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.

Learn about the Citizens on Patrol Program

This Thursday, February 2nd, I will host a Fifth District Community Advisory Council meeting at the Perry Hall public library at 7 p.m. I established the Community Advisory Council to bring together civic leaders from Towson, Loch Raven, Parkville, and Perry Hall. The council meets quarterly to discuss legislation and issues of common interest.

The Towson Area Citizens on Patrol.

When planning for this meeting several weeks ago, I thought it would be helpful for Parkville and Perry Hall residents to learn about the Towson Area Citizens on Patrol program. While there are Citizens on Patrol units throughout Baltimore County, the Towson Area COP is by far the largest and best organized. If there is interest in starting a COP program in northeastern Baltimore County, the Towson Area Citizens on Patrol can provide strong insight.

I had no idea when planning this presentation that the area would soon experience a series of burglaries and other crimes.

I have great respect for the White Marsh and Parkville police precincts, which provide constant communication to me, to our state legislators and to community associations. Perry Hall and Parkville are still among the safest communities in eastern Baltimore County. Still, I am extremely concerned about recent events and urge the public to remain vigilant and observant.

A Citizens on Patrol program can help improve public safety. Volunteers learn how to recognize and report suspicious activity, and they often patrol neighborhood streets. But running a COP program can require a lot of work, which is why I have invited the Towson Area Citizens on Patrol program to brief the public on their operations.

Although the Community Advisory Council is targeted to civic leaders, anyone can attend this meeting. For more information, feel free to contact my office at dmarks@baltimorecountymd.gov.

Movies Returning to Downtown Towson

The Towson Circle III announcement.

I was very happy to join the County Executive and other civic and business leaders at today's announcement that Cinemark has agreed to operate the movie theatres at Towson Circle III.  Cinemark is one of the nation's premier theatre companies.  Locally, Cinemark operates the theatres at Arundel Mills Mall.

I have fond memories of going to the movie theatres at Towson Commons in the early 1990s.   There was an electricity in the air as the Towson Commons project sparked revitalization throughout the downtown core.  

I have been a strong supporter of the Towson Circle III project.  It's important to have a blend of restaurants and entertainment options in Downtown Towson, and I hope we can bring back some of the energy we had in Downtown Towson when Towson Commons opened in the 1990s.   Today's announcement was yet another signal that revitalization is underway.