I think several good points were made within this article. Bottom line is this, no – no one wants Chestertown or Kent County to turn into Middletown. But what WOULD be nice is something, anything….NIMBYism is well and fine in measured amounts, but not when it is basically retarding any growth whatsoever. As to the point of the article, well waiting 18 months for a perc test is ridiculous. We raised our kids in northern Kent County. They attended elementary & middle school in Kent County. They are grown & married – one with a child on the way -and neither of them live in Kent County? Why – lack of career choices and better schools elsewhere. Look around, those of you with kids who grew up here who are now in their 20’s or early 30’s. How many of the kids they went to school with are still in the area? How many bought houses – hard pressed to say build cause, you know – no perc tests! here? The population of Kent County has essentially been stagnant over the past 10 years.

Mr. McDowell was evidently not present when George Washington passed through Chestertown on his way to Philadelphia. An anxious Mayor and a councilman attempted to extract some valuable guidance from Mr. Washington in posing the question, “What would you recommend we do to improve the town and its businesses?”

Mr. Washington’s response, because he was pressed for time on his journey, was “Don’t do anything until I return to consult with you.” Unfortunately for Chestertown, Mr. Washington did not return, and the town officials did exactly as he suggested – Nothing! Local elected officials since that time have done the same thing.

It is not fair or helpful to always compare economic growth here to Middletown, which deliberately set out to achieve their level of development. Many of us who have lived here for a while, as I have, agree with the commissioners’ interest in fostering growth. We need to attract some businesses and some new housing so that young families will want to come here to live and work, sending their children to our public schools. Such development would add to the vitality and attractiveness of our county. County planning and zoning guidelines and our elected officials can and will ensure rational new development.