Baltimore County Council Splits on Property Condemnation

UPDATED(8:25p.m.)—A divided Baltimore County Council approved a request to begin condemnation on a 4.25 acre parcel of land that could become an extension of Security Boulevard.

The council voted 5-2 to approve a request that allows the county to move forward with the condemnation process, which potentially could end up in court.

The council approved the request over the objections of Councilman Tom Quirk, a Democrat who represents the area.

"My concern is that the council did not have a lot of time to look at this," Quirk said.

Councilwoman Cathy Bevins joined Quirk in opposing the condemnation request.

Quirk had attempted to delay the decision by asking that the request be tabled. Republican Councilman Todd Huff joined Bevins and Quirk in the request but the vote to table the measure failed 3-4.

Arnold Jablon, director of the county Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections, said the property is needed ultimately for economic development.

"That's the whole purpose—for economic development," Jablon told the council. "This was important to the last (county executive) and to this one."

Several council members complained that the county did a poor job of briefing the council on the project at its work session last week.

Councilman David Marks, a Perry Hall Republican, said he was unhappy with the briefing but added "legally the council role is to determine if there is a pubic purpose for this road and I believe there is."

Council Chairman John Olszewski called last week's briefing "a botched work session."

"I, too, being 13 years on the council, was very disappointed in how this was handled," Olszewski said. "Even though it was a botched work session it meets the criteria (of a public purpose)."

In other council news:

• An expected vote on a bill that would formally regulate so-called in-law apartments was tabled and reintroduced for a September vote.

Council Chairman John Olszewski said the bill was tabled to give community groups more time to review the proposal.

Last week some community organizations, including the Valleys Planning Council, asked the council to delay a vote for just that reason.

Currently, so-called in-law or accessory apartments have been allowed under county zoning regulations, though no definition exists in county code.

The bill as proposed limits the use of such apartments to immediate family grandparents and in-laws. The size of the apartment contained inside a home would be limited to one-third the square-footage of the home or 2,000 square-feet, whichever is less.

A stand alone apartment would be limited to 1,200 square-feet.

Owners of such apartments would be required to apply for a permit every two years. The apartments could not be used as rental properties.

• The council voted to approve the consolidation of the county departments of health and social services.

Both departments remain essentially state agencies administered by the county. The changes approved Monday night are administrative only and allow the county to review functions of each department for possible elimination of redundancies.

County officials said the change is not expected to immediately result in the reduction of county employees.

As part of the approved change, the council also unanimously confirmed Dr. Gregory Wm. Branch as the head of the new combined agency. Branch will also continue as county health officer.

• The council unanimously approved extending sanitary sewer service to 12 homes on Lilac and Dunrovin lanes in Perry Hall. The county said the service is needed for the health and safety of the neighborhood because several septic systems have failed.

The home owners will be expected to pay nearly half of the $1.1 million project. The costs will be assessed on the homeowners' tax bills over 40 years.

The county will pay for the balance of the project.