Dear Council member,
As a community member of over 20 years in Olney,
MD, I am writing to you with my concerns of the
development of the 32 acre site bordering Bowie Mill
Road. When our family moved to Olney, our decision
was based on the feel of the semi-rural, quiet, and
uncongested nature of Olney at that time. As we were
just starting our family, quality community schools
that were not crowded were also of utmost importance.
As the years have passed, like my children have grown,
quickly, beyond my expectations and with quirks, so
has Olney grown at what I would term an explosive
rate. The quirks I am speaking of are congestion and
unsafe traffic situations, over crowded schools, over
taxed shopping and recreational areas to name a few.
Therefore, I am asking that you consider carefully
what plans are set forth for this 32 acre site, once
zoned as a future school site which would have
benefited the leaps and bounds of growth in our
community.
I am asking that you maintain the R-200 zone that
is consistent with the land use in neighborhoods
bordering the plot. As much of the 32 acres is not
usable for building due to the power lines and
environmental constraints anything more than R-200
zoning is not a feasible alternative. Bowie Mill
Road, a two lane road that is already a thoroughfare,
would be stretched even more beyond its safe and
intended usage. A mixed residential and business use
for this land is not even a remote reasonable usage
for this land and inconsistent with Olney's Master
Plan. Higher density housing than R-200, would over
extend the usage of Bowie Mill Road, be inconsistent
with the constraints of the land itself, over tax the
schools and all of Olney's infrastructure. The land
should be only used for the R-200 zoning, which would
be consistent for all that this parcel is - a 32 acre
site, mostly not fit for building in an already
congested neighborhood.
I thank you for your consideration and ask that
you help to preserve the quality of life that brought
my family to Olney. I am sure that you will agree
that the sensible, safe, and logical choice for this
parcel of land is only R-200 zoning.
Sincerely,
Aldona DeBold