Community, Developers Support Meeting Bill

A bill that would force developers to hold mandatory community meetings in close proximity to proposed developments sailed through a brief County Council work session.

Little opposition was expected for the bill. A small number of community leaders and the Home Builders Association of Maryland both testified in favor of the measure.

The bill for proposed developments to be held within three miles of the affected community if it is inside the county's more urban areas. Meetings for developments in more rural areas would have to be held within an eight-mile radius.

The bill gives developers more leeway in terms of where they can hold the meetings. If a suitable location cannot be found, the legislation allows the meetings to be held in Towson.

The bill has five sponsors—more than enough to ensure passage.

Freshman Councilman David Marks, a Perry Hall Republican and lead sponsor of the bill, called the changes "a good government measure."

Democratic freshman council members Vicki Almond, Cathy Bevins and Tom Quirk and freshman Republican Councilman Todd Huff also support the bill.

Councilman Ken Oliver said he would also support the bill despite his opposition to language allowing for input meetings in Towson as a last resort.

"That's the only thing I don't like about the bill," Oliver said, adding that the meetings "should be held in the jurisdiction where the development is planned."

In other council news:

• The Council will vote Tuesday night on three updated community plans for Perry Hall, Ruxton-Riderwood-Lake Roland Area and Greenspring-East Pikesville. All three are updates to plans that are currently part of the county's Master Plan.
• The council is also expected to vote on two resolutions renaming trails in northeast Baltimore County. The first would rename the Perry Hall Boulevard Trail—which links the Beaconsfield Road area with White Marsh and Overlea—as the Northeast Trail.  A second resolution would redesignate a portion of the Gunview Road extension, which the county has decided not to build, as the Gunpowder View Trail. The new trail would extend from Gunview Road at Red Fox Farms, south past Schroeder Avenue to Belair Road. Future extensions could include running the trail parallel to Belair Road and terminating near the Gunpowder River.

The council is expected to take up all of the above bills and resolutions during its voting session on Tuesday at 7 p.m.