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As residents of the southern part of Frederick County, we are astounded by plans to build a megachurch on Old Hundred Road, in the shadow of Sugarloaf Mountain and immediately adjoining Montgomery County's Agricultural Reserve. In recent years, such plans for megachurches have been turned down no less than three times in the Agricultural Reserve by Montgomery County because of their total incompatibility with the rural and scenic qualities of the surrounding area. Now this church cleverly seeks to build its giant facility virtually on the border of the two counties in hopes that Frederick County does not value the rich legacy and rural character of the Sugarloaf Mountain area or Montgomery County's efforts to preserve those qualities through the Agricultural Reserve.

The proposed megachurch poses more tangible threats to the area's infrastructure, in addition to threats to the quality of life in Frederick County. All of us in this area rely on wells for our water. Again, Montgomery County has denied large facilities on an immediately adjacent road (Peach Tree) because of their need for heavy draw-downs that could threaten our wells. The nearby roads, Slate Quarry, Linthicum, Peach Tree, Thurston and Comus, are rural and delightful; Comus Road is a designated and protected "rural, rustic road." The megachurch would add heavy traffic and large parking lots, not remotely compatible with the setting, and impact storm water drainage.

The absolute illogic of the site proposed for this megachurch is obvious to anyone who visits Sugarloaf Mountain and environs. Citizens of Frederick County and our elected representatives take note: approving this megachurch would threaten our open space, diminish Sugarloaf Mountain and the efforts of the Stronghold Foundation to preserve it, affect our groundwater, negatively impact our rural roads, and otherwise strain our publically financed infrastructure. We strongly urge you to reject this ecologically, aesthetically and financially unsound proposal.

R. Christopher Goodwin, Comus