Proposed Perryman Peninsula development sparks confusion; backlash from residents

Dec. 8—Developers of a proposed five-warehouse project on Perryman Peninsula faced sometimes hostile questioning from residents during a recent community input meeting.

More than 100 residents attended the Dec. 1 meeting, which lasted nearly two hours.

The plan in question involves the construction of five warehouses totaling roughly 5.2 million square feet, as well as tractor-trailer storage and employee parking, all on the Mitchell Property in Perryman. A connecting road from Chelsea Road to Perryman, complete with sidewalks and bike lanes, has also been proposed.

Chesapeake Real Estate Group is spearheading the development. Frederick Ward Associates, a Bel Air-based civil engineering firm, has been hired to oversee construction.

The meeting was hosted by Gerry Powell, a civil engineer with Frederick Ward Associates, and Bob Lynch, an attorney with Stark & Keenan P.A., who is representing Chesapeake Real Estate Group. The two offered an overview of the central aspects of the development, and detailed additional plans for associated infrastructure, landscaping, and lighting.

During public comment, many attendees expressed frustration over unclear details about the development, namely, how long it has been in progress.

The project is in the early stages. Powell told The Aegis it has been in the works for only eight or nine months.

But the 700-acre area it would occupy has been zoned for "light Infrastructure" since 1997. It was previously designated as an agricultural zone on the 1982 Harford County zoning map and R1 (residential) on the 1989 map. So, according to Harford County law, only buildings that fit the "light industrial" description can be built in the area.

A significant number of Perryville residents have come out in opposition to the development.

Danger from increased traffic, environmental damage, and potential for flooding are a few of the topics that were addressed on multiple occasions.

"We have one way in, one way out [a connecting road] is not going to solve our issues," Vatrice Malloy, a resident of Perryman explained during public comment. "Our children are getting on buses on that main road."

"I live in a mobile home park. We deal with flooding constantly; every time it rains it floods. ... If you start building, you're going to start disturbing our land," Malloy explained.

Some residents have organized a committee — with subcommittees focusing on issues such as possible rezoning, environmental impacts, and historical significance of the area — with a goal of "protecting Perryman Peninsula." A Facebook group with the same name boasts 545 members; a change.org petition called STOP Industrial Building on Perryman Peninsula has amassed more than 1,500 signatures.

Susan Byers heads the social media and communications subcommittee. During the meeting, she expressed concerns over a lack of transparent communication between developers and the Perryman community. She said she went door-to-door around her community to inform residents of both the development and community meeting, and most had no idea what she was talking about.

"I'm telling you I spoke to the citizens of this community and we hate this plan!" Byers said and was met with cheers.

Multiple people noted that there are already vacant warehouses near the Mitchell property, and expressed confusion over the need to build more. While the status of those warehouses has no impact on whether this development is built, Powell told The Aegis one has a tenant.

The community input meeting was the second of six tasks required by the Harford County Development Advisory Committee that must be completed before ground is broken on the project. Harford County confirmed to The Aegis it has not yet received a proposed layout or plan from the companies involved.

Once the county does receive these materials, the developers will be asked to submit both a traffic impact analysis and a forest conservation plan.

A Development Advisory Committee meeting held by Harford County Planning and Zoning will follow. The goal is to assemble local and state agencies to review proposed plans and alert the developer of technical requirements that remain unmet. Public comment is also permitted at this meeting.

After this, a final site plan needs to be approved by the county, at which point building permits will be issued.