“…Sandy Spring is a unique community and as such has never had an official police department, fire department or organized political structure. It is not defined by borders, but by a “state of mind.” Its 250 year history is being preserved in our Sandy Spring Museum but its spirit is being threatened…It is my strong belief that the Ashton Meeting Place that is currently being proposed will contribute significantly to the destruction of the spirit of our community. The Sandy Spring-Ashton Master Plan was drawn up for the specific purpose of avoiding a development like this one. It is incompatible with our rural character, will further increase traffic and destroys our sense of history and who we are…Once our community is destroyed, we will not get it back.”

“…Several others and I were informed that this project is a “done deed.” In light of the present difficulties faced in another community, it is reasonable to further look into this development and construction at an already congested intersection.”

“The scale and design of the proposed commercial development, Ashton Meeting Place, will wedge open the floodgate for a kind of development that will turn an historic community into just another tasteless suburban commercial area…Montgomery County recognized in its creation of the Sandy Spring/Ashton Master Plan the value to the County of preserving this historic area. Now it has the responsibility of assuring that the intent of its Master Plan is met by whatever development is proposed…”

“…I believe that it would be an outrageous mistake to build the Ashton Meeting Place due to its planned size. The scale is far too large to be in keeping with the nature of the Ashton Village Center and totally ignores the citizens and the community who helped create the Sandy Spring-Ashton Master Plan.”

“…Traffic is of utmost concern. The Route 108 and New Hampshire Avenue intersection generates major traffic coming from every direction. Rush-hour traffic is backed up for miles particularly since all traffic coming in is from single lane roads. Crossing on foot is death defying in addition to turning by car. A major supermarket would certainly generate much traffic. You only need to go to the local Giant or Safeway parking lots anytime of the day or night to see the number of cars…”

“…the proposed Ashton Meeting Place is utterly and completely inconsistent with the Sandy Spring/Ashton Master Plan and the Sandy Spring/Ashton Overlay Zone regulations. The MNCPPC, numerous civic associations, and many dedicated citizens worked hard and long to develop the Plan, and this proposed development makes a mockery of their efforts…While the developer has stated that the project “won’t work” without the grocery store and on a smaller, more compatible scale, what the developer means is that it wouldn’t make as much money on it as it would like…”

“…Adding yet another STRIP of stores with a SEA OF ASPHALT for a parking lot does not create the kind of village atmosphere we would like for our town…I am hoping the people who LIVE here will be able to have more say in how this project is developed and what it will look like.”

“…The area is replete with historic homes, most of which you would never know existed because they are based in a rural community, and thereby hidden from view…The community has social groups that go back well over 100 years---Home Interest and Neighbors as examples. It has a Friends Meeting that was founded in the Eighteenth Century that has run continuously in its original house…The Sandy Spring Ashton Master Plan was designed to ensure that the nature of this community survives…”