Ten Catonsville Townhomes Symbolize Frustration with Development Process

Residents Wednesday night told developers of just under three acres of land behind that they were frustrated by the Baltimore County development process and that Catonsville didn't need more townhomes.

The proposal is for 10 townhomes on 2.84 acres of land off Thistle Road in a development that will be called "Thistle Landing." The townhomes will sit just behind Dimitri's on Frederick Road.

The developer called a meeting to show design plans for the townhomes, which aren't slated to be built for several years, and about 40 people showed up.

While several residents spoke out in support of the process, many said they were frustrated with yet another development in the Catonsville area. Many also expressed frustration with Baltimore County's Planned United Development (PUD) process.

The process for Baltimore County is designed to foster greater creativity and design in development in return for more flexible land use and zoning regulations. The resolution for the project's designation as PUD was voted on by former councilman Samuel G. Moxley in October of last year.

Pamela Warfield, a Frederick Road resident, said she did a quick search of homes and townhouses in the Catonsville area and found plenty for sale and several in foreclosure.

"The benefit of adding housing to the community is not clear to me," she said. "We already have housing."

Representatives from the engineering and design firm KCI presented site designs, which showed the exterior of the townhomes as well as the lot design. Access for the property would be along Thistle Road and road upgrades would be made by the developer.

The development plans calls for 10 townhomes, even though the zoning for the land allows for a higher density.

Representatives from KCI and the Dimitri family said, however, they did not want to build more than 10 townhomes.

"Dimitri's can build a high rise by right, but we don't want to do that," said George Perdikakis, a representative with KCI.

By building townhomes, the housing would be considered workforce housing, which would be priced below $300,000.

Greg Morgan, a resident of Patapsco Falls North in Catonsville, said he is grateful  a family-owned business like Dimitri's is developing the property.

"The issue we have is with the PUD process," he said. "The project presented here tonight is a winner compared to what could be done."

Warfield said after the meeting that she was more concerned about the development process.

"I think the PUD process is whatever the developers want to make it," she said.

Still, some residents who live nearby don't want to see any more development at all. Thistle Road leads into Patapsco State Park and some longtime residents said they are saddened to see open land disappear. In the past few years, the Patapsco Overlook retirement community opened on Thistle Road.

Lori Granderson, a resident of Park Drive in Catonsville, said her family has owned land and lived on Thistle Road for years.

"This feels like an assault to us," she said. "It's not keeping with the character of the neighborhood by any means whatsoever."