20040304 Linganore teens take a stand against further development by Brad Pierce, Gazette Staff Writer

Linganore teens take a stand against further development

by Brad Pierce, Staff Writer, Mar. 4, 2004

Public hearings for region plan updates tend to be long, boring affairs chock-full of talkative attorneys and property owners discontent with the invasion of bulldozers in Frederick County.

So it's unusual to see teenage girls hanging out at them.

And it is even more unusual to hear teenage girls speak about the planning process in such an earnest way that demands attention from everyone in the room. But at a New Market Region Plan public hearing held before the Frederick County Planning Commission last week, that's exactly what happened.

Several Linganore High students took the stand to speak about residential development in the area.

Jamie Dorrance, a 14-year-old freshman, talked about protecting the woodlands behind her house.

Sarah Lilly, a 15-year-old sophomore, spoke about the need for better schools.

And Amy Grimes, a 16-year-old junior who could not attend the public hearing, asked her mother to read into the record a letter Amy wrote about how important it is to improve roads.

"I was very impressed with their testimony," said Frederick County Commissioner Michael L. Cady, who attended the public hearing.

Although a teen lobbying for increased school funding at budget meetings is fairly common in Frederick County, Cady said seeing youths show up at a planning hearing is rare.

"I hope we'll see a great deal more of this," he said, adding that the girls set a good example taking an active role in community issues.

Frederick County Commissioner Jan H. Gardner, who also attended the hearing, said she thought it was wonderful to see teenagers get involved in planning issues.

The girls "demonstrated good citizenship," she said.

" ... It's important to engage our young people in the public process," she added.

The girls maintain their parents did not push them to the podium. And all three have stressed that they chose on their own accord to become involved because the county has neglected far too many problems for far too long.

"I just really think that it's a big issue," Lilly said, explaining that even as a teenager, she has a responsibility to take care of her community.

Farms are shrinking, forests are disappearing, and the county's wildlife is running out of room to live, Dorrance said, and it's all happening because development is moving too fast to consider the consequences.

Dorrance spoke out to protect 86 acres of woods behind her house from development, which she says would wreck her rural neighborhood.

"In 20 years, there's probably not going to be any woods left around here," she said.

The woods, like much of the land surrounding the girls' neighborhoods, is up for consideration to be re-zoned from agriculture to residential, which is why the girls sprang into action.

Last week's public hearing was, after all, held Feb. 25, a school night. There's homework to do, friends to talk to, and reality shows on television to watch. But instead of settling for the usual teens' Wednesday night, Dorrance and Lilly headed to Winchester Hall clutching speeches.

"I can't think of a better way to spend a Wednesday night," Dorrance said. "If I don't say anything, who's going to do it?"

Dorrance teamed up with Lilly and Grimes and got down to business. They did their research online, knocked on doors in the area, and circulated a petition to slow down development.

Even Dorrance's 13-year-old sister, Melissa, has gotten into the action by spreading the word at New Market Middle School. And after surveying residents, Dorrance said the trio couldn't find anyone who supported development of the woodlands.

"I haven't met one person who actually lives here who want it to be developed," Dorrance said. "Most people were violently against it."

And besides depleting the area's woodlands, further development in the area would cause an already damaged well system in the area to be stressed beyond the capabilities of underground water sources, Dorrance said.

Lilly also made a passionate plea last week for the county to take care of what it already has and accommodate its current residents before building more homes and worrying about new residents that development will bring.

"It's a really important issue," Lilly said. "If people don't speak out on this they'll just keep building more homes."

Linganore High is already at 120 percent capacity with 12 portables used as classrooms this year, she explained. Next year, five more portables will be added the school's collection of inadequate facilities, she said. Portables are not intended for long-term use, but at Linganore, that's exactly what they're set up for, she said.

"I've never gone to a school that doesn't have portables," Dorrance said.

Grimes could not attend last week's hearing because she was already committed to sing at a church, but her belief in speaking out on the poor conditions of roads in the area is just as deep as Dorrance's love for trees.

The two issues are connected, because, according to Grimes, development of the woods would further strain already busy and poorly maintained roads, mainly Sidney Road and Md. Route 144.

"Where the two roads intersect is a very dangerous place, as a new driver myself I can testify to having difficulty safely pulling out on one road to the other," Grimes said.

She explained that accidents are common; one neighbor recently fell due to the poor condition of the road and broke her leg.

"Doing anything that would increase traffic on these two busy roads wouldn't be good for anyone currently living in the area, as it is, these roads aren't safe for drivers or pedestrians," Grimes added.

A continuation of region plan public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the first floor meeting room at Winchester Hall.