New Laws Protect Open Space, Reform Development Process

The current Baltimore County Council is now 18 months into its term. With five freshmen, this Council has brought new ideas and energy to the table, particularly in the area of planning, zoning, and development.

Bill 2-11 created the Baltimore County Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee. Already, we are seeing a renewed interest in new trails and sidewalk projects. Our office is working to extend the Indian Rock Park trail in Perry Hall and create bike lanes in the Towson area.

Bill 3-11 requires a Community Input Meeting for a new development to be closer to an affected neighborhood. I introduced this bill because I remember when Perry Hall residents had to travel to the Rosedale library to learn about a project in their own backyard. The same thing happened in Carney, where residents were required to go to the Perry Hall library even when there were closer places to meet.

Resolution 29-11 directs the Planning Board to review whether zoning regulations can better stimulate Transit-Oriented Development.

Many of our bills have reformed the Planned Unit Development process. A PUD is a special project that is not contingent on traditional zoning. Planned Unit Developments can play an important role, particularly by encouraging mixed-use development, but they must be done selectively. Bill 36-11 requires a Community Input Meeting and agency reviews before the County Council even considers a PUD resolution.

Bill 64-11 qualifies NeighborSpace of Baltimore County as a community benefit under a Planned Unit Development. Bill 4-12 puts the PUD documents on-line.

I am most proud of Bill 7-12, which creates the first-ever open space zoning designation in Baltimore County, "Neighborhood Commons." We should have areas that are specifically preserved from development. Bill 7-12 gives a County Councilmember this important tool during the rezoning process.

Bill 15-12 gives the public additional notice for a proposed variance or special exception, and it requires these changes to be posted on-line.

Bill 21-12 bans panhandle building lots in Carney, Cub Hill, and Parkville, blocking this type of infill development in a hilly and densely-populated part of Baltimore County.

Bill 23-12 expands the type of projects that can qualify for a property tax credit if the homes meet certain environmental standards. This legislation is good for taxpayers, as well as for the environment.

I worked on many of these bills with Councilman Tom Quirk, who also has a strong interest in planning and development issues. But here's what is extraordinary: not only did the legislation secure support from both Democrats and Republicans, but not a single vote was cast against any of the bills I just mentioned. We will continue looking for ways to advance public participation in the development process.

Legislation Will Create Open Space Zoning Designation

At our February 6th meeting, Baltimore County Councilman Tom Quirk and I will introduce legislation that creates a no-build zoning overlay in Baltimore County.

The legislation creates a “Neighborhood Commons Overlay District” that would permit only open space or minor recreational structures within the property.  The overlay district could only be implemented during the Comprehensive Zoning Map Process, and would apply to a property held by a nonprofit entity such as NeighborSpace of Baltimore County within the urbanized part of Baltimore County.   It would also apply to common areas owned by homeowners associations.

This is the first no-build zoning overlay of its kind in Baltimore County.  Should the County Council adopt the legislation, the new zone could be used for this year’s Comprehensive Zoning Map Process. 

I am very proud of this legislation; there has been a significant amount of research as we crafted the bill, and I consider it a very important initiative.

Over the past thirteen months, the Baltimore County Council has enacted numerous reforms to the development process.  This bill will create an additional layer of protection for our communities.

Legislation Will Further Reform PUD Process

At the Baltimore County Council meeting on Tuesday, January 17, legislation will be introduced that further reforms the Planned Unit Development (PUD) process.  Under Bill 4-11, any PUD application will be posted on the County Council Web Site once the application is filed with the county.

Under a Planned Unit Development, a developer receives zoning flexibility in return for enhanced performance standards and a community benefit package.  While PUDs have been controversial, they can play a useful role in developing and revitalizing communities.  The County Council recognized there needed to be reform of the PUD process, and in 2011, the Council passed legislation that required community input and agency reviews before a PUD resolution is introduced before the Council.  Bill 4-11 takes this one step further by requiring the PUD application to be posted on the Internet.

I commend Councilman Tom Quirk for coming up with this legislation.  I am pleased to cosponsor the bill along with Councilman Ken Oliver, and look forward to its approval.

County Council Starts Budget Process

This month, the Baltimore County Council began the process that will culminate with the adoption of the county budget in May.  

Our charter gives the County Executive strong powers; the Executive submits the budget to the Council, which can only delete from the proposal.   The County Council does, however, have an important responsibility that occurs several months before the submittal of the budget proposal.

In 1990, the County Council passed a spending affordability law to ensure that increases in spending do not exceed the county’s rate of economic growth.  The law mandates that the County Council’s Spending Affordability Committee make a recommendation each Fiscal Year on spending and debt guidelines.

I have been honored to serve on the Spending Affordability Committee for both of my years on the County Council.  The other two County Council members are Tom Quirk, who chairs the SAC, and Vicki Almond, chair of the full Council.  There are also two members from the private sector.  An Economic Advisory Committee assists with the assessment of private sector growth. 

Our first meeting was last week.  The Economic Advisory Committee noted some positive signs that  that the economy is slowly improving.  Economic growth in the housing and labor markets improved during the later months of 2011; December was the best month for home sales since 2007.  Still, personal income in Baltimore County is expected to have grown only between 4 percent and 4.5 percent this Fiscal Year, and while other counties have higher unemployment rates, there are still many residents who are out of work.

Add to this the likelihood of cuts from the federal and state governments, and the prospect of teacher pension costs shifting to the counties, and it’s clear that this Spending Affordability Committee must adopt a conservative budget threshold.  I look forward to working with my colleagues and the County Executive to ensure we maintain a fiscally disciplined approach.

County to Extend Indian Rock Park Trail

One of my priorities has been to develop new trails and sidewalk connections throughout Baltimore County.  Trails and sidewalks not only offer an alternative to driving, but they encourage physical fitness.  In February, the County Council passed legislation I sponsored with Councilman Tom Quirk that created a Baltimore County Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee.  This panel will hopefully help us develop a more integrated transportation system.

I am very happy that the county has been awarded $30,000 to extend the trail at Indian Rock Park in Perry Hall.   The funding comes from the Maryland State Highway Administration's Recreational Trails Program.  Our office wrote the grant application with help from the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks.  The Department will supply the 25 percent ($10,000) local match.   The county has generally not taken advantage of this funding source. 

Indian Rock Park is a wooded area west of Perry Hall High School.   The county created a short trail at the park in 2009, but the pathway is barely noticed from Ebenezer Road.   Currently, it forms a little loop several hundred feet in the park.  My goal has been to connect this looped path to Ebenezer Road, then extend the entire route to Silver Spring Road, where it will eventually become part of the Northeast Trail.  Neighborhoods will be actively consulted as the specific alignment is chosen.

I look forward to developing more transportation options for all residents of the Fifth District.