ICC news: offer from state for buyout of land

IMPORTANT MEMO

To: Members of the Shady Grove Station Townhouse Association (owners of residences on Weatherby Drive, Derwood, MD)

From: Alex Witze, Secretary, SGSTA board of directors

Re: Financial offer from the state of Maryland to purchase right-of-way and other necessary rights for a common plot of land for the Intercounty Connector highway

Date: December 4, 2006



On Nov. 22 Art Carter, president of the Shady Grove Station Townhouse Association, received a letter from the Maryland State Highway Administration. It offers $102,000 to SGSTA for the purchase of the right-of-way, easements, and/or other rights necessary for a small plot of land owned by SGSTA in the common area behind the first row of townhouses (on the left side as you enter) on Weatherby Drive. This is an eminent domain offer made in connection with the proposed Intercounty Connector highway.

Everyone who owns a place on Weatherby Drive needs to be involved in discussions as to whether to accept this offer or not. There will be a meeting at 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 17, at my house (#7519). Please plan to attend. If you cannot attend, please let Art Carter (#7522) or another board member know, preferably in writing, what you think we should be doing with regards to this offer.

The plot of land in question is a wedge of 3,246 square feet that has been valued at $31.41 per square foot, based on recent sales of similar property in the area. The state has produced a thick document from a surveyor’s company that describes their rationale for valuing the land at this amount. The three board members (Art Carter, Steve Edgar, Alex Witze) all have a copy of this document; contact any of them to look it over prior to the meeting. They will all bring copies to the Dec. 17 meeting.

In the meantime, Art has copies for everyone of a map showing the proposed ICC route, as well as brochures from the state describing the procedure for eminent domain offers. Please stop by his place (#7522) if you would like a copy ahead of time.

You can reach Art at 301-963-9719 or me at 301-926-5274 or awitze@gmail.com. I will try to post relevant links and more information at www.weatherbydrive.blogspot.com in advance of the Dec. 17 meeting.