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Commissioners approve water and sewer map changes for Barnstable, Aspire developments
Summary
The board approved two map amendment requests upgrading water and sewer designations to S2W2: an 82-townhome Barnstable project and the 290-unit Aspire at Ewing Farm. Votes were 3-2 for Barnstable and 3-1 (with one recusal) for Aspire; commissioners discussed fiscal impacts and project scale.
Queen Anne's County Commissioners approved two separate water and sewer map amendments on June 10 that change service designations to S2W2, actions that are necessary steps for the projects to pursue subdivision and site approvals.
John Viliani, representing Barnstable, Flowery and Jean Farms, asked the board for a "yes vote for our project on Kent Island," saying the 11-acre infill parcel meets the county's zoning and infrastructure criteria and that required water allocation of 20,500 gallons per day is available. The Barnstable proposal would allow 82 townhomes on Main Street in Chester.
A motion to approve the Barnstable map amendment (S3W3 to S2W2) passed by a 3-2 vote after commissioners said they had weighed traffic, school and infrastructure considerations. Several commissioners emphasized the decision did not guarantee later approvals and urged continued public engagement through the review process.
Separately, the commission approved a map amendment for the Aspire at Ewing Farm, a proposed 290-unit project across from the elementary school in Grasonville, upgrading the property from S3W3 to S2W2. Commissioner Wilson recused himself from the Aspire vote; the motion passed with three votes in favor and one opposed. One commissioner said they supported the map amendment procedurally but expressed reservations about the size of the development and said they expect a later allocation vote that could require capacity reductions.
Both approvals advance the projects to subsequent permitting steps; commissioners noted that additional approvals and infrastructure allocations will be required before construction can begin.
