Residents in Waldorf continue to show opposition to the proposal to build a juvenile detention center in Waldorf near the White Oaks community. Residents made their opposition clear during a meeting with Charles County Commissioner Vice President Reuben Collins (D), and some have now started an online petition.
StopWaldorfJail.com, a site started up by Matthew Ashurst of Waldorf, is an community based website with the purpose of getting communication out to residents in Waldorf and the surrounding areas about the Southern Regional Children’s Center proposal.
“We felt, after last meeting, some feedback we received from local delegates was that we needed to be more organized,” Matthew Ashurst said. “I felt the need to start an internet presence.”
In response to the growing backlash from the previous meetings, the Department of Juvenile Services announced that they would be holding two meetings next week. Those meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, November 2, 2011 and Thursday, November 3, 2011 at Thomas Stone High School in Waldorf, MD.
“We are looking forward to the opportunity to having public hearings because we want to hear from community and hear their suggestions,” Jay Cleary, Department of Juvenile Services Director of Communications, said.
“We’ve sent emails to the local delegations,” Ashurst said. “(Delegate) Murphy has responded saying he’s looking forward to the upcoming meeting. Others have not responded about where they stand. From what I gathered is that they’re taking a wait and see.”
After last month’s meeting, many residents complained about the tone DJS Secretary Samuel Abed had with those asking questions and raising concerns. Since then, more questions have risen about why Waldorf is their target location and why 20 other locations were turned down.
“The Waldorf site was selected because it met the selection criteria,” Cleary said. “The remaining properties did not meet criteria fully in the same way Waldorf property did. The reasoning, at this point since we’re in the process of acquiring a property (not necessairly Waldorf), we’re not able to disclose the reasoning for not selecting remaining properties because it would substantially affect our ability to negotiate a fair price for whatever property we do end up acquiring.
I can’t really get in to exact, but there could be some options still available. Waldorf does meet all of our selection criteria and that’s why it’s the ideal spot.”
Later on, DJS provided TheBayNet with a list of their selection criteria. Their selection criteria states that the site must have a minimum of ten acres to accommodate an outdoor recreation area, the site must be relatively flat, should not include wetlands or be on a floodplain, should not cost more than $3 million, should be away from residential or industrial areas, should not be contaminated by hazardous substances and should have access to public water/sewer, gas, electric and information technology.
While the Waldorf land is close to residential and industrial areas, Cleary said they would work with residents to make sure they are safe and would take their ideas in to consideration.
Charles County Commissioner Vice President Reuben Collins (D) has publicly stated that he does not support the plan, as it would discourage any future development in the Northern Waldorf area and would kill the Waldorf Urban Design Plan proposal.
“We would take (WUDP) in to accou