Washington Grove studies land deal

Town worries plans for developments will take meadow

Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2005

Washington Grove hopes to buy a 12-acre meadow on the Casey Farm property whose protection under a county program to preserve open spaces has not quashed fears of future development there, leaders say.

‘‘Our goal is not ownership, per se,” Washington Grove Mayor John G. Compton said last week. ‘‘Our goal is protection of the land use.”

The plan comes after much concern in the small, wooded town near Gaithersburg that the county wanted to build on the site to support development in the Shady Grove area, impinging on the land they consider a shield between their historically rural town and the growing development around them.

The town agreed with developers to dedicate the meadow to Legacy Open Space, a county program to protect open spaces and heritage resources, but remained nervous when it seemed the county might still be eyeing the land.

The only way to truly safeguard it, they have decided, would be to own it.

Compton and the town council met in closed session last week to discuss the plan, saying later that while they’re not certain how much the tract could cost the town, they know their limits.

‘‘We’re not thinking millions,” said town Councilman Darrell Anderson. ‘‘We’re thinking hundreds of thousands.”

Compton said County Council members seemed to support the idea, and that the town was planning to meet with members of the county Planning Board in the coming weeks.

County Councilwoman Nancy M. Floreen (D-At Large) called the idea ‘‘interesting.”

Floreen and Councilman Steve Silverman (D-At Large) had asked that the dedication of the meadow into the open space program be delayed so the property could be considered in work sessions for the Shady Grove development, to the chagrin of the town.

‘‘If their control over it gives them some satisfaction ... that’s their choice,” Floreen said.

Compton emphasized that the town is not trying to interfere with the county’s development efforts.

‘‘It is apparent that the interest of the county could diverge from that of the town,” Compton said, later adding, ‘‘Should they diverge, then what position are we in?”