Apfo

FUNKSTOWN - Washington County officials requested that several towns, including Funkstown, vote to adopt changes made by the county to the adequate public facilities ordinance (APFO). The council voted unanimously in favor of several changes to the original APFO Monday during Funkstown's town meeting. The APFO was first adopted by the town council two months ago. The county's APFO became effective July 1, and the revision by Washington County officials became effective in November.

BOONSBORO - A revised adequate public facilities ordinance that would tie approval of new development in Boonsboro to school capacity passed its first test Tuesday night. The Boonsboro Town Council voted on first reading to bring its APFO in line with the Washington County Commissioners' measure that in part bases development approval on school capacity. In a second measure, the council voted to introduce a resolution exempting the business district from excise taxes. According to Mayor Charles "Skip" F. Kauffman, by bringing the APFO in compliance with the county's ordinance, Boonsboro would be eligible for up to 28 percent of the excise taxes the county would collect.

"Growth is under control" is my favorite Washington County Commissioner quote. Though these words were spoken by Greg Snook, it seems it is a sentiment shared by all the commissioners and state delegation. Actions speak louder than words and the actions of these elected officials show they believe growth is under control and should be encouraged. Back in 2001,when the comprehensive plan was being created, the planners used five growth projections to predict future growth in Washington County.

tarar@herald-mail.com A public hearing on proposed changes to a Washington County ordinance dealing with growth regulations drew opposition about a related matter - the county's $13,000-per-unit building excise tax. "I was appalled to find out it was going to cost me $13,000 before I could stick a shovel in the ground," said Harlan Barnes, who lives outside of Hagerstown. He called the tax "too much of a burden for anyone to build a house. " Barnes was one of eight people who spoke Wednesday night at a public hearing held by the Washington County Commissioners.

Most Washington County officials insist new development should pay for itself, but determining how to charge developers for costs of new roads, schools and infrastructure can be a challenge. With changes to the excise tax approved by the General Assembly this spring and enacted by the Washington County Commissioners this summer, Washington County entered a period of transition. Fees and agreements reached between developers and the county government for roads and schools under the current Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance remain in place and vary depending on where the development occurs and the impact the development will have, Public Works Director Gary Rohrer said.

HAGERSTOWN gregs@herald-mail.com For the third time in as many months, the proposed annexation of 52 acres into Hagerstown city limits along Haven Road likely will be put off again after a decision Tuesday night by the City Council. Under the most recent proposed agreement between the city and the developer, Kenneth Jordan, 376 homes would be built on the property. The annexation proposal, however, has been under consideration for several months. City Administrator Bruce Zimmerman said the delay this time rests in questions over the city's Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO)

tarar@herald-mail.com A proposal by a Washington County Commissioner calls for halting development in areas where schools are designated as having "failing" capacities, saying any more enrollment growth might negatively affect the education of students who attend those facilities. The proposal by County Commissioner James F. Kercheval is part of several changes he recommended to the county's Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO). He presented the recommendations to the commissioners on Tuesday.

The Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to delay for two weeks a vote on changes to the county's Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO). The proposed changes deal with the definition of a minor subdivision, school capacity designations and other amendments. The county's APFO helps ensure that roads, schools and other government services are adequate to handle growth.

HAGERSTOWN gregs@herald-mail.com Hagerstown City Council members on Tuesday disagreed with some wishes of the Washington County Board of Education, saying they will push for wording on a new law that will aid some downtown redevelopment as well as not create financial difficulties for developers or homeowners. At its Tuesday work session, the City Council took up a discussion on the city's proposed Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO), which would in part link the ability to build new homes to the amount of available space in local schools for new students.

Last week members of the Hagerstown Planning Commission talked about their fear that adopting an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) would give the Washington County School Board veto power over in-city development. Let us suggest that both groups look at the situation not as a matter of who controls what, but about how both can work together for orderly growth and development. Adopting its own APFO would allow the city to get a share of the building excise tax that is collected by the Washington County government.