It was good to hear from Trappe Town Council Member Brian Schmidt on the Spy the other day. Clarifying matters on the Lakeside issue can be challenging; and having joined Trappe’s Planning Commission three years ago, he provided a unique perspective. He understandably preferred the option of building houses to either building a jail or providing a dump site for the county. We might wonder now, though, if those suggestions have contributed to the discord we are experiencing today.
Mr. Schmidt reminded us that over 900 acres had been annexed for growth by the town of Trappe in 2003, and that a referendum was held to approve the Lakeside development. He also reminded us that the construction of 2,501 homes would likely be a 20-year project, and we were reassured that Trappe “doesn’t have to take over Lakeside’s wastewater treatment until the town is ready.”
He admitted that Trappe’s Biolac wastewater treatment plant is not performing at currently recommended levels, but failed to mention the pollution of Trappe Creek. He reassured us that Trappe’s plant would be operating “at the peak of its ability,” and “in compliance with Maryland Department of the Environment;” but, as usual, we weren’t reminded that this level of compliance would be determined by the standards required when the permit was issued 20 years ago.
There’s no fishing in Trappe Creek now, but we were reassured that homes hooked up to Trappe’s plant will be “grabbed back” once Lakeside’s wastewater treatment plant is completed. That could be 18 months, but “not forever,” or “possibly 3-4 years for as few as 50 additional homes” or a “worst case scenario of 120.” Nothing seems to have changed since Laura Price asked Ryan Showalter, attorney for Trappe East Holdings Business Trust, if 18 months for the completion of Lakeside’s wastewater treatment plant could be “put in writing.”
Councilman Schmidt acknowledged that “a lot of citizens feel we’re not looking out for the community.” We weren’t reminded that the approval of our Talbot County Planning Commission is required for all development, or that their approval had been rescinded. The Planning Commission has determined that connecting Lakeside to existing Trappe sewerage is not compliant with our Comprehensive Plan.
In the meantime we have a Developer Rights and Responsibilities Agreement. Once Lakeside’s “new wastewater treatment plant is completed and ready for operation…the petitioner may reallocate the town’s treatment system capacity to other portions of the property only after the existing wastewater treatment plant is upgraded or replaced in a manner that is sufficient to achieve ENR (Enhanced Nutrient Removal) standards.”
So we do have “in writing” that only as many as 120 Lakeside homes could be connected to an already underperforming wastewater treatment plant for a period of possibly 18 months to 4 years. Under these circumstances sequence has become an issue. Performance concerns for existing plants are one matter, but intentionally connecting homes in a new development to an underperforming plant?
Resolution 327, if passed, would require ENR wastewater treatment before connections are made; and the modular wastewater treatment systems mentioned recently could be worth a look. They are described as easy to install, highly efficient, cost-effective solutions for either replacing or supplementing existing overloaded wastewater treatment plants.
Councilmember Schmidt shared that he has history here. His grandparents lived in Trappe, and his father fished there. He understands “wanting to go fishing,” but his closing remarks suggested that he doesn’t understand the Lakeside concerns of fellow citizens.
Wastewater treatment may be the current issue, but we could as easily be concerned by the unprecedented level of population growth proposed. The growth anticipated for 2,501 Lakeside homes with 2.2 persons per household over 20 years is more growth than Easton has experienced over the past 20 years in an area 5 times larger than Trappe.
So, yes, let us move on, in a positive direction. Talbot County councilmembers with little interest in revisiting Lakeside have recently suggested “sewer systems will not sit there failing,” and it could be “a good idea to check in with citizens to make sure we know what they want.”
With the approval of our Planning Commission, Resolution 327 will be among the 16 resolutions for consideration at the April 12 Talbot County Council meeting. It could be a long evening, and councilmembers might recall Chapter 190 of Talbot County Code: “Our priorities are to protect and promote public health, safety and welfare.”
Carol Voyles is a graphic designer/illustrator who retired to the Eastern Shore and became interested in politics. She serves as communications chair for the Talbot County Democratic Forum and lives in Easton.
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