Capital LTE: “Providence Point is marketing too early”

Capital Gazette: Letters to the Editor, July 24, 2019

Kathleen Reavley asked: 1) why she is receiving invitations to sales meetings for units at Providence Point, and 2) wonders if the destructive plans have been approved (The Capital, July 4).

Plans submitted to the City on Jan. 22, have not been approved, nor are they anywhere near approval. The developers refused to modify their plans after meeting twice in 2018 with opponents in meetings chaired by Planning and Zoning officials to try and resolve problems.

The plans were worse than before as they indicated they would not replant any of the 30 acres of forest to be destroyed despite the 100% reforestation required by the city’s no-net-loss of forest ordinance. The developers also failed to reduce forest loss as required and failed to meet legal requirements for proper stormwater management as well as siting requirements for environmental integrity.

On June 12, P&Z sent the developers more than four pages of substantial changes that must be made to comply with environmental laws including requirements to: reforest all forest cut down; move buildings to reduce forest loss by at least seven acres; submit details on required forest and other conservation easements; meet city requirements to prevent stormwater pollution; and submit plans “to seamlessly balance environmental preservation and sustainability with the built environment”.

These environmental requirements mean that the developers will have to substantially modify the plans they are pitching to seniors willing to fork over their money for units that will cost as much as $1.4 million for two people with a monthly fee of $5,600 with no health care.

The developers were allowed to begin marketing and collecting payments from seniors by a compliant Maryland Department of Aging despite unapproved plans requiring many major modifications. This reversed previous decisions by the agency. What is going on?

PAMELA GRATTON, ANNAPOLIS

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