Bundoran Farm wins waivers for private roads

Over the past several months, Qroe companies, the Bundoran Farm developers, have built considerable trust with neighbors, planners and officials. At an August 8 meeting, they parlayed that trust into unanimous County Planning Commission approval for a large number of waivers for their 94-lot limited development on the 2,301-acre property formerly owned by Fred Scott.
    Staff recommended the planning commission deny most of the waivers, which largely concerned privatizing roads with lower design standards for width and critical slopes. Bill Fritz, a County planner, considered 28 acres for road construction too much and suggested instead clustering lots to reduce road lengths. Questions also arose about emergency vehicle access on the 16′ roads.
    But Robert Baldwin, Jr.—who has taken the role as Qroe president after his father died in a June plane crash on the property—presented the Qroe planning process to protect viewsheds and viable farmland. Two neighbors spoke in favor of the project as other supporters and Qroe employees filled the meeting room.
    The four commissioners in attendance gushed in response, telling stories of their negative initial reaction to Scott selling and their subsequent relief and excitement when they met the developers. In the end, commissioners overrode staff recommendation on virtually all counts, though with some conditions. They will review the final site plan when it is prepared.
    “I thought it was absolutely unique that most of the roads were not laid out by engineers but by cattle—and they generally know the right way to go,” said Commission Vice Chairman Calvin Morris. “I would love to see it work.”
    Commissioner Pete Craddock commented, “I don’t know of any projects that we’ve had come before us…that we’ve had everybody come out in support of it instead of pitchforks and torches to burn the place down.”
    “I was very pleased to see they took the time to understand what we’re doing,” says Baldwin, who sees the result as a testament to his father. “That speaks volumes, frankly, for the commission and the County.”