Gail Flaherty Scott

P.O. Box 594

Oxford, Maryland 21654

Dear Sirs,

Please take the following into consideration as you debate the issues surrounding development and "Big Box' retailers.

Having grown up in this area and having returned here to raise my child, I certainly understand the benefits of a "small town atmosphere". At the same time, it is also obvious to me that it is important to grow into a community that offers economic, job and benefit opportunities. Your job is to determine the balance.

My unofficial survey shows that most residents raising families in the Easton area are pushing schedules that rival our more metropolitan friends, but do not have the medical or other benefits from our jobs that make the compromises worthwhile. There are some wonderful small businesses in the area, but they are not able to offer the benefits that the majority of the population need to have to keep the community healthy. Some of these commercial development opportunities can offer these benefits to our community.

Those raising families are the biggest spenders in our economy nationally. This area boasts its a family-friendly atmosphere. Yet "my survey" shows that the majority of families living in this area spends the majority of their money elsewhere!  This cannot be good for a local economy.

I'll bet that the reason that the majority of those attending your meeting are older members of the community is because the younger people raising families do not have the time, energy or baby-sitter money to attend! The economy is very different from that faced by the older population when they were raising their kids. Lack of medical insurance alone is a huge issue draining many people in this area.

I was raised in a very environmentally appreciative family. I do not support scalping the land! However, when discussing property already designated as commercial and on highways as Route 50, I think that an attractive, planned commercial project can make life easier for many living in the area and it can be a tremendous boost to the local economy! Even the small shops in town will benefit if more people passing through on Route 50 are presented with an attractive reflection of the community rather than the unattractive, declining piecemeal projects currently there. Many of the small business merchandise or 'experiences" are targeted towards tourist dollars! Some of the commercial opportunities being presented to the town can help draw those dollars in.! Banning larger stores is not necessarily going to boost business to these smaller businesses already here.

Communities have been ruined by commercial development. They have also been left to die for lack of it. Opportunity and an energetic business environment will be very important to maintain an economically healthy community for everyone in the future.

Sincerely,

Gail F. Scott