Council Approves Changes to Community Input Rules

UPDATED (7:14 p.m.) — The County Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill requiring developers to hold mandatory community meetings in close proximity to proposed developments.

The bill, sponsored by Perry Hall Republican Councilman David Marks and the other six council members, was expected to pass easily.

The Home Builders Association of Maryland and some community leaders testified in favor of the measure during a Feb. 15 council meeting.

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 council also unanimously approved:

•  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.
• A request by the county administration to begin condemnation proceedings on a four-tenths of an acre parcel of land on Dolefield Boulevard and a parcel of land on Featherbed Lane that is less than one-tenth of an acre. Both properties are needed for a project that will widen Dolefield Boulevard.
• 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 appointment of Wendy Zerwitz to the county Board of Appeals. Zerwitz, who was appointed by Councilwoman Vicki Almond, was one of eight finalists for the bench of the Baltimore County District Court submitted recently to Gov. Martin O'Malley. Zerwitz lives in Pikesville with her husband.