New Council Members Focusing on Planning, Revitalization Issues

A majority of the five new Baltimore County Council members who will be sworn in next week say they will focus on issues pertaining to planning and revitalization in their districts during their first year in office.

Council members-elect Vicki Almond and Tom Quirk, both Democrats, and David Marks, a Republican, said they would focus on issues such as smart growth, revitalization of the downtown areas of Pikesville and Towson and seeing that community plans in their districts are adopted into law.

The three new council members and Republican Councilman-elect Todd Huff spoke with me about the issues Sunday night on Jay Liner's "All Politics is Local" show. (You can listen to the incoming council members talk about their priorities here.)

Quirk said he hoped to bring more walkable developments to his district, which includes Arbutus and Catonsville.

"I'd love to see southwest Baltimore County become a model for what smart growth can be about and walkability, bike-ability slowing down traffic," Quirk said. "Really bringing a lot of people to shop in our community and work in our communities as well."

Marks and Almond said revitalization of the commercial corridors along York Road in Towson and Reisterstown Road in Pikesville must be priorities.

"I have two, both planning issues. Number one, get the Perry Hall Community Plan adopted into law," said Marks. "Second, start the revitalization of Towson. We've really got to get moving on revitalization and redevelopment in the heart of Towson."

Almond agreed with focusing on Pikesville.

"I think the revitalization of the Pikesville center, the Pikesville main street area, the Reisterstown main street is essential to bringing business to this area and to attracting more business to the area," said Almond, who represents the 2nd District including Owings Mills, Pikesville and Ruxton.

Huff, who represents the 3rd District including Parkton, Cockeysville and Kingsville, said he plans to continue to advocate for an increase in vocational education opportunities in the county's public schools.

"One of the big things I've said all along is vo-tech, pushing to get more vo-tech into the Baltimore County Schools," said Huff.

The hour-long interview with four of the five incoming council members can be heard here.

Happy Birthday: Tony Campbell, chairman of the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee