Readers respond to last week’s Feedback Friday topic, which was:
Quaint Town Poised for Development & Growth
News of last week in St. Michaels, the quaint waterfront town on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, is that the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum has broken ground on its new Welcome Center, which is expected to be a boon for the museum and town tourism overall. The development is generally regarded as positive.
Attracting contrary opinion, however, is the planned development of a large-scale hotel in St. Michaels. A Hampton Inn hotel is sited to be built near the town’s entrance and it’s not without criticism. At the town commission meeting on Wednesday, a group of St. Michaels residents voiced their opposition and concerns of the plan, citing examples of other once-quaint towns that became inundated with commercial, chain businesses once they allowed one to be built. In other words, citizens are concerned that allowing a Hampton Inn to be built will open the floodgates to more development and, ultimately, change the landscape and fabric of the community.
What do you think? Is large-scale development inevitable in and around the Chesapeake’s charming, small towns? What do you consider smart-growth?
Here’s what you said:
I share the concerns of residents about a Hampton Inn, even on the outskirts of St. Michaels. Living in Annapolis, I see the changes taking place downtown, now with multiple chain food and coffee shops that displace local business people and small businesses. Once that box is opened to large national chains it cannot be closed, and the quaint, historic, local, friendly towns are gone. It's a shame and I hate to see it. I love progress, don't get me wrong, but this is not what it looks like.
Jim Hodges, Annapolis
PLEASE do not build a hotel in this town! There are many hotels in St. Michaels and Easton to accommodate our "guests".
Wendy Schied, St. Michaels
I am excited for people to enjoy our wonderful town, but also hoping that some of the small town charm we all love will remain. I am also concerned about the extraordinary amount of traffic that will be on the one road- for safety vehicles access, etc.
Deena Kilmon. Easton
This really will effect a lot of items in town. Hotel across from an elementary school, tearing down of trees, it backs up right on to a new trail of environmental concerns. It will not be designed to fit into the historical look. It really us unexpectedly. Also this will really hurt all the bed and breakfast business. I VOTE NO!
Tricia King, St. Michaels
No hotel!
Marianne Drumm, Crofton
Putting in any chain development would be detrimental to St. Michael's. People go here to get away from the norm, and the quaintness of this charming place would erode. I am truly hoping this does not occur. Take the hotel option to Ocean City-they seem to need it and people would welcome a chain they are familiar with for family vacations. Keep St. Michael's small-town American!
Joan Duryee, Severna Park
We live across the street from the current gas station and proposed hotel. The other day, a pedestrian was walking across the crosswalk and nearly hit by a car, which in turn almost led to a 4-car pileup. Traffic on Talbot St is already congested. Many days we have to wait several minutes for traffic to pull out of our driveway. Adding a 73-room hotel with 73 to nearly 300 people and cars will only add to the congestion, noise and safety concerns. If this budget hotel is added, we are concerned for the safety of our homes and the safety of our children. The local community pool and daycare face the proposed hotel and the elementary, middle and high schools are behind. This is not the proper location for a large hotel. Accidents and crime can happen anywhere, but adding this large hotel is only inviting a problem. The Maryland Department of Education has recently been made aware of this hotel and will be addressing the town.
Mr. Patel, who owns the St. Michaels Inn and the one wanting to purchase this property for a Hampton Inn, mentioned his weekly capacity at the St. Michaels Inn is only 30-35%. When asked about staffing since so many businesses in St. Michaels have problems staffing, he mentioned he would bring about 20 staff members in from out of town and house them at the St. Michaels Inn. If that many vacant rooms are currently available at the St. Michaels Inn, why would another hotel be needed? When asked about overflow parking, he said he would park them at the St. Michaels Inn and shuttle them over. We all know guests will find the first available spot, which could be the neighboring businesses, Talbot Street, nature trail parking lot or school parking lot. With all of these statistics, another hotel does not seem to be needed in town.This morning while walking the nature trail, I was saddened to think of this large structure replacing our beloved trees, invading the nature trail that took so long to build and the destroying the homes of the wildlife. If Mr. Patel is insistent on building a hotel, please choose a different location.
Andrea Roberson, St. Michaels
There is no reason to put the chain hotel in St. Michaels. The only road into the town won't accommodate more traffic. Please consider the existing hotels and bed and breakfasts. Why put them out of business? No one will benefit from this horrible proposal. Voters unite!
Rella Murphy, St.Michaels
It's pathetic that no laws exist in Maryland prohibiting predators who are listed as offenders restricted to living within a specific distance from a school. But would we want to take the chance that someone could rent a room that close to our school and harm our children? It's also an open invitation for the possibility of sex trafficking and drug dealing. Let's bring up the conservation issues. It is FACT that this developer and council have not brought in an the appropriate environmental teams to assess the damage that this could cause to the wildlife, displacing thousands of our migratory birds, bring pollution to the pond and effects upon other tributaries along the trail, not to mention destroying trees and natural brush for wildlife. What's the law on that? As a resident I'm unable to take away a certain amount of pervious ground so that the waterways are protected by my home. Destroying so much for what? It's most discouraging that we may very well pay the price to increase tourism if these issues are not addressed. We need to find better ways to draw tourism and THIS hotel, in THIS space is NOT a smart solution. THIS SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT MONEY! It should be about what we want St. Michaels to remain; the way it has always been; a quaint lovely town with lovely places that are beneficial to the overall community. I moved here less than a year ago after waiting years to find our lovely home in a town that I love. If this proposed project ever reaches fruition, bet your bottom there will people (including me) feeling devastated that they've made the worst decision by living here. I know I'll be most disappointed with our town council officials. Please save St. Michaels.
Chris Katz, St. Michaels
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