American Dream

Compromise sought on west county

Tighter subdivision controls said to be at odds with owners' rights

By A Sun Staff Writer

August 17, 2005

Quotes:

In an attempt to quell a storm of opposition, county officials will seek a compromise on their proposals to further curb development in western Howard County.

The effort, though, will be a delicate balancing act because
the principles driving the two sides are diametrically opposed.

On one hand, officials believe it would be a mistake to completely abandon the principle of tightening controls on subdivisions in the rural region of the county, while critics view the effort as, in effect, land confiscation that could cost some property owners millions of dollars.

Hoping to resolve the controversy, Marsha S. McLaughlin, director of the Department of Planning and Zoning, will assemble a
committee that will seek to frame guidelines to mollify both sides.

"We're open to better ideas," McLaughlin said. "We need to
figure out a way to preserve more land in the west while
still acknowledging the concerns of the citizens."

Before the committee begins its work, though, McLaughlin said it is essential that the county's data on land preservation be verified or modified, if necessary. Many critics have said that the county is using selective figures, and claim that the county is far closer to achieving its land preservation goals than it believes.

The key changes would:
. Restrict cluster subdivisions in the RC district to one unit per 10 acres from one unit per 4.25 acres.
. Ban the selling of density, or building rights, from one RC property to another with the same zoning.
. Reduce over three years to 150 from 250 the number of housing units permitted on RC property.

Twice this year county officials settled