OPINION: Watch Out, CSX; Elkridge is Ready

Last night, the Greater Elkridge Community Association held a public forum on “the REAL story” of the proposed CSX intermodal terminal. Concerned Resident Drew Roth presented a well researched, thoroughly documented counter to CSX’s provided at previous community workshops. As one might have predicted, much of CSX’s analysis has holes so large one could drive a freight train through them, and Roth outlined many of them. Roth’s analysis, undertaken in defense of his home, was thorough, data-driven, and, in some instances, devastating.

One small pebble selected from a mountain of troubling boulders: CSX claims the Glassy Darter fish would be threatened by building a terminal at the proposed Montevideo Road site, a point in favor of building in Elkridge. Some internet sleuthing by Roth showed that this claim is, at best, overstated and, at worst, based on no real evidence, as population counts of the Glassy Darter haven’t been undertaken in the area around either Howard County site. Without knowing how CSX reached its conclusion, it seems like an intern at the company Googled “threatened fish Maryland,” clicked on the first link, and picked a likely species.

Roth concluded with his view on the transparency of the selection process thus far. CSX developed the cost estimates, Roth pointed out, based on unknown underlying information. The corporation then sent these estimates to MDOT, without the underlying analyses used to develop the numbers, and MDOT delivered them to a nervous community and media eager for an easy ranking. This process, which essentially allowed CSX to mask the process by which it determined the Elkridge site was cheapest by a large margin, was a “mockery of transparency and public involvement,” steamed Roth.

Roth was followed by Mitch Buchman, another Concerned Resident. He used open source tools to develop a computer rendering of the proposed terminal and its proximity to area homes. While one would assume that producing a picture of the proposed site would be an obvious first step in the initial planning process, neither CSX nor MDOT had ever shown such a drawing. To actually see how close a huge industrial facility would be to their homes prompted a visceral gasp from the assembly.  

These two citizen-investigators were living proof of the power of One Man and His Browser. All this, though, all the PowerPoint and Google SketchUp, is still just Two Angry Men, two citizens set against the power and reach of a global goliath. Despite their passion and prowess, these two and the community of residents they de facto represent are fighting an uphill battle against a huge corporation, its entrenched government allies and a surrounding region that doesn’t seem to much care. (Take a look at the lede of this article if you’d like to begin a discussion on editorial bent in news articles.)

The base nature of a community is, essentially, amalgamation—any given group is made up of smaller subgroups with shifting wants, needs and allegiances. Even in that most basic of societal building blocks, the family, there exists a constant push and pull amongst the members (often taking the form of the Pro-Candy Before Dinner Party set in opposition to the Veggie Brigade, a conflict frequently leading to an Occupy Your Bedroom protest). In order to succeed in the face of an outside threat, though, oft-competing groups must set aside their differences in service to the good of the community as a whole.

Such was the case last night, when a powerful coalition of Elkridgeans fully formed around what had begun as a . Both local business and political leaders came to the Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department to combine, Voltron-like, in their efforts in keeping CSX out of Hanover. What began as online petitions and signs in yards has become much more.

David Scheffenacker is the developer responsible for , and though the building of additional residential homes is often a cause for consternation in Elkridge, Scheffenacker spoke next and soon won over the crowd. He began by firmly stating his opposition to the Elkridge siting of the “freight yard,” as he derisively—and deliberately—termed the project. He then told the crowd his company was retaining four lawyers to help fight the project.

“It would be good,” he continued, “if our lawyers were your lawyers too.” The crowd seemed a bit taken aback by this proclamation, but, after he introduced two of the lawyers who were present, the stunned crowd burst into applause. One audience member noted that the general acclaim for a pair of lawyers was “a first,” to laughter. Scheffenacker ended by assuring everyone he had assembled “the dream team,” and they were “looking forward to the fight.” Citizen-soldiers operating on a shoestring budget suddenly found themselves armed with the finest legal armament money could buy. “Lafayette, we are here!”

After the real estate developer had spoken, local politicians added their weight to the contest. Of particular interest was County Council member Courtney Watson. Although she had been opposed to the Oxford Square project, she now shared the stage with its developer—and, in fact, made a deliberate effort to convince the crowd of his bona fides. “Yes, he has a vested interest,” she said of Scheffenacker, “but he has been participating in Elkridge,” pointing to his support of the  through "significant" donations including a refigerator. Besides, she noted, “I voted against his project and he still talks to me.” Their old disagreement no longer mattered in the face of a common problem.

Other politicians, including Senator Ed Kasemeyer and County Executive Ken Ulman (via a taped interview and a representative) also voiced their strong opposition to the Elkridge site. The “site is so ludicrous as far as its impact on people,” Kasemeyer fumed, “it’s almost incomprehensible to me.”

Acting alone, each of these groups would be unlikely to see success. A developer without the support of the surrounding community, politicians working without local interest, or citizens speaking without an audience would swiftly be steamrolled by a well-funded and well-organized enemy. Together, though, acting in concert for their community, CSX faces a formidable opponent in a united Elkridge. Still, Watson offered a note of caution. “This is a marathon, not a sprint,” she warned. And while this is undoubtedly true, a marathon is always easier with a friend or two by your side.