CUMBERLAND — Boise, Idaho’s various recreational river activities could serve as an example for the Queen City, Ed Mullaney said.
He was among roughly 40 folks at City Hall on Monday to discuss Cumberland’s next comprehensive plan.
“We have a lot of water resources we don’t use well,” said Mullaney, who was Cumberland’s downtown manager for 15 years and today co-chairs Let’s Beautify Cumberland!
He said the city needs affordable retirement communities, and should improve inclusion for residents on the north and east sides of the railroad tracks.
“They’re separated by our railroad,” Mullaney said of historic neighborhoods that are within walking distance of downtown but often blocked by trains that park on the track for long periods of time.
“There’s so many positive things going on in this town,” he said. “We have to be our best ambassadors.”
Several folks at the meeting provided concerns and ideas, including future opportunities for public input to help shape the comprehensive plan.
But so far, exactly what the plan will accomplish is somewhat ambiguous.
Background
City officials in October approved a $40,000 payment to Havre de Grace-based Woodvalley Community Strategies to create a 10-year update of Cumberland’s Comprehensive Plan as required by law.
Cumberland’s last comprehensive plan was written in 2013, but the state set the city’s 10-year review to be made between 2022 and 2025.
The extra time allows the municipality to access U.S. Census data.
“In general, this schedule provides commencement of the plan review process one year prior, and two years after, the 10-year adoption anniversary,” according to the Maryland Department of Planning.
“Our review and comment on local plans are provided to counties and municipalities as guidance to ensure local plans reflect the best possible land management policies and practices,” MDP stated. “The department encourages the public to participate in crafting the vision, goals and priorities for their community.”
To meet the state’s deadline for the plan, city officials chose Woodvalley rather than following a request for proposals process.
Additionally, “due to our unique needs, it is likely many proposals received from a publicly advertised RFP will be submitted from out of state and will come in at a price above $40,000,” city officials stated at the time.
Woodvalley’s proposed scope of work includes to “perform a thorough review of plans, studies and other information provided by the city deemed to be pertinent to this project.”
Some public meetings are expected to be part of the process.
However, “there will be no ‘broad reach’ public engagement activities led by the consultant, although the consultant will provide reasonable content for such activities for use by the staff,” the proposal states.
Long term
Woodvalley Principal Jamie Kendrick, who is sick with COVID-19, attended Monday’s meeting virtually.
He also spoke to the Cumberland Times-News on Tuesday.
The comprehensive plan is a long-term view for the city that goes beyond filling potholes, Kendrick said.
Cumberland’s 2013 plan, created by city staff, “was an encyclopedia … a crazy amount of detail,” he said of the more than 400-page document. “It wasn’t very strategic.”
Kendrick said he’ll try to limit the next plan to roughly 60 pages.
To prepare for the plan, his company talked to about 25 stakeholders including representatives of local businesses, government and nonprofit organizations.
Some of those folks were recommended by city officials, he said.
“We did a series of interviews,” Kendrick said, adding that the talks were not detailed in notes in order to let “people speak freely.”
The conversations included that Cumberland is heavily reliant on grants, neighborhoods don’t see improvements, there’s a planning versus doing question, and the city is a bit too far for remote work considering many return-to-office mandates.
Several key projects significant to the city were identified and include Rolling Mill, Virginia Avenue, the Memorial Hospital redevelopment and the Carver Center.
“It’s gonna take some real public- sector effort,” Kendrick said of bringing projects to fruition.
The venue included survey sheets for attendees to complete.
“We really want to hear your ideas,” he said.
Comments
Comments at Monday’s meeting included many of the city’s current and urgent problems.
Residents said West Side bridges must be fixed, more Airbnbs are needed to cater to Great Allegheny Passage trail bicyclists, the city doesn’t have enough businesses such as a Target store, many streets need to be repaved, there are too many dilapidated buildings in Cumberland, and parking should be free for people at work in the city.
Additionally, Cumberland needs to be friendlier for pedestrians — including a solution to the parked trains problem — and investment should be made to help the local unhoused population, they said.
“Whatever the plan is, it must involve the people,” Dana Tinnen said.
Betsey Hurwitz-Schwab said she was concerned that Woodvalley only spoke to about 25 folks so far.
“A lot more people need to be brought into the conversation,” she said.
Her husband, Doug Schwab, said better communication is needed between the city and its residents.
Retired Cumberland police Officer David Biser said with technology students graduating from local colleges, area internet access should be expanded.
Cumberland needs better paying jobs, Allegany County NAACP President Tifani Fisher said.
“We’re struggling,” she said of the local economy and added the comprehensive plan writers should meet individually with city neighborhoods.
Dawn Frigge said she’s concerned that low-quality new housing will be built in the city’s West Side, and Cumberland officials haven’t made good on announced start dates to repair the neighborhood’s bridges.
Bradford Benton highlighted the need for united local communities where people help each other.
“It’s a crazy world out there,” he said. “But if the world falls apart, at least we (could) have each other here.”
Learn more at cumberlandmd.gov/165/Comprehensive-Plan.