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Sandy Spring Ashton Rural Preservation Consortium
~PreserveAshton.net~
Local citizens concerned for the quality of life in the Sandy
Spring-Ashton Special Planning Area
Preserve Ashton has hired
legal support, Knopf and Brown, the firm representing Clarksburg, to guide us
through the process of defending our Rural Historic Community. SEE story
at PreserveAshton.net
Large Shopping Center Proposed for Ashton?
Developers are
submitting plans for county approval soon to build a 97,000 square foot
shopping center on the southeast corner of New Hampshire Avenue and Route 108
in Ashton.
The proposed Ashton
Meeting Place will include a back wall of a grocery store sitting
close to Route 108 and near the New Hampshire Avenue intersection, a
three-story tower, and more than 350 parking spaces. THIS WILL DESTROY THE RURAL CHARACTER OF THE EASTERN
GATEWAY TO OUR COMMUNITY AND INCREASE TRAFFIC DRAMATICALLY.
OUR RURAL CHARACTER IS
SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTED BY OUR 1998 MASTER PLAN THAT CREATED A RURAL VILLAGE
OVERLAY ZONE. THE DEVELOPER’S PRESENT PROPOSAL VIOLATES THAT ZONING. (Go
to PreserveAshton.net for
more specific details on developer’s plan)
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The developer and his
backers have launched a letter-writing campaign in support to the Montgomery
County Planning Board. That board will decide on this development
application.
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Join the campaign to
Preserve Ashton by writing a letter in opposition to this massive project.
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No one can be a
bystander. We must all take action if this over-development is to be
stopped.
What’s Been Going
On:
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Successful SSARPC
meeting drew 300 concerned citizens to Sherwood High School on January 26th.
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Growing number of
neighbors agree that the proposed Ashton Meeting Place DOES NOT COMPLY with the
Ashton/Sandy Spring Master Plan and Rural Overlay Zone
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Sandy Spring Ashton
Rural Preservation Consortium’s website, PreserveAshton.net, is
attracting additional support from community and serving to keep all informed;
keep checking the website
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Community opposition
through letters to the planning staff has proven effective and resulted in the
largest number of letters on a development in recent memory; keep writing as we are making a
difference!
What Can You Do to Help:
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Write a letter to the
Site Plan Reviewer to voice your concerns/objections:
Laxmi Srinivas- Site Reviewer -Montgomery County Park and Planning
Commission
8787 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910
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Check Website
regularly for updated information, PreserveAshton.net
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Talk to your
neighbors, sign up to help with flier distribution
Contribute to the Cause:
Preserving Ashton requires expert advice and time. We have just
hired an attorney and need to build our Legal Fund. We appreciate donations in
any amount. Monetary donations made out to PRESERVE ASHTON can be
mailed to the following address:
SSARPC
Post Office Box 518
Ashton, MD 20861
If you prefer the
convenience of contributing online, please visit our website,
PreserveAshton.net, and click the Contribute tab. (These payments
will be made through PayPal.)
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