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Health & Fitness

CZMP Roundup: First District is a Model of Smart Growth

A review of Councilman's Quirk's zoning decisions during the 2012 CZMP process.

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

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Neighborhood Preservation

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  • 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. 
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