BLOG: Are Joppa Transfer Station Signs Good or Bad?

If you have driven down Old Joppa Road in Kingsville/Joppa, chances are you have seen the signs, "No Transfer Station." If you are not from Harford County, or haven't read/watched the news, you may not know what this means. Is it a transfer station for inmates? Is it a hub for UPS or Fedex to transfer packages from one tractor trailer to another? Well, it's neither of these things. What the county has proposed is a solid waste disposal facility.This facility will serve as a drop off point for residents to get rid of unwanted trash, large objects and recycle-able materials. All materials will be collected and transported out within the day they were dropped off. No "trash" will sit at the facility over night. Looking at the plan summary linked above, it seems like this facility will be virtually unseen from Rt. 7 and will be close enough to major roads to limit its impact on residential properties.  

While I understand that home owners may think that it will drive down property values in Joppa, I wish to bring up another opinion. If you purchased a home on Rt.7 or within earshot of a major road, your property has already factored in the "decrease" in value due to the noise pollution. You probably purchased the home at some discount because of your proximity to a major highway or busy intersection. In addition to saving the county money with short distances for their trucks hauling refuse, I am sure there will be additional jobs created from the construction and staffing of this facility.  

One last point I want to make. How does it look to residents or potential buyers to see all the signs rejecting a "Transfer Station?" Without further investigation, one could draw numerous conclusions from the signs. I recently showed properties to a client of mine in the Parkville/Towson area and there were signs "protesting" a home builder. The signs said nothing more than "Say No to XYZ Builders." My client asked if the neighborhood was undergoing a drastic change and if it was wise to potentially purchase a home where the residents were disgruntled over an issue. Would there be a mass exodus and would property value drop quickly? I explained the situation to my client, because I was privy to the circumstances, but someone else may have just turned their car around and looked elsewhere.

My point is, sometimes what seems like a sign of strength and solidarity, can have unintended results.   

I welcome your opinions here or on my Facebook page .