CHESTERTOWN — On May 1, the Chestertown Historic District Commission arrived at the unanimous decision to allow Washington College to partially demolish the John H. Newman Armory.
Plans were set to build a boutique hotel with the facade and the wing walls of the armory preserved.
The final decision was a culmination of many hearings and conversations prior to that date. With a majority in the crowd who supported the college, indicated by their green stickers on their clothing, they had cheered the HDC’s decision.
But it’s not over.
A petition filed by civil litigator Barbara Jorgenson, who for 39 years handled pro bono clients, has put the armory situation back in limbo.
On May 31, in Kent County Circuit Court, Attorneys G. Macy Nelson and Alex Votaw filed a petition for a judicial review following HDC’s decision.
As Jorgenson pointed out this is well within the procedure of the HDC.
“If someone disagrees with a decision made by HDC, someone has the right to appeal the decision in the circuit court,” she noted.
After the petition gets filed, the petitioners have the next 60 days to file a brief with the court stating why they disagree. In return, HDC will file their own brief explaining why their decision was adequate and supported the record, which in this case, consists of the college application for demolition, statements made by the HDC and statements submitted to the HDC.
Jorgenson added the administrative appeal had already been filed and amended when the HDC minutes for the May 1 meeting were approved.
“Now the Maryland Rules of Procedure take over,” she said.
More updates are anticipated to come as new details emerge.
When reaching out, Washington College had no comment at this time.
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