The Sandy Spring Ashton Rural Preservation Consortium has hired a lawyer. This neighborhood group, trying to reduce the size and scale of the proposed Ashton Meeting Place (the large shopping mall proposed for the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Route 108) has retained Dave Brown. Dave is assisting Clarksburg residents in their continuing efforts to ensure that development there is appropriate. He will be working with the SSARPC (website: PreserveAshton.net) to present the strongest possible arguments against Ashton Meeting Place. As you are probably aware, we feel strongly that, although we are not opposed to any development, this development, as proposed, would ruin the rural character of our area, and would violate the provisions of the applicable Master Plan and Overlay Zone. The development would put 97,000 square feet of commercial and residential space and 350 parking spaces on 7.5 acres at the corner of Route 650 and 108, with a high back wall 180' long right next to Route 108.

Dave is still working with the Clarksburg community and the Planning Board staff to try to redesign the town center shopping area in Clarksburg. He believes we have a strong legal argument that the proposed Ashton Meeting Place does not follow the Master Plan. To assist Dave, we are making excellent use of the extraordinary talent and effort being donated by other highly qualified professionals who live in the area. But putting on a good case before the Planning Board will require money to support independent outside professional assistance.

We have set a goal of raising a total of about $25,000. We have raised already (in donations and pledges) about $8,500, including gifts from four families totaling at least $1,000 apiece. To everyone who has made a contribution or pledged to do so, we thank you very much.

Would you please be willing to donate funds, or to increase your prior gift, in order to mount the best possible case against this unwise development? You can check into our website, PreserveAshton.net, and make a payment through Paypal, or you can send a check, payable to Preserve Ashton, at

Letters to the Planning Board opposing the project would also be very helpful. Please address your letters or emails to the site plan reviewer, Ms. Laxmi Srinivas. Her email address is Laxmi.Srinivas@mncpps-mc.org, and her postal address is:

Thanks for considering these requests. If you have any questions, I can be reached at 301-774-0084.

Doug Farquhar

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