The Montgomery County Council is poised to begin a series of committee work sessions which will lead to a decision on the Ten Mile Creek Area Limited Master Plan Amendment. Over the past year, concern over the environmental impact of proposed development on the watersheds feeding Little Seneca Reservoir, particularly Ten Mile Creek -- a biologically superior reference stream considered the 'last best creek' in Montgomery County -- has consumed Planning Board meetings and activated community groups throughout the county.
In early December during two nights of packed and tense County Council hearings, a majority of 60 out of nearly 80 speakers testified in favor of protections for Ten Mile Creek. Several titans of planning and public policy were among those speaking on behalf of environmental protection: Dr. Royce Hanson, a nationally renowned land use expert and former Planning Board Chairman; and former Council Members Scott Fosler and John Menke as well as Ephraim King, the former head of Science and Technology for the EPA office of Water. Mr. Menke is also a former Director of the County Department of Environmental Protection.
In his testimony, Dr. Hanson said: "Some suggest that too much [development] has already happened to stop now. But inertia is not planning and it's not illegal to get smarter." He added that, "Speculative investments are not vested," noting the speculative nature of the large-scale building projects that Pulte Homes and the Peterson Companies are proposing for the headwaters of Ten Mile Creek in Clarksburg. Hanson, Menke and Fosler used a tag-team approach to addressing the Council on Dec. 5th.
"What we are requesting of the Council is really quite simple: Honor the county government's responsibilities to protect the drinking water supply of our citizens, and don't renege on our obligations to our regional neighbors," Fosler said. He has provided the County with an outline for a possible study of Little Seneca Reservoir, the importance of which was largely overlooked by the Planning Commission in their recommendations.
Mike Gravitz, who chairs the Conservation Committee for the Audubon Naturalist Society (ANS) which is part of the Save Ten Mile Creek coalition of more than 23 organizations, called the upcoming Council decision, "the litmus test of environmental stewardship in this election cycle." He cautioned the Council to be mindful that the environmental community will work this spring to inform voters if a decision is made to approve large development projects that will pollute the headwaters of their backup drinking water supply. "We will say you rolled the dice on our drinking water," said Gravitz.
Three Planning Board work sessions were held in September and October culminating with Chair Carrier's directive for staff to review any new technical issues raised by experts at the hearings, reach out to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) to elicit input on the safety and security of the region's back up water supply in Little Seneca Reservoir and meet with property owners and stakeholders to explore any new information that might affect the staff draft report. Chair Carrier has announced over the past week that she will not seek another term as Planning Board Chair when her term expires in June of this year.
The Planning Board recommendations were submitted to the County Council for final decisions on the future of Ten Mile Creek. A Council vote is anticipated as early as February after a series of joint Transportation and Environment and Infrastructure Committee and Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee work sessions. These will be held Monday, January 13th - 2 p.m., Friday, January 17th - 9:30 a.m. and Friday, January 24th - 9:30 a.m. Note to readers: Please plan to attend as many of these sessions as you can - these work sessions are open to the public.
The 1994 Clarksburg Master Plan vision recognized the unique nature of Ten Mile Creek and provided a pause after Stages I - III triggers were met to revisit the Plan before finalizing it, and before allowing any further development to encroach on the pristine Ten Mile Creek watershed. The Save Ten Mile Creek Coalition, consisting of almost two dozen environmental, civic and faith-based groups -- has garnered wide support for protecting Ten Mile Creek as the cleanest source of water to Little Seneca Reservoir, the region's close-by emergency drinking water supply in times of drought.
Last week, County Executive Isaiah Leggett showed support for Ten Mile Creek in a letter delivered to Coalition leaders. He pledged to forego any further development on the 128-acre County/Clarkwood site and will not build the proposed addition to the County Correctional Facility. These properties amount to over 400 acres, representing a significant reduction in potential impervious surface which would cause impairment to the watershed. The move sets an example for the County Council in putting the destiny of an irreplaceable environmental resource above the considerable investment in potential development. (see letter).
The recent chemical spill in Charleston, West Virginia has caused damage to the water supply for thousands of nearby residents and points up the need to pay close attention to emergency drinking water sources like Little Seneca Reservoir.
"It's important for residents to weigh in on this issue now that it's before the Council," said Diane Cameron, who leads the Save Ten Mile Creek Coalition in her role as Conservation Director for ANS.
Click here to find out how to contact Council Members and weigh in on this issue. Or simply e-mail them at [email protected]