Easton Town Council discusses discharge ordinance

A public hearing on an ordinance to update town code regarding illicit discharges brought worries and questions from the Easton Town Council Monday.

Town Engineer Rick Van Emburgh discussed the ordinance, which stems from state requirements by the MS4 storm sewer system program.

“What it says is that anything that’s not stormwater, rainwater runoff cannot enter into our storm drain system,” Van Emburgh said. “This (ordinance) will allow us the enforcement if those are put into our storm drain system.”

“What happens when I power wash my house?” Ward 1 Council Member Maureen Curry asked.

Van Emburgh said while there are some exceptions, he would check back on power washing. He added that commercial car washing does not fall under the exceptions.

“Even if we have to approve it, I think somehow before we start enforcing it, we need to make the whole town aware of what’s going on,” Ward 4 Council Member the Rev. Elmer Davis said.

Van Emburgh said the ordinance is very similar to what the city of Salisbury used a few years back. He said he will contact the state “to see how much we’re able to modify the ordinance.”

ANNEXATION UPDATE

At its June 3 meeting, council members pushed off a vote for the annexation of land on the east side of Ocean Gateway for a potential affordable multifamily housing development project. It includes about 17 acres of Talbot County land that the town would annex.

One of the council’s main hopes was to ensure the annexation agreement included as much affordable housing as possible. Curry asked June 3 if the original 25% guaranteed affordable housing could be increased to around 50%.

“I did speak with my client, and they are certainly agreeable to that,” said Zach Smith on behalf of Corrigan & Trippe Ventures at the June 17 meeting. “And again that would be the minimum required. And as we discussed last meeting, the annexation agreement obligates us to pursue in good faith and diligently, a (planned unit development) project that proposes 100% affordable.”

The proposed annexation will appear on the council’s agenda for its July 1 meeting.

HOSPITAL PROGRESS

Council members unanimously passed a resolution to amend a development rights and responsibilities agreement for a new UM Shore Regional Health medical center, another step towards beginning work on a hospital that’s planned to be built off Longwoods Road in Easton.

Shore Regional Health attorney Ryan Showalter thanked the town for its support for the hospital. The county also passed the development rights and responsibilities agreement amendment last week.

“This is an important project (and it) needs to get done,” Ward 2 Council Member Don Abbatiello said.