RidgeReasons

The County’s own Director of the Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management said that the proposed upzoning is inconsistent with the surrounding area for multiple, equally disqualifying reasons. Click here to see the DEPRM letter.

The introduction of a business that deals with oil, gasoline and other environmental contaminants on property that is in the watershed zone and directly astride a trout stream is problematic, given the ongoing concerns of the community, the County and the Region.

The owner of the Ridge Country Store has told the surrounding homeowners that he has no formal plans to dispose of the oil, gasoline and other related effluent from his business. He stated that he will periodically take it to the dump himself. This is being investigated to ensure environmental law is being followed.

The surrounding homeowners oppose the change.

The proposed change to Business-Major (and the County Planning Office’s staff recommendation of Business-Light) will introduce a business into the area that has no direct use for the community. Large engine repair is not a residential community need.

The requested upzoning depends on the County’s “CR” designation, which stipulates that the new business exist for “basic convenience and shopping services in rural areas where such facilities are not available within a reasonable distance.” Because the proposed business is for the convenience of companies that exist outside of the neighborhood, it is our belief that this proposed business doesn't meet the definition required of the "CR" designation.

This upzoning will permit Ridge Country Store to become a machine shop or truck repair yard.

The owner of the Ridge Country Store has told surrounding homeowners that the Business-Major upzoning was necessary to ensure the best price when he or his estate decides to sell.

The owner of the Ridge Country Store has told surrounding homeowners that “this deal is done,” “the fix is in,” “it's a done deal” or words to that effect. Although he has one of the most powerful and connected law firms working on his behalf (Venable), we hope he is mistaken if he believes the zoning process can be gamed so easily.

The owner of the Ridge Country Store is suing the County because a County employee originally told him that he could buy the property and do (in effect) what he wanted with it. The County employee was wrong. Should the neighborhood be penalized for this? The lawsuit shouldn't be linked to this issue. The BL-CR zoning could be viewed as a compromise “on our behalf” to make the lawsuit go away.

No one should have the absolute right to establish a business – that has no local clientele – in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Because of this we must not be expected to compromise. This "compromise" is currently the County Planning Department’s position. They are suggesting BL-CR, vice the requested BM-CR. Neither BM-CR nor BL-CR are remotely acceptable.

The owner makes frequent reference to a petition that many of us signed two years ago wherein we supported the idea that the owner of the Ridge Country Store should be allowed to work on local homeowner’s lawnmowers and snowblowers. The petition has no bearing on the current situation. All known signatories have recanted any support previously offered. Any continued references to this petition obscure the issue, not clarify it.