The Cecil County government intends to open banks of Sassafras River to big lot development and all forms of Subdivisions. We ask that readers Join the Sassafras River Association in fighting for the Sassafras River at the Cecil County Council public hearing on the Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act, or SB 236, this Tuesday, February 19 at 7:00pm (arrive by 6:15 to ensure you get a seat).
To comply with SB 236, Cecil County submitted a “tier map” to the state in December 2012. The Maryland Department of Planning responded with comments explaining how the map does not comply with the law or Cecil County’s Comprehensive Plan. You can view the comments here.
If the current Cecil map is codified, they will strip all of the county between the northern bank of the Sassafras River up to the canal of its Rural Agricultural District designation.
In the Sassafras watershed, the map designates Priority Preservation Areas, Rural Legacy Areas, and areas zoned for resource protection as Tier III, which would allow major subdivisions on septic systems for the entire area.This is a threat to the health of the Sassafras River because it would lead to increased development on septics and more nitrogen pollution to the tributaries and river.
If the current map is not withdrawn and replaced by one that conforms to the Comprehensive Plan and existing protected lands, the map would result in an increase in nutrient pollution to the Sassafras, and ultimately add to pollution of the Chesapeake Bay.
SRA needs your help in ensuring the lands within the Sassafras watershed are protected from major developments on septic! Attend the meeting, comment, and let the county know you support a map that protects open spaces, rural areas, and conservation areas from development and protects water quality!
We look forward to seeing you Tuesday night at 6:15 pm (the hearing starts at 7:00pm)at the Elk Room in the County Administration Building.
Contact the Sassafras River Association at (410)275-1400 with any questions.
Board of Directors
Sassafras River Association
Emmett Duke says
As the Sassafras RiverKeeper, I want to thank the Spy for printing the letter above, and applaud the Kent Countians who trekked to Elkton in support of our efforts. There was a packed hearing room that evening, and about 35 speakers who were evenly divided between points of view. Kent County has a reasonable Land Use Ordinance which encourages future development around existing towns with waste water treatment plants (WWTP’s). Cecil County has introduced a plan to the Maryland Department of Planning which would take a giant step backwards in the realm of sensible development.
The issue is really about septic systems, and the nitrogen and phosphorus they introduce into the ground water. Those nutrients move through the soil into wells and into our streams and rivers. In well water, nitrogen is harmful to humans. In the streams and rivers, nitrogen and phosphorus cause algae blooms. Algae clouds the water, preventing sunlight from reaching valuable underwater vegetation. When it dies, it sucks oxygen from the surrounding water causing fish kills. Some forms of algae produce toxins – harmful to children and pets who are exposed to the water.
With that brief background, it is important to know that municipal waste water treatment systems introduce much less of the nutrients into the ground water per household than individual home septic systems – as much as ten times less. Clustering future development within range of an existing WWTP instead of allowing random development with individual septic tanks just makes good sense. Our future drinking water and river and bay water will be less polluted if we reduce the amount of pollutants introduced into the ground water.
Kent County submitted a responsible plan to the Maryland Department of Planning. Cecil County has done the opposite, but is reconsidering that decision in response to comments at the hearing. The Sassafras River separates the two counties, explaining our interest in the matter. We want to applaud and thank the citizens of Kent who attended the hearing, including our former Congressman Wayne Gilchrest. Interested and concerned citizens can and do make a difference in governmental decisions that affect us all.