Painting by Alice WebbSince Erickson Retirement Communities backed out of a deal this past summer to purchase 188 acres of the 892 acre historic Doughoregan Manor property, the owners have been exploring other development options. Doughoregan Manor is the family home of Charles Carroll of Carleton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and his descendents still reside on the National Historic Trust property. The family has indicated that it needs the proceeds from development in order to restore the historic buildings.
According to this story by Jennifer Broadwater in The Columbia Flier, the new plan calls for the construction of 300 to 325 new single family homes.
“The latest development plan, though still in the early stages, would build between 300 and 325 single-family houses on the eastern side of the property, while preserving the bulk of the rest of the land, including the historic mansion, through the county’s farmland preservation program. In addition, the landowners would donate 34 acres to the county to expand Kiwanis-Wallas Park, which abuts the property.”
This proposal is bound to elicit opposition from neighboring communities as the family seeks to rezone a portion of the land to from Rural Conservation to Residential Environmental District. Still, it is seems to be a fair and reasonable request that would also place two thirds of the land into the county’s agricultural preservation program. While their neighbors sold off their farms for housing, the Carroll’s have continually fought to maintain some semblance of the original rural character of the area.
12 comments:
Let Joe Rutter and Don Reuwer build.... after they add a lane or two to Route 144 (changing the historic scenic character of the National Pike), provide land for a new school, and address the environmental issues.
You have to wonder if Rutter isn't holding back a smirk when he tells people that more than 300 McMansions will only generate 170 school aged children.
Maybe this time the county will be watching Reuwer for problems like those at Cattail.
The difference between dealing with Erikson and dealing with Rutter & Reuwer is like doing a deal with Mother Theresa vs. Bernie Madoff.
Ellicott City is politically active and won't look favorably on this proposal particularly with those notorious characters already coming up with ridiculous numbers.
2nd Citizens, mayhap the land slumber from toils long put upon it, bear quarterage to the too-oft displaced wild refugees of previous lost lands adjacent, and not be spent in a manner unbefitting its deserved, continued stewardship. Edifices hold only some history, the rest lies with the land.
Well.....the family can put 300+ homes on the land NOW given existing zoning. Would you rather see the entire tract developed into 1 acre Mcmansions - and lose the nationally significant historic setting, or cluster those homes along the eastern edge and save the rest of the land and historic buildings?
Is there still a market left for 1 acre McMansions? For that matter, I'd be surprised if a plan for 300 homes is profitable.
Where are you getting information that the target tract is already zoned for that level of density?
Still waiting for the zoning answer
Zoned RC with DEO - denisty exchange option - so it can be a receiving parcel. 1 unit per 4.25 acres as base zoning plus as a receiving parcel for DEO, allows more even more units.
Anonymous 3:03 PM:
RC-DEO doesn't work in the way which you describe. I think you need to do more research into how the zoning of the sending parcel(s) affects density exchange.
Anon 7:49,
I've heard the cry of save the national historic site for years. While I'm sure that everyone is sympathetic to the Carroll family's need for $20+ Million, I can't quite grasp how the local community or county is enhanced by the impact that hundreds of homes will have on infrastructure and environment.
My family lives down the street. If we're going to entertain wholesale changes to the General Plan, zoning and sewer/water, let's start the conversation with public access to this historic treasure.
Otherwise, let the Carroll family take the cash and develop 4 acre sites across the property. We're not welcome there anyhow.
They cannot build residential there now, as stated above. If so, their taxes would be astronomical on that property. Our local government must approve any residential change to that estate.
Let them build by right. If you change the zoning, you open up a whole new can of worms. If the zoning is changed, as long as they build according to the new zoning designation, then they will be following the law. So the 325 homes can become townhouses. And which is going to sell better in this economy? Do the math.
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