Forum addresses Blossom Point encroachment issues

Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009

Future expansion of the base and the explosions that are part of its mission were the primary concerns that neighbors of the Blossom Point Research Facility in Welcome brought to last week's public forum to discuss the joint land-use study that is being conducted for the area around — and including — the military installation.

The forum is one of seven steps outlined in the study's process which will help Charles County and the research facility remain on the same page for planning and potential development.

"We're looking ahead and making sure development … and the community is heading on a path where they can coexist five, 10, 15 years from now," said Andrew Stern of Johnson, Mirmiran and Thompson, a consulting and engineering firm based in York, Pa. "While there are no plans to expand the facility, this is just part of the planning process to look ahead and make sure everyone is looking in the same direction."

"In paving the way for the future we believe in conservation as well as you," said Jack Kaiser, garrison manager at Blossom Point. The base is owned by the U.S. Army and houses research projects of a variety of Defense Department agencies.

The study has been funded with an $111,000 federal grant and $11,111 in in-kind services from Charles County, said the county's Director of Planning and Growth Management Chuck Beall, in an earlier story in the Maryland Independent. JMT is the contracted consultant handling the land use study.

The Blossom Point facility spans roughly 1,600 acres of western Charles County and can only be accessed by Blossom Point Road.

It overlooks the Potomac River and Nanjemoy Creek and is classified as an explosives range facility for the Department of the Army, according to planning staff documents.

Most of the 55 or so employees who work at the research center are civilians. A large majority are employed under the Department of the Navy while the remaining workers serve the Army.

While Kaiser could not go into too much detail about what is accomplished at the facility, all of the research and testing goes toward the protection of American soldiers. Harder Humvees and tougher vests and helmets are just a few of the improvements for combat to come out of the Blossom Point installation, Kaiser told the audience.

Most of the area around the research facility and the property within roughly five miles is zoned agricultural, forest, wetland or low density.

Rick Viohl, a resident who has lived on the waterfront across from Blossom Point for 20 years, said the facility had been "a very good neighbor" and his concerns stemmed from the size of the study area and whether having a wide scope for the study meant there was an effort to protect the possibility of expansion of the base.

"Because of what we do, we want to make sure we're not encroaching," Kaiser said. "We're concerned we did in the past."

Dawn Camp, a resident on Brentland Road, said she's been feeling "quite a lot of reactions" which have caused shakes and rattling of her windows and home, and it has gotten worse over the years.

Kaiser said the facility has met a 15-pound, self-regulated limit on explosives since 1980.

"We have increased the frequency due to the nature of the business, but we have not increased the poundage," Kaiser said.

Another question raised by Blossom Point locals was whether the military was in support of a change in the zoning.

Kaiser said at the moment the military had no particular opinion about a change, while Stern said it was one of many things being looked at under the land-use study, but there were no preconceived ideas about what should be done.

Tom Moorehead, who was present to speak on behalf of the naval research lab at Blossom Point, said there are no plans for his department to expand — they currently lease 41 acres — but there are consistently calls from other agencies looking for a place to start experiments and projects.

"If we were to get a major program we could expand over the years. We may move into the woods a little bit if we get a big enough project," Moorehead said.

Another factor residents will need to consider is the recent state purchase of more than 1,900 acres of land adjacent to the northern portion of Blossom Point, and the plans for that nearby property.

Stern said the state is also going through its own process of planning and studying, and the ideas he has heard so far include "very nonintensive" changes to maintain the natural environment.

So far in the land-use study there ha's been the project initiation, analysis and mapping of the property and the public forum.

There was also a meeting for stakeholders, Stern said, which included conservation organizations, military customers and large private landowners.

The study will consider future development potential and conflict assessments, land-use policies, implementation plans and a final report is anticipated for August 2010.

To send feedback, e-mail Johnson, Mirmiran and Thompson at 09-0470-001@projectcenter.jmt.com.

msomers@somdnews.com