Approximate location of Terrapin Run (green arrow).

Ever heard of Terrapin Run? It’s the dumbest proposed development in Maryland, and maybe the dumbest on the east coast. The developer is proposing a giant new commuter subdivision of 4, 300 homes in Allegany County mid-way between Cumberland and Hancock. Yes, the same Cumberland that’s home to 20, 000 fewer people than it was in 1940 and has plenty of room to grow responsibly, and the same Allegany County that’s a good 100 miles from Washington or Baltimore, to where Terrapin Run’s residents would presumably commute.

Turns out Terrapin Run is ground zero in the ongoing battle of Smart Growth in Maryland. Near as BeyondDC can tell, the fight has gone something like this:
– Maryland adopts Smart Growth legislation requiring development to “conform” with local land-use plans.
– Allegany County adopts a growth plan that does not include development near Terrapin Run.
– Developer proposes Terrapin Run.
– Allegany County approves Terrapin Run despite it not being in the plan.
– Opponent groups sue to stop the development.
– Maryland’s court system rules that “conform” is meaningless and the County can do what it wants.
– Maryland’s legislature passes a new law strengthening conformity restrictions, effectively overturning the Court decision.
– MD’s Department of the Environment rejects a request by Terrapin Run to be included in the state’s water and sewer plan, effectively rejecting the development.
– Terrapin Run sues Maryland (the most recent twist, which has yet to be played out in court).

Terrapin Run is an awful proposal. It will harm the environment, drive up for everyone carbon emissions, congestion and the price of gas, and will sap economic demand from existing underpopulated communities like Cumberland. It is exactly the type of parasitic sprawl the state has spent the last 20 years trying to stop. Good on Maryland for, in the words of Secretary of Planning Richard Hall, “sticking to (the state’s) guns on this.” If we don’t stick to them for this one, when would we?