[RP TownTalk] Purple line and growth

[Sue Collins]

Maryland, like many other urban areas, will continue to experience growth.  Just 
in the surrounding areas in the past few years we've seen many new condo 
developments and apartments being built, new businesses, and now the Purple 
Line.  As I've said before, change is inevitable (if not comfortable). Now- many 
people think all of this growth is a good thing but I have to ask, how much 
planning is being done ahead of time?  More condos and apartments, a new transit 
line, etc., means more of a drain on town services (emergency services, trash 
removal, etc).  If more people move into the area, what about schools?  The 
dramatic increase in traffic?  Any of us who've lived ihere  for any length of 
time probably have heard more than our share of horror stories from 
surrounding areas which experienced a lot of growh in a relatively short period 
of time. stories about underfunding, public services that are severely 
overloaded with work, a dramatic increase in crime, etc.; the reaction you hear 
most often is, "we didn't plan for THIS."  If there's going to be change then so 
be it; however, if there is not a lot of careful planning NOW for what will 
happen in the long run, I can see our lovely town vanishing completely and I 
think that is a  shame.