This is one of a series of posts relating a letter from Catoctin District School Board representative Jennifer Bergel to her constituents regarding the Cangiano/Burgess Wheatland property acquisition. This section addresses statements made by Blue Ridge Supervisor Jim Burton in an email to citizens.
Jim Burton has sent an email that includes the following information:Next post: Conclusion of May 14th Letter
“During a meeting in which I participated last week, we discussed three sites closer to the Town and determined that school planning staff had already directed their engineers to investigate the two closest to Town. While I do not know the [sic] what the price of these alternatives might be, they would certainly be in far greater compliance with the County's Comprehensive Plan.”
Because constituents whose emails in support of the site have received responses with these words, it is imperative that I set the record straight.
1. After the community input meeting in Lovettsville on April 29, I spoke to staff about whether or not the “Engel/Schoene” potential site would be possible for the hypothetical price of $13 million. This possible alternative was mentioned in this meeting, and I asked staff to look at it because it linked a parcel in the town to a parcel out of the town. I had immediate reservations about the price; immediate reservations about the viability; immediate concerns about the impact on a town that currently has very few middle/high school buses driving through it. I also had concerns about the bank and a historical home; but I asked them to look into the site to get a snapshot of its possibilities. Mr. Engle has not mentioned an intention to sell; Schoene is advertised by the developer as for sale. I should have information to share on this concept - but again, it is only being looked into because of public interest in this option.
2. Before the community meeting took place, I was approached by an individual about a possible assemblage in the Lovettsville area. This person asked me to keep things private in order to “protect the landowners”. I asked this person to whom else he was speaking so that I could cross reference the parties. Furthermore, I informed him we are under contract and that I am no longer able to speak to land deals. I directed him to staff, mentioned the community meeting, and upon my arrival staff indicated a meeting time and date had been set with this person. Last Thursday I found out that this person had spoken to Mr. Burton about this assemblage. I was quite surprised to hear this testament from Mr. Burton because the potential “broker” had acknowledged a concern for those local residents involved yet he went to an elected official that did not represent him. Furthermore, I began to wonder to how many had this person spoken.
I assured Mr. Burton that indeed staff had already started to look at this assemblage, but even if it were to come together, it still did not comply with the Comprehensive Plan. And, there was a need for serious road improvements, among other things, IF it were a viable site. I stated that I was alarmed that someone was shopping a “potential” assemblage. As of yesterday (5/13), Mr. Burton is the only one who has seen the contracts - LCPS staff continues to ask for them to determine the validity of this "possible" site.
3. The other site Mr. Burton mentioned, and I challenged, is the Wheeler Farm on Irish Corner Road. I mentioned to him the number of historic structures on the site, the fact that a dirt road (Dutchman's Creek Rd.) runs through the two properties, the flooding of the creek along the road and by the water treatment plant, and that again, the Comprehensive Plan is not in place with this site. Yet, this site is one that he mentioned may be viable.
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