Public hearing held on sewer-line plans

January 13, 1999

Only one person spoke at a public hearing Monday on plans for sewer lines for the Centre at Hagerstown.

The Centre is a $50 million shopping center being built northwest of the Interstate 81-U.S. 40 interchange, next to Swann Road. The property is inside the Hagerstown city limits.

The proposed sewer line extension also would serve several nearby residential properties along Swann.

The public hearing was before the Washington County Commissioners and the county Planning Commission.

While the county is not doing the work, the county's plans must be changed to reflect alterations to the county water and sewerage plan. The commissioners have the final say on whether to amend the plan to show the location of the sewer lines.

Alice Towne, Washington County health sanitarian for the Maryland Department of Health, was the only speaker at the public hearing not working for the city, county or the developer.

She said that some residents along Salem Avenue and Broadfording Road have had troubles with well contamination. They hope residents will benefit from the Centre's sewer lines, she said.

The developer, Petrie Dierman Kughn, is putting in sewer lines, Hagerstown Water Pollution Control Manager Rick Thomas said.

Phillip L. Ross, director of the McLean, Va.-based developer, estimated the project would cost about $1 million.

They are installing 8-inch and 18-inch gravity sewer lines along with a new 10-inch main line from a proposed pump station at the shopping center, Thomas said.

The firm will be reimbursed for most of the cost under an agreement with the city.

Under the agreement the city will give back to the company about $3 million in city real estate taxes over a 21-year period starting when at least 350,000 square feet of the center is ready for use.

The sewer line issue will go to the Planning Commission in February with a staff recommendation and may reach the County Commissioners for a decision by mid-February, said Timothy Lung, a county senior planner.

- Scott Butki

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