Brochin: County Takes Towson Manor Park 'Off The Table'

UPDATED (8:44 a.m.)—A controversial plan to build a new fire station in Towson on the site of Towson Manor Park could be off the table.

State Sen. Jim Brochin, a Towson Democrat, said county officials promised him Wednesday that they would seek an alternative site.

"It's absolutely off the table and is not going to be on the table," said Brochin.

The promise came from Yolanda Winkler, a lobbyist for the county, according to Brochin.

County officials could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday night.

In an interview Tuesday afternoon, County Executive Kevin Kamenetz said he understands the opposition to the park site and that the county continues to search for a suitable location.

"Obviously we need a site for when we move forward," Kamenetz said of the park. He called Towson Manor Park "the site of last resort."

Councilman David Marks, a Perry Hall Republican whose district includes Towson, said he remains skeptical of promises that the park is off the table.

"I've had private discussions with the administration and I know they are working very hard on alternatives," Marks said. "I'll believe the park is off the table when the administration tells me in writing and until the administration tells me in writing I don't think [the park] is off the table."

Brochin said he has asked for the promise to be put in writing in the form of a county press release.

The senator, who lives in a community adjacent to Towson Manor Park, said the county should consider rebuilding the fire station on the current station's existing property.

"Why can't they just tell the developer 'Look, you're getting half of what you want' and keep the facility there?" Brochin said. "How come nobody is considering that?"

The reported promise to Brochin comes just a day before planned rally to save the park by Towson community activists.

The plan to build a new fire station on the park became public last week and is part of a plan by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz to sell off three county-owned properties for redevelopment.

Proceeds of the sale of the current site of the Towson Fire Station, the North Point Government Center and a police substation in Randallstown would be used to rebuild new facilities. Any money left over would be used to install air conditioning in schools such as Dumbarton Middle School and provide other technological improvements to county schools.