Our love for Chestertown, Maryland is deeply rooted in its history, its character and its strong sense of place.  It's not just a town; it's our home. The timeless soul and character of Chestertown are why we choose to live here. If violated our town decays.

The Historic District of Chestertown is now subject to a threat!  

The largest available lot in the Historic District was purchased for building an 8,000 square foot 'McMansion’ - a modern styled country club estate complete with a circular driveway, a commercial sized parking court, pool, and multiple out-buildings.  Its paved driveways and parking lot can easily handle 15-20 cars in a neighborhood where many residents don't even have off-street parking!

 

 

 

 

 

This currently vacant lot is located on the bend of Cross Street (Quaker Neck Rd) bound by South Queen Street to the east, Cannon Street to the north and commercial buildings to the west. The lot falls within the designated Historic District thereby requiring new construction to be carefully and thoughtfully designed to harmonize with the character of the immediate neighborhood and to receive ‘serious scrutiny’. 

The proposed development does not meet these criteria taken from the Chestertown Historic District Guidelines. The bulk and massing of the house would dwarf the smaller average 1,800 square foot homes in the neighborhood by a factor of 4.5 to 1.  The 100 foot long proposed front façade exceeds the width of those in the neighborhood by a factor of 3-6 to 1. The development would create the antithesis of a historic tableau on the southern approach to our town, a primary gateway, rendering the first  ‘look and feel’ of Chestertown as a country club suburb rather than the National Register designated historic town that it is – one of only three in the state sharing such a coveted designation.

This development plan is in its 3rd revision before the Chestertown Historic District Commission (HDC).  To date, for some unknown reason, this egregiously out-of-place estate design has not been rejected by the HDC, but rather, they are quibbling with the architects over brick color and window design!  The elephant in the room, unaddressed by the majority of the HDC, is the outlandish noncompliance to the Design Standards that control and protect the Historic District. Such an estate would forever alter the architectural aesthetic and scale of the historic neighborhood. What are they thinking?

This petition is your voice to the HDC to say, emphatically, NO...
NO McMansions in Chestertown's Historic District - NO disregarding the Design Standards!

We encourage you to sign the petition and share it with all other residents you know who care so deeply about preserving the heart and soul, the historic rhythm and scale of Chestertown's historic district.  We also need to make sure our non-full-time residents find out so that they aren't blindsided by this unfortunate development which was a total surprise to so many!

And to voice your concerns directly to the HDC by attending the next meeting on Wednesday January 3rd, 4PM at the Town Hall on Cross Street.

To view the applicant’s estate design presented during the last HDC meeting and to hear citizen comments that followed, click here and scroll to minute 44: Dec 6th HDC Meeting (scroll to minute 44)

Preserving this neighborhood isn't just about protecting old buildings; it's about maintaining a sense of community identity and unique history that is fostered by the established historic setting. It creates the unique fabric of community. Generations after generations have preserved the identity of Chestertown and its sense of place. It is why visitors visit and new residents migrate here. It is where one would rather be. We believe that any development or change should respect this heritage and enhance - not detract - from the distinctive character that makes us proud to call Chestertown our Historic District home.

We urge the HDC and local authorities to take immediate action in preserving the Historic District by implementing stronger protective measures against potential threats such as inappropriate development and by implementing the Historic Design Standards and applying provisions of the Zoning Ordinance that require protection of the surrounding neighborhood. We Ask – why aren’t these requirements being mandated? 

This petition calls upon all residents to join in urging local officials to protect our beloved Historic District. Let us stand together in this noble cause! Let us stand together for Chestertown! Please sign this petition today!