2012 Was a Year for Preserving Green Space

Source:  Baltimore Sun.

During my second year on the Baltimore County Council, we passed several bills that will improve Baltimore County's neighborhoods and help our families, including major reforms of the development process. But I am particularly proud of the work we are doing to preserve open space and improve the environment in Baltimore County.

Bill 21-12, for example, prohibits panhandle building lots in the hilly Parkville and Carney areas. Bill 23-12 expands a property tax credit for energy-efficient homes. Bill 36-12 adds "Little Valley" off Rushley Road to the list of protected historic landmarks in Baltimore County. I was a principal sponsor of all three bills.

I am particularly proud, however, of Bill 7-12, which created the first-ever open space overlay in Baltimore County.  With this legislation, the County Council was able to designate 174 acres in the Fifth District as open space, more acreage than in any other County Council district.

Development is needed to provide more housing and commercial areas, create jobs, and expand our tax base, but I also want to see more land left green and pristine throughout our neighborhoods. This year, we made real progress in reaching that goal.

An Update on Rezoning

Since June, I have been announcing my recommendations on the 59 rezoning issues in the Fifth District.   Zoning determines the type and intensity of development on any property in Baltimore County.   Community organizations and private propertyowners are very interested in the rezoning process, which is why I waited until after the two public hearings to begin announcing my recommendations.

I have announced recommendations for 19 issues encompassing some of the largest acreage involved in the rezoning process in the Fifth District.  

I will support downzoning 237 acres in the Fifth District, 158 acres of which would receive open space zoning.   Since open space zoning was created by the County Council earlier this year, this will be the first time it has been applied during the rezoning process.

67 of the acres are in Towson and Loch Raven.  I believe this is the largest such downzoning ever proposed in this area by a County Councilmember.  The downzoned areas would include the Mount Pleasant Golf Course, community areas in Southland Hills and Burkleigh Square, and city-owned properties closer to Downtown Towson. 

69 acres would be in the Parkville area, mostly in the Cromwell Valley.

101 acres are located in Perry Hall, including the wooded area north of Seven Oaks Elementary School, the undeveloped property west of Perryvale Road, and common areas along Honeygo Boulevard.

I have not proposed any increase in residential density.   I will release my remaining recommendations over the next two weeks. 

We live in a system of private property rights.  People have the right to make a profit off their land, and a certain degree of development is needed to grow our economy and produce jobs.  At the same time, I believe we can preserve open space and lighten the impact of growth on our schools and roads with the right zoning decisions.