Fate Of New Construction Decided In Perry Hall

PERRY HALL, MD — A Perry Hall residential development was blocked Monday by the county council member representing the area.

David Marks (R-Upper Falls) announced that he will prevent the introduction of Perry Hall Chapel Estates. The development would have brought 30 single-family homes to Chapel Road near Perry Hall Boulevard.

"I grew up near Chapel Road and traveled it nearly everyday with my parents," Marks said in a press release. "As a community leader and County Councilman, I have worked to preserve the rural character of this corridor, blocking plans to expand the route."

This isn't the first time that Marks has fought for lower density along the roadway.

"I downzoned the Chapel Road corridor to the lowest level allowed for residential development, DR 1, or one house per acre," Marks said. "The Perry Hall Chapel Estates project would more than double that density."

Marks worries "that type of change would undoubtedly impact traffic and the rural character of Chapel Road."

"It would create a chain reaction where other propertyowners would demand similar density," Marks said. "I am also concerned about the road correction to existing neighborhoods and the loss of open space near those homes along Perry Hall Boulevard."

Marks isn't against all development, but this proposal would need significant modifications for him to accept it.

"I do not oppose the developer reaching out to neighbors to see if an acceptable alternative can be found, but there will be a very high threshold for bypassing the zoning that is currently in place," he said. "This proposal does not come close."

This map shows the area where Perry Hall Chapel Estates would have been located.