Update: Poolesville, Maryland is a small municipality located within the Ag Reserve. The Reserve's sole source of water, The federally designated Piedmont Aquifer, serves Poolesville as well. The aquifer is currently adequate in quantity and quality but it is fragile, subject to overuse and contamination, and must be guarded. Beautiful rustic roads serve the Reserve and Poolesville. The Poolesville Cluster schools serve residents of the Reserve. So when discussion of ultra dense development proposals is undertaken, it is within our mission to lean in to ensure that care is given to protecting shared resources. And so we did recently when a proposal to develop a 13 acre parcel next to the Town green "Whalen Commons" with 93 or more homes landed. Members who are Town residents as well as members who live nearby in the Reserve asked for help. We have partnered with the newly formed Protect Our Poolesville to engage a land use consultant Richard Klein, provided groundwater material including recent water availability forecasts, and presented at public gatherings. PoP has engaged the candidates currently vying for 3 seats on the Poolesville Town Commission through an online candidates survey in order for the Town residents to better know their positions on growth and resource protection. |