By COREY BYERS
To help get their 526-home rezoning request passed, developer Frank Sealy and his wife, Linda, are offering Caroline County a fire station and other new proffers.
However, the Board of Supervisors is holding off on voting on the Belmont North proposal until at least next month.
The 186 acres near the Belmont subdivision in Carmel Church are zoned rural preservation, but the Sealys want to build single-family homes, villas, townhomes, and age-restricted villas.
Last week, they agreed to build a new fire station in Carmel Church by 2010, change education cash-proffers to include recreation and increase the number of age-restricted villas as part of their proffers.
Frank Sealy said he was willing to proffer a 12-month construction schedule for the station starting Sept. 1, 2009, but he wants the site plan fast-tracked by the county.
"I can assure you if the project is approved, you won't have any delays on the county side," Board Chairman Floyd Thomas said.
Supervisor Jeff Sili raised concerns about the effect of rezoning on the county's composite index--a complex formula determining how much money localities get in state funding for schools.
He argued that rezonings in Caroline have contributed to less funding.
Sili also wanted to know how the county would pay more than $2 million to staff and equip a new fire station.
Supervisor Wayne Acors said he thought Frank Sealy had always been fair person and a good neighbor, but questioned the need for more housing when thousands of approved lots haven't been used.
"I can't support additional development at this point in time," Acors said. "It might be the right project in the right location but not the right time I don't know that we need another 526 lots sitting there to be built on."
Supervisors are scheduled to discuss the proposal again on Sept. 9.
Corey Byers: 540/735-1976
Email: cbyers@freelancestar.com