APC NEWSLETTER - JANUARY 2009 
Vol.   10 No. 1                                         January 27, 2009 

The next meeting of Arnold Preservation Council will be
Wednesday March 11, 2009
7:30 PM Chesapeake Academy,
1185 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd.,
Arnold, MD Google Map

 

President Lucy Iliff brought the meeting to order at 7:30 pm.  

Lucy presented Arnold Preservation Council’s Community Enhancement Award to Rich Lewis, manager of the Arnold Safeway. 

The Award is given to new or renovated sites and businesses in the community that have used environmentally sensitive techniques and beautify Arnold.  Previous awards have been given to Anne Arundel Community College for their Ritchie Highway entrance and Chesapeake Academy for landscaping at the front entrance and parking lot.  

Ms. Iliff noted that we are particularly impressed with Safeway representatives listening to and caring about our community. The building is attractive with earth tones. The sign is tasteful. The landscaping with many quality trees and bushes is way above what most businesses in our area have implemented. We hope that the other businesses in Arnold will follow Safeway’s example. If you have nominations for the award, you may go to the website www.preservearnold.org to contact the Arnold Preservation Council. 
 

Secretary’s Report - Anne Doody 

The September 11 and October 8 minutes as written in the December meeting were approved. 

Treasurer’s Report - Eric Weilminster 

        Balances as of 11/30/08

Checking        $10,983.71 (Includes $10,000 grant to Growth Action Network for website)
Savings           $ 737.25
CD                 $4,030.61
Total Assets       $15,751.57 

January  Income:         

Friends of APC: 4 -            60
Membership Renewals: 15 - 375
Donations:                        275
Total     $710 

January Expenses:

Severn River Association Membership -     25.00
Chesapeake Academy meeting room       100.00
Jordan Park Contract -                             100.00
Patricia Lynch Framing reimbursement -   62.23
Total    $287.23 

Ed Parker and Sue Ricciardi will perform the APC 2008 audit. 

2009 APC Board of Directors: 

Sue Freeman, Lucy Iliff, Anne Doody, Darryl Hodge, Alberta Stornetta, and Eric Weilminster will serve on the Board of Directors for 2009. The Executive Board will be: President, Sue Freeman; Secretary, Lucy Iliff, and Treasurer, Eric Weilminster. We are looking for volunteers to assist with the newsletter, correspondence and membership.  

Standing and Special Committee Reports 

Jordan Trail Park Update - Ann Fligsten

APC has signed an option with the Jordans to purchase their almost 6 acres of land in Arnold bordered by the B&A Trail and Rt. 2. The option price is $1.5 million and the option expires at the end of June 2009. APC’s goal is to assist Anne Arundel County in acquiring the property for a trail park and open space. The more money we can raise, the more likely it will be that our dreams for a park on this site will be realized.  Ideas for fundraising or want to help, contact us!! 

Growth Action Network (GA) - Ann Fligsten 

Growth Action is very busy getting a new website up and running and trying to follow the General Development Plan (GDP) to get the best plan for Anne Arundel County’s future. 

The following are key dates for comment about the GDP:

The County released the Draft General Development Plan on 20 January.   

The dates for public meetings are: Mon, Jan 26th Annapolis High School; Wed, Jan 28, Old Mill HS; Tuesday Feb 3 Southern HS; Feb 5 Meade HS. All sessions are from 6-9PM and will be in small round table format led by a staff member of Planning and Zoning. There will be a rotation of staff after 20-25 minutes. For more information, go to: 2008 GDP@aacounty.org.

Growth Action Network welcomes new individual and community associations as members. Contact Ann Fligsten, if interested. 410-544-1454. 

Check out the new website at: growthaction.net 

History Committee - Alberta Stornetta

The history committee is pleased to announce that the eight historic Arnold photos, which we had enlarged and mounted, are now displayed at the new Arnold Safeway. You will find two in the main entry vestibule on the wall nearest Ritchie Highway, and the other six at the lower level, near the foot of the escalator and near the elevator entrances.

We have a volunteer who will transcribe oral history tapes. Not only will Diane Jennings do the transcribing, but she has relatives who will be a wonderful source of Arnold memories.

Remember, the power point show, "The Little Post Office That Grew," is available to community groups etc. To book a date, call or email Alberta Stornetta at 410-757-2831 or wastorn@earthlink.net.  The historic note cards are still available.

