CZMP Roundup: First District is a Model of Smart Growth
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Towson, MD (August 28, 2012)- Tuesday night's council vote concluded the 2012 Comprehensive Rezoning cycle in Baltimore County. In the first council district there were 39 zoning issues totaling 263 acres. Forty-three percent, 114 acres, were downzoned to protect natural resources or preserve the character of a neighborhood.
“Zoning is all about maintaining a proper balance between community concerns and property rights,” said Councilman Tom Quirk. “What I aimed for was to protect our property values, be mindful of our natural resources, and create opportunities to bring family supporting jobs to the district. The feedback I’m getting from community associations, environmental groups, and business owners alike has been very positive.”
Most issues fell within three main categories: neighborhood preservation, environmental protection, and economic development. The remainder yield no significant change in usage or were administrative in nature. A complete list can be found on the County’s Planning Department website at http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/planning/zoning/2012czmp/issuelog.html.
Neighborhood Preservation
- Issue 1-005, .33 acres in the Holly Manor/Winters Lane neighborhood of Catonsville, was denied an up-zone in accordance with the community’s concerns.
- Issue 1-007, 45 acres in the Gun Road neighborhood of Relay, was denied an up-zone in accordance with the community’s concerns.
- Issue 1-010/12, 3 acres in the Chadwick neighborhood in Catonsville/Woodlawn, was down-zoned in accordance with the community’s concerns.
- Issue 1-016, 3 acres in the S. Belle Grove community of Catonsville/Paradise was denied an up-zone in accordance with the community’s concerns.
- Issues 1-020/21, a combined 2.3 acres, were down-zoned at the request of the Catonsville Chamber of Commerce and the Catonsville 2020 Committee.
- Issues 1-028/29, 1.4 acres in the Westview neighborhood in Catonsville, were denied an up-zone in order to protect the homes on an outlying residential road.
Environmental Protection and Open Space
- Issue 1-019, 11 acres in the Maple Avenue/Hilltop neighborhood in Catonsville, was recently acquired by Baltimore County. The property was down-zoned to Rural Conservation 8 and will be preserved in perpetuity as open space.
- Issue 1-025, 16 acres in the Hilltop neighborhood in Catonsville, was down-zoned to RC 8 and a portion received the coveted Neighborhood Commons designation, the 1st such property in the district. Councilman Quirk sponsored the legislation creating the Neighborhood Commons designation to protect open space in mature neighborhoods.
- Issues 1-30 through 1-37, totaling 83 acres, were previously zoned for Density Residential and were given a more appropriate designation of Rural Conservation to reflect their location outside the urban-rural demarcation line, and proximity to the Patapsco River watershed.
Economic Development
- Issue 1-001 at Security Boulevard in Woodlawn was up-zoned to Business Major to allow for greater redevelopment flexibility.
- Issue 1-003 adjacent to Martin’s West in Woodlawn was up-zoned to Business Local to accomodate a complimentary business enterprise.
- Issue 1-004 in the Kenwood Neighborhood was denied a down-zone from Office Residential to accomodate a business enterprise which would benefit from the property’s immediate proximity to Wilken’s Avenue and the Beltway.
- Issue 1-008 in Woodlawn was partially up-zoned to Office Technology to accomodate businesses which would benefit from the property’s location adjacent to a Business Major parcel, and easy access to Security Boulevard, Route 70, and 695. The property retains a 14 acre residential buffer to the north and south.
- Issue 1-38 in Woodlawn was upzoned to allow for greater redevelopment flexibility.
Paul Dongarra
5:45 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012
Let's be clear! According to 1000 Friends of MD, there were two items in the CZMP that were considered Smart Growth upzones they were 1-018 and 1-026. The area was around the terminus of I70 around Ingleside Ave. and Security BLVD. The Planning Board had recommended a zoning of BM CT to facilitate a mixed use development to reside directly within the catch zone of the proposed red line. Unfortunately, Councilperson Quirk did not upzone either. The one opportunity to be an advocate for Smart Growth and he blew it! Quirk's decision on issue 1-008 was the second biggest blow to District One in the CZMP. Essentially, this decision changed the zoning of 30 acres from Rural Conservation to OT which would allow for major development. Of course the petitioner, E. Parham had given $4000 to QUirk while he was running and she was represented by Gildea and Schmidt who raised thousands upon thousands for Quirk. Only a small parcel of this land resided within the terminus of the red lines catch zone and not all of it needed to be upzoned in this fashion. Issue 1-004 relates to Steve Whalen's medical office PUD currently being invested by the office of the Special Prosecutor http://tinyurl.com/bm6bkhz
Actually, approx. 3 weeks before Quirk made a resolution for this PUD, Whalen's architect, employee, daughter, and personal fitness instructor donated $8,000 to Mr. Quirk. OF course he and Mr. Whalen deny that they are in league with one anther. http://tinyurl.com/9ngwb3b
Paul Dongarra
5:48 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012
Regarding the 10 issue number that Quirk claims relate to Environmental Protection and Open Space, District One's Planning Officer, Dennis Wertz, none of these parcels allegedly being safeguarded were ever in danger from any sort of development. What Quirk's done, suggested at the bequest of Mr. Wertz, was to clean up the zoning map to make it more uniform and continuous. Information is available at http://myneighborhood.baltimorecountymd.gov Click on CZMP & the blue I button and then zoom in to find the issue numbers. The 76.99 acres that Issues 1-031 and 1-033 through 1-037 will downzone are owned by the MD's Department of Natural Resources or Dept. of Forest & Parks. Issues 1-030 and 1-032 are listed with un-located owners and adjacent to State Property. The 26.54 acres in issues number 1-019 and 1-025 are owned mostly by Baltimore County. Two exceptions are portions owned by Hilltop Clusters LLC & Eugene Osborne. Mr. Osborne said his land's in a protection easement resulting from previous development. Hilltop Clusters parcel is likely the same. Like most politicians, Quirk is taking credit for the work of our hard working civil servants and then overstating his roll and it's importance. Just in case I have been unclear. None of these 10 zoning issues were ever in danger from development.
Paul Dongarra
6:07 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012
In conclusion, the saddest part of the CZMP meeting this past Tues. was watching almost 1000 acres, outside the URDL be upzoned for development in district 3 (Northern Baltimore County). According the 1000 friends of MD this threatens the water supply for millions of our residents who rely on Lock Raven Reservoir for clean drinking water. Councilperson Quirk, like all of the other members of the Council, had the option to protect our drinking water. What did he do? He voted yea on each and everyone of these important environmental issues at the bequest of his developer benefactors...oops I mean for Councilmatic Courtesy. At the meeting all of the lawyers for the Development Lobby were they patting each other on the back. It was like Christmas day for Baltimore County's 1%. For any partisan Republican who wants to put all of this in the laps of Democrats. Todd Huff, District 3's councilperson and David Marks in district 5, are both Republican. They both voted for these measures also. I am sure that Quirk feels he can spin these half truths because the majority of people are not watching. Let me be clear with him on this point. My wife, Rebecca Dongarra, and I are watching very closely. Perhaps with an Special Prosecutor Investigation ongoing he should start telling the "whole truth and nothing but the truth."