This site describes the long struggle that the Minnetoska Property Owners Association (MPOA) has endured to keep the neighborhood “noise free” as defined by Maryland law.
Our Declaration describes Minnetoska as a “statement of deep respect of for the natural world,” and that “Minnetoska is a restful, refreshing opportunity for people to retreat, vacation, or live permanently.” However, it’s also been a magnet for outdoor recreational activities such as ATV’s and dirt bikes. And when kids ride dirt bikes, it’s no longer a restful, refreshing opportunity for those who came to Minnetoska for the beauty and peacefulness of a mountain retreat. So the MPOA has struggled with a conflict between the noise makers and those who prefer the quiet. These pages document this conflict and the legal battles that ensued.
These pages were initially set up to support the efforts of the Engage Mountain Maryland Blog, as Mr. Stutzman felt that our saga would be a compelling story to help support zoning initiatives and noise enforcement in Garrett County.
We hope that others can learn from our mistakes and successes in trying to achieve a noise free community. Start by following the “Our Story” link to see how complicated and difficult this struggle has been, and follow the other links at the top right of the page to view some of the additional challenges that made this struggle so difficult.