Someone is reading our website! I was contacted by Virginia Vis, who is researching a quilt top donated to the DAR museum in D.C., for information on Thomas Arnold and his two wives. Their names are embroidered on the quilt top.

New Business

Admiral’s Ridge,

Eliot Powell has asked Planning and Zoning to have this project changed from age-restricted to non-age restricted. This means that he will have to wait six years before building unless the Broadneck School feeder system opens up before then.

A meeting will be held with Mr. Powell at Arnold Elementary School on Feb. 4th, 6 p.m. in the teacher’s lounge. 

New Bank in Arnold

The T&D Bank is going to be building on the site of the previous Shell station. Sue Freeman has talked to them about following Safeway's example in building an attractive building with a tasteful sign and quality landscaping. The developers have indicated an interest in seeing some historical pictures of Arnold to be used in a large mural on an interior wall. Alberta Stornetta, APC History Project, is going to follow up with this request.

General Development Plan

There have been 44 land use recommendations already submitted to the County.   Ten of these pending requests are for mixed use and four are County or State owned. Requests for land use changes can be made until the County Council votes on the final legislation in June or July. The proposed land use changes in the Broadneck area are for 25 acres, presently the golf course off Ritchie Highway, plus an additional 25 adjoining acres to go from RA to R5.  There is also a request for 100 acres on College Parkway to be turned to mixed use. There will be a request for the Jordan property to be changed from R1 to commercial.  

Honorary Mayor of Arnold

Sue Freeman suggested having citizens of Arnold nominate and vote for an honorary mayor of Arnold. There would be speeches and rallies, and best of all, votes would be in the form of BRIBES that would determine the victor. It could be a whole lot of fun, and the money raised could possibly be used toward buying the Jordan property. We will need someone to organize this. Please contact us if you are interested: info@preservearnold.org

Rt. 2 Median planting - Ann Fligsten

Ann noted the new plantings on the Rt. 2 median strip had deteriorated. Leroy Jonas from the State Highway Administration responded to Ann’s phone call of concern by putting in new strips of ornamental grasses and bushes.  

Delegates to Community Organizations 

We need a volunteer to report on the Greater Severna Park Council meetings.  This would require one meeting per month at the Severna Park Library meeting room.

   

Announcements 

APC Next Meeting will be at Chesapeake Academy on Wednesday, March 11 at 7:30.

APC Memberships:  Please email sue@preservearnold.org to request a membership form.  You may also go to www.preservearnold.org and download a form. 

Hearing

Zoning Hearing:  Feb. 5, Thursday at the County Council Chamber, First Floor of the Arundel Center:  11 a.m. Gerard Lloyd, Jr. Property address:  67 Jones Station Road, Arnold.  Request to allow a dwelling and associated facilities with less setbacks and buffer than required and with disturbance to slopes 15% or greater on property located 165’ along the southwest side of Jones Station Road, 1150’ northeast of Beckett Ct. Arnold.   Notice is also available on the web at www.aacounty.org.   

Severn River Middle School National Junior Honor Society Recycling Project 

What: Free tall yellow recycling containers 

Where:  Severn River Middle School
241 Peninsula Farm Road, Arnold MD  21012 

Bicycle Symposium
Feb. 4th, 9 - 3, Miller Senate Office Bldg. 

Save Sullivan Cove in Severna Park

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and the Army Corps of Engineers is rumored to announce soon that they are granting permits to the homeowners to build bridges and piers across the tidal pond.

       SEE A SHORT POND & COVE VIDEO! Click on this Link to YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCfgIrwTz4o

Actions: Write letters, send emails, call and encourage your elected officials to halt to this potential ecological disaster.

Contact: Governor O'Malley; Secretary of DNR John Griffin; Secretary of MDE Shari Wilson; Delegate Maggie McIntosh, Chair of the House Environmental Affairs Committee; and Margaret McHale, Chair of the Critical Area Commission. 

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9pm
Respectfully submitted, 
Lucy Iliff, Secretary        

The mission of the arnold preservation council is to unite the people of arnold to enhance arnold's identity as a desirable community that preserves its rural heritage and environment by advocating responsible growth, linked neighborhoods, local small businesses, and excellent schools.

Arnold Preservation Council
P.O. Box 852
Arnold, Maryland 21012-0852
info@preservearnold.org
www.PreserveArnold.org