January 2007)
Stephan Sonn says
Wal-mart is a grid retailer.
Their contribution to the economy is
Designed to market goods with less labor.
Their success depends on it
They are just doing their thing.
Like Sharks do.
I shop there when given no choice
which is almost as bad as a habit.
Stellal says
Progger – thanks for the information. But,you know, it is kind of like the anti human-inspired-global-warming group,
No matter the credibility of facts people won’t accept it. Our addiction to cheap imports have blinded many.
Stephan Sonn says
StellaL
We live in a society of short run Hedonists with
no appreciation for the cycle of cause and effect.
or larger realities and universal truths.
What do you feel about about
keeping the flame alive?
StellaL says
Stephan – it is a passion! I have traveled quite a lot around the world (not as much as I want to though!) and
am amazed at how well communities that foster small business, look after the environment–often tend to have
school systems that flourish, people who are healthy and so on….I have to believe that this is all connected.
Stephan Sonn says
That was the best answer
I could hope for.
You have done well.
Yours is a pattern of reason
that shores up this existence.
Alex says
Walmart is a slowly failing enterprise anyway. Their financial success and low prices depend upon them being able to open new stores at a rate which cannot be maintained givent heir current market saturation.
Stan Ruddie says
A link to “facts” below that have been quoted and being questions come, in part, from a study by the State of Maryland Department of Planning. Although one can not believe everything one reads, especially from our governors this is a starting point. A link is below. There are many studies that show that bigger is not necessarily better. The present law passed in 2003 should remain and does not stop big business from establishing here. For example, the Safeway on Kent Island is a really BIG store. Well under the 65000 foot limit. It employs over 100 workers plus the workers that service and supply them. Any number of these can be built on any CS zoned property.
Important to remember that this a Home Rule County which allows the citizens to be represented by a Board of Commissioners. Usually it works well. The County has problems. The Commissioners (three of them) believe that raising our taxes and removing all restrictions on new businesses is in our best interests. There is no division between the Executive and Legislative arms of the County.
Some disagree. We live in a society that allows peaceful dissent. Allowing this issue to be decided on a ballot in 2012 is not such a bad thing. Get out there and vote.
https://planning.maryland.gov/pdf/ourproducts/publications/modelsguidelines/bigbox_v3.pdf
Stellal says
Stephan Sonn: Let us all hope that this QAC amendment does go to a referendum and that thoughtful minds prevail. It is so easy for a community to a agree to an “easy fix” and ignore the implications, One would hope that as a society we would have learned…
Stephan Sonn says
Stella
I will have more time starting in November and throughout winter
and would keep busy with this but I live in Kent so it all depends on
who takes this mission on and if there is room for what i can do.