Vote Derails Three Notch Trail Plan
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Vote Derails Three Notch Trail Plan

Mechanicsville, MD - 12/14/2011

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By Dick Myers

The majority of the St. Mary’s County Commissioners have temporarily derailed the next portion of the Three Notch Trail. Recreation and Parks Director Phil Rollins hopes to proceed with the section of the trail that stands between the completed portions in Oakville and Charlotte Hall. Those sections have proven to be popular with hikers and bikers.

But when Rollins brought to the commissioners a request for approval of a $50,000 federal grant for a portion of the design for the next phase, several commissioners balked. Commissioner Daniel Morris (R: 2nd) said there was opposition to the next section from some Mechanicsville residents.
“I think it would be more beneficial to do sections in California and Lexington Park,” Morris said. Eventually the trail would run from the county line in Charlotte Hall to the base along the county owned land that used to be a railroad.
Rollins said that about $30,000 had already been spent on engineering for the Mechanicsville section of the trail. He said the budget was for over $300,000 although he expected the total cost to come in under budget.
Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe (R: 3rd) agreed with Morris “There is tremendous opposition sentiment in Mechanicsville,” he said, noting that a proposal to complete the segment was stopped several years ago because of that opposition, mostly from residents who live adjacent to the right-of-way.
“I feel strongly about completing this trail,” said Commissioner President Francis “Jack” Russell. “I am not going to delay the action.
Commissioners Cynthia Jones (R: 1st) and Todd Morgan (R: 4th) went along with Morris’ motion, creating a 4-1 vote, as long as it didn’t cause a significant delay. “I support it but to not table it indefinitely, “Jones said.
Morgan said he went along with it in order to gather more facts. He noted the irony of Jarboe supporting the trail in California and Lexington Park but not the proposed FDR Boulevard.
County Administrator John Savich characterized the commissioner vote as tabling the discussion. Rollins was asked to bring back more information on the trail so it can be discussed at the commissioners’ January 10th meeting.

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KRozzSMTNot Logged In
 12/14/2011 at 10:18 AM
Tremendous opposition?
Who exactly is the "tremendous opposition?" Commissioner Jarboe has a long history of exageration and embelishment. These rail trails have been a tremndous success throughout the country, and make good use of taxpayer-owned railway right-of-ways.
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scout3521Not Logged In
 12/14/2011 at 6:36 PM
Reply to KRozzSMT: I'm
actually opposed to the section that they are talking about. As stated in the article, this long forgotten railway that I spent many summers playing on or around backs right along my family's property. Who is to stop the hoodlums from using this as a pathway to commit vandalism or crimes in this stretch? Why shuld my parents have to foot the bill for a stretch of fence to keep people off of thier property? This section of the railway actually does go through a large amount of residential area.
wootiedogNot Logged In
 12/15/2011 at 10:33 AM
Reply to KRozzSMT: Land Ownership
@scout...it's nice that you played on this land while growing up. However, the bottom line is that this property is not yours or your family's. It's owned by the county and a trail is the only reaonable use of this land. Why should a few property owners deny the rest of us use of county land? Besides, the threat of thieves isn't the real issue here. The real issue is that owners along the right of way have come to view that property as theirs. Some have even built sheds and there is one house that has an extension built in the right of way.
KlineKRNot Logged In
 12/15/2011 at 3:35 PM
Reply to KRozzSMT: reply to wootiedog
You're absolutely correcct wootie. They do think it's their land. The adjacent landowners should be thankful they're not fighting a high-speed commuter rail as was the original plan for the ROW. I urge all users of this trail to contact the St. Mary's county commissioners and make their feelings known. BOCC@stmarysmd.com
scout3521Not Logged In
 12/22/2011 at 7:11 PM
Reply to KRozzSMT: I never
stated that this land was ours and never implied that we felt it was our property now. I said this backs up to my parents property. Funny that you mention that it is the state's land though. How come they never come through and enforce the no dumping laws? The section by my parents house used to look good, but now it's filled with trash because of crappy neighbors. I cleaned up quite a bit there when I was a kid.

You think it won't lead to an increase in thievery or property destruction huh? Were you born yestreday? I wouldn't have a problem with the trail if it were to be patrolled every now and again, but it won't and the homeowner/property owners will pay the price. You think it's a good idea? Organize a patrol unit for the trail.
scout3521Not Logged In
 1/2/2012 at 4:14 PM
Reply to KRozzSMT: Sorry,
I meant to say that the county owns it. From my understanding this was initially given to SMECO after the county got it back from the U.S. Navy as a path for power lines. SMECO then gave it back to the county (probably so the county would pick up the tab for maintenance.)
Also another point I have against this is why the county is spending money on something that is not a necessity. It seems that they are doing enough of that already. We have parks, other trails, and public areas which need attention. Don't you think that we should maintain areas that we already have instead of building something else to maintain? How about the infamous FDR Blvd or the Gov. Thomas Johnson Bridge that will need millions of dollar to complete? Both have been issues long before the "rail trail" was even conceived.
I have a suggestion from my days out at Camp Pendleton. Why don't the cyclist advocate for the use of the base on weekends and what not? The Marine Corps would open the gates for personnel with or without CAC's to ride on base on the weekends as it really is the only under populated area in SoCal. They could do the same here. There are plenty of roads and trails on PAX for personnel to use.
It is very easy for those of you that do not live near it to think it is a great idea and I would love your bank account numbers so that when we need to pay for vandalism I can use your account instead of mine. Before someone else talks about vandalism not being an issue, have any of you actually seen a study or walked the entire trail before and after it was constructed to see what damage has been done?
KlineKRNot Logged In
 12/15/2011 at 7:57 AM
Poor Excuse
This is a shame. As stated these trail coversions are a huge sucess and very popular where completed. The 13 mile trail in Indian Head is a prime example. Having a place to hike, bike and jog safe from maniacal drivers is essential. I've never seen a better use of recreational dollars. The irrational concerns of a couple of landowners (there's always a few isn't there) shouldn't impede such a worthy project to be enjoyed by so many.
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911carreraNot Logged In
 12/20/2011 at 12:18 PM
Complete Phase 6 of the Trail quickly
I am very much in favor of the County Commissioners completing the "missing link" of the Three Notch Trail. The missing link is Phase 6 between Route 5 by Wa-Wa and the Charlotte Hall library. This section, once completed and linked with the existing sections of trail will give the trail an 11 mile stretch of safe trail. Bottom line....If someone built structures in the right of way they should be moved. It's not their property....
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paddyNot Logged In
 12/24/2011 at 11:14 AM
catch twenty-two
You run over bicyclists and runners with your car when they are enjoying their activity and, you will not provide a place to perform running and cycling activity that is protected from your car.
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jks36Not Logged In
 12/27/2011 at 10:00 AM
Complete Phase VI
Because of a few vocal objectors at a public forum in Mechanicsville a few years ago, it was decided to delay Phase VI, the stretch from MD236 to MD. The purpose of the delay was to see if the "crime on trails" and " privacy violations" objections had value. As it turns out there was no increase in crime on the completed sections and fences and tree plantings provided privacy.

Completion of Phase VI will give us 11 miles of trail on county owned land.
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