Legislative Hearing on Farm Road
The Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland (Caucus) will hold a hearing on the Farm Road controversy between the Maryland National Capitol Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency under the authority of state leaders and several residents and property owners of the Sandy Spring community who were impacted by the removal of Farm Road from official maps. The hearing will be held June 26 at the Norbeck Community Church, 2631 Norbeck Road, Silver Spring.
From a press release about the meeting: “reports question M-NCPPC conduct and actions when it approved plans by a Montgomery County developer that omitted the existence of Farm Road from the planning map. Since the approval of the Dellabrook Subdivision, M-NCPPC has refused to recognize Farm Road, which is located within a 430-acre tract of land between Brooke and Goldmine roads in Sandy Spring, Maryland. Without official recognition of Farm Road, residents are unable to secure building permits or establish addresses. In addition, M-NCPPC approved a conservation easement covering the Northern end of Farm Road, which has impacted property values.”
These issues have cumulated into a six year legal battle between the M-NCPPC and Farm Road residents. “The Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland is sensitive to the legal matters raised in the law suit brought by the property owners in Sandy Spring”, said Caucus Chair, Delegate Aisha N. Braveboy, Esq., “we are committed to representing all residents across the state and ensuring fair treatment by agencies under state authority. This hearing will be fair, objective and address the issues at the heart of this ongoing controversy.”
The Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc. (Caucus), an officially recognized body of the Maryland State legislature, is comprised of forty-four Senators and Delegates, hailing from Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Charles County, the Eastern Shore, Howard County, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County. The Caucus’ primary objectives are to act as a legislative body on behalf of the black community; provide leadership in developing, advocating and implementing programs and policies that serve the best interest of the black community; articulate public policy positions that promote the inclusion of the Black community in all facets of our community; inform Caucus members and the community of vital issues through meetings and public forums; act as a research study group to generate pertinent data in support of appropriate public policies; and employ the combined resources and expertise of black legislators and constituents in the formation of an effective statewide network.
For more information about the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland visit www.legislativeblkcaucusmd.org.
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is a bi-county agency empowered by the State of Maryland in 1927 to acquire, develop, maintain and administer a regional system of parks within Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, and to provide land use planning for the physical development of Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. In addition, the Commission has managed the public recreation program in Prince George’s County since 1970. For more information about M-NCPPC visit www.mncppc.org.
Sandy Spring, Maryland is a rural community, settled by Quakers, located 17 miles from Washington, DC in one of the wealthiest counties in the United States. It is considered an enclave for modestly living African-Americans, many of whom trace their family roots to the Freedmen. Farm Road is a kinship community of descendants of Freedman – the first freed slaves in Montgomery County. For more information about Sandy Spring’s Farm Road Community visit www.savesandyspring.org.
Persons interested in providing testimony should send an email to black.caucus@house.state.md.us.
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