The Hearne Annexation Is “Only Fair”
John Seipp, attorney for the owners of the Hearne property (CDW, LLC), told the Council and the capacity crowd that it was only fair to go through with the annexation. Since Council had already voted to do so once (illegally, since the 1st hearing wasn’t properly publicized), it’s only equitable to complete the annexation. He inferred that his clients wouldn’t have closed on the property if they thought that the annexation wasn’t a done deal.
Well, instead of threatening to sue the City if the annexation doesn’t go through (like they did with County Council on re-zoning), maybe the folks at CDW should think about suing their lawyer for not making sure they had all the bases covered. Just because they spent $10 million doesn’t mean that the City has to bend over and give them whatever they want.
It was also stated that CDW would pay the costs of improvements to the “intersection” (S. Division and Dykes Rd). During the rest of comments by Mr. Seipp and by certain members of council, the inference was made that CDW was covering the costs of all road improvements.
Just because you think you heard them commit doesn’t mean that’s what they will really do.
They are also supposed to cover the costs of water (but not sewage?). That’s great, but even if the developers pay for all water and sewage costs, who is going to pay for the additional water treatment capacity that’s needed? YOU.
They will be allowed up to 590 residential units on this property with the current zoning. Who is paying for the additional classroom space that will be needed? YOU. How about the additional teachers? Thats right folks; you get to pay for that one too!
This brings us to the best remark all night (with all deference to Tina Perrotta, Dot Truitt, and everyone else who spoke). Mr Seipp made a point of reminding us that the developers were from here. They weren’t “some developer from the Western Shore”. They are “just as concerned about the quality of life here as anyone.” Well, I don’t care where you’re from. They’re still saddling the taxpayer with a lot of additional expense. For all I know, they’re probably sending their kids to some private school, while our kids go to a school that’s at 130% of capacity.
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Comments
Dot Truitt also brought to light that the “local developers” had the property posted for sale on a web site called brokerpost.com for a cool $20 million…double their investment. She brought a copy to show it is true, as it has now been removed from the site, perhaps because of increased public scrutiny. It is hard to talk about the “poor local developers” under those circumstances.
The best thing that the citizens of Choptankia have going is John Seipp is DCW’s lawyer. He’ll shoot himself in the foot just as swiftly as Fulton Jeffers did for the Horse Park Folly. Let them keep talking in public and the inanities will surface.