Chestertown Gateway Master Planning Project

News

The following letter appeared in the November 15 edition of the Kent County News.
Thanks again to all you made the Chestertown Gateway Project Charrette such a success. Stay tuned for more updates as this project moves forward in the coming weeks

Dear Editor,
Thank you Chestertown for rolling up your sleeves and digging into the Gateway Charrette-a community process to create a master plan to guide the future uses and development of property on the edges of your town. Throughout the week, your energy did not wane-Washington College's Casey Forum was filled with over 120 at the opening Monday and closing Friday presentations, and, in between, the daytime was busy with focus meetings and drop-in visits and the evenings with workshops engaging nearly 70 each. Throughout, the coffee shop was also full of charrette-inspired conversation, as were the newspapers and our email inboxes.

The charrette was prompted after a recent request in 2006 to annex 600 acres for development of over 1,500 units on the Hopewell and Patterson Farms. This property is located in the Chestertown future expansion area and, along with neighboring properties, has been the subject of conversations about annexation and development in the town. The charrette--created by a partnership among the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), a private, nonprofit land conservation organization, Chestertown and Kent County-was based on the hope was that this process could be a platform for growth decisions based on proactive and informed input from the Chestertown and Kent County community.

In these sessions, the process stirred up issues long simmering. Questions about traffic, bypasses, and bridges; desires for trails, water access, conservation, and connectedness based on bikes and feet; expressions of care for Hopewell and Peterson farms and a yearning to keep them the same; ideas about business that could act as yeast for the local economy, and carry forward the traditions of the County. The week was not without its bumps and bruises, for there are serious, continuing debates about growth-the need, the best timing, connectedness, placement, the most appropriate types.

All of those ideas and concerns were gathered and handed to the consultants, Urban Planning and Design Collaborative, to synthesize. Presented on Friday was a culmination of the week into a master plan for the property. It incorporates concepts such as a permanent greenbelt, protection of Morgan Creek and other sensitive natural features, trails and public open space, such potential community amenities as an outdoor amphitheatre, commercial/light industrial space for sensitive and artisan-based business, and development design that is consistent with the scale, pace and character of Chestertown. Highlighted was the element of choice for Chestertown's future, with scenarios presented for the type and density of the development portion of the plan.

In December, the plan will be printed, posted, and made available to the public for input. Your comments about the master plan are critical for its continued evolution, for while the charrette may be over, it is your input that helps carry the project to the next steps.

Thank you again for engaging in this work to make decisions for our beloved Chestertown.

The Honorable Margo Bailey, Mayor of Chestertown
The Honorable William Pickrum , President, Kent County Board of Commissioners
Rob Etgen, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

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