Residents who live in the posh Turf Valley resort are appealing the Maryland Department of the Environment?s decision to allow a developer to destroy two-thirds of an acre of nontidal wetlands when he builds houses and businesses there.
When all four phases of the plan are combined, between 40 acres to 97 acres of business space, and up to 1,600 houses could be placed on the 808-acre property.
“The community is concerned about the impact of this massive 800-acre development on the area?s environment and wildlife,” said Marc Norman, leader of the appeal, Turf Valley resident and co-chairman of REGION, or Responsible Growth in Our Neighborhood, a coalition of residents who are opposed to the project.
Developer Louis Mangione of Mangione Family Enterprises would be required to re-create 1 1/2 acres of wetlands elsewhere on the property when he builds.
“To the state of Maryland, it is a net gain of environmental resources. All projects should do as well as Turf Valley,” Mangione said.
The appeal was signed by seven residents who live in Turf Valley and neighboring Brantwood, all of whom are members of REGION.
“There are certainly going to be wetlands destroyed as a result of the project, but they will create wetlands as well. There is no net loss of resource,” said Gary Setzer, program administrator for wetlands and waterways for MDE.
One or two access roads that would lead to the development also could damage the environment, Norman said.
MDE denied an initial request from Mangione to build a culvert, or an underground tunnel for a stream leading to the property, which would harm the environment. Instead, the state opted for an arched bridge, which would be less damaging to the wetlands.
