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 Nay-saying isn't enough. If we want to "Save the Bay" we must champion economic growth—just not the 1940s model.
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) recently denied a key permit for the Cross-County Connector, a four-lane highway in Charles County that would have bisected Mattawoman Creek and opened a large rural area to development. The denial will save the county millions of dollars and the Mattawoman Creek watershed from the potentially disastrous impacts of the proposed roadway.
Two years ago, American Rivers listed the Mattawoman as the fourth most endangered river in America because of threats posed by the road. The creek has long been considered one of the best nurseries for migratory fish in the entire Chesapeake Bay.
"This is huge," said Terry Cummings, Maryland manager of advocacy for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. "This is an historic day for the citizens of Charles County and Maryland. If we are going to save the Bay, we must save her rivers and streams."
CBF and its allies in the Smarter Growth Alliance for Charles County have been fighting to prevent the Cross-County Connector project from going forward since the fall of 2008. "This is a victory for Smart Growth. This highway was originally conceived to service a huge development project that inspired Governor Parris Glendening to bring Smart Growth to Maryland, and to purchase historic Chapman Forest for the protection of the Mattawoman, the Potomac, and the Bay," said Bonnie Bick, representing the Sierra Club, Maryland Chapter.
MDE cited the county's failure to provide necessary information to the state, resulting in the permit's denial. In addition, the county failed to show that the project would not harm nearby waterways.
"This is great news for the legions who enjoy Mattawoman," said Jim Long, president of the Mattawoman Watershed Society. “At a time when one of the Bay's best is faltering, this highway and its sprawl development would have made recovery impossible. Previous county administrations failed to understand, but we are hopeful the county will now turn the page and do the right thing in its new comprehensive plan.”
County Commissioners voted October 12th not to commit any new funds to the project, including funding the studies and analysis needed to determine how the highway would impact nearby waterways. This decision resulted in saving Charles County taxpayers $1,300 per household.
The permit denial comes at a critical time, as the county is going through the process of updating its comprehensive plan. While two of the original scenarios for the plan did not include the Cross-County Connector, the road reappeared in one of the final scenarios.
"Building this unneeded highway would have detracted from revitalizing Waldorf with transit-oriented development. Smart planning—investing in your existing roads, your existing communities—is the only way to guarantee a sustainable future for the county," explained Jennifer Bevan-Dangel, deputy director of 1000 Friends of Maryland.
The comprehensive planning process will continue over the coming year. The final scenario will be presented to the Planning Commission in mid-December. Advocates are confident that, given the recent decision, the Cross-County Connector will not be included in the final scenario.
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