to the Editor:

The residents of Leonardtown Landing love their homes.  The neighborhood is small, quaint and currently has beautiful views of the waterfront. Unfortunately, that will soon change if the Planning and Zoning Board approves the latest version of the developer’s plans.

The Leonardtown Wharf project is scheduled to move forward despite concerns from residents. The builder, Sturbridge Homes, did not follow through on promises of a water view and boat slips for residents in the final phase of the project.  WARNING-- before you purchase a home at Leonardtown Landing read this letter! The residents are outraged by the false promises and deceptive marketing materials that were used and are still being used to sell the Town homes. Resident Yoon Shin stated, ”We were charged a huge premium for a water view and now it appears our only view will be a three-story building and a parking lot.” This is according to the concept drawings proposed by the developer, RAR Associates, during a recent Planning and Zoning Board meeting.  The only home that will not have the view obstructed is owned by the owner or CEO of RAR Associates, Mr. Ron Russo.  “As new residents to the area, we were promised piers and a park-like setting with green space. My dream of a water view is now being shattered by the City’s desire to over build on this small parcel”, said resident Kari An Behrens-Treyes.

Many residents are just learning the truth about the dimensions of the offices, shops, and loft apartments, which apparently will be much taller in height and bigger than the original plans showed. Resident Jerome DuVal said, “I can’t understand why these plans were approved and why weren’t all these issues addressed prior to the initial concept being approved”.  We are talking about basic issue, like the school bus or delivery truck not being able to turn-around on Washington Street. There are still many issues that need to be addressed such as parking, traffic flow and most important to the residents, the height and size of the two commercial buildings.  Least of which will have them lose one of the most precious commodities, which is the water view.  ”We want the development to continue, but not at the risk of losing everything we were promised when we purchased a home here”.  The residents pay over $5,400 in taxes each year and deem themselves very important stakeholders in all of this revitalization.  Another resident, Julie Hearns went on to say,” No one is even talking about public safety and how the noise level will impact the community, we live here”.

So far we have caught the attention of the developer, Mr. Ron Russo, of RAR Associates who has agreed to meet with the Leonardtown Landing residents on October 6th 2007, before submitting his drawings to the Planning and Zoning Board for final approval next month.  However, many long-time neighbors in the community are skeptical based on the many changes the developer has made to the original concept plan(s), which changed from 16 to now 26 Townhomes on the site—even the restaurant size has increased.  It’s not too late to change directions since the three-story buildings have yet to be built. We hope the developer will not only listen to our concerns [which should be his concerns too] but act with a conscious.  “Only time will tell”, said resident Rodney Flowers.

The Wharf project is going to be here for many generations, so please help us protect and preserve what Leonardtown is all about. Our public waterfront park is our best kept secret. We need our elected officials to take-action and not allow the history of the Wharf’s waterfront view to be lost forever. 

This letter is a call-to-action and we need your help! If you live in the area and want to voice your concerns or support our efforts, please e-mail us at leonardtownlanding@verizon.net for more information.

Julie Hearns

Jerome DuVa

Yoon Shin

Kari An Behrens-Treyes                         

and The Residents of Leonardtown Landing “One-voice, One-community”

(Editor's Note:  These residents paid in the area of a half million bucks each to have their views out over Breton Bay, which they claim will be limited by increasing the size of the retail development over what had been disclosed to them....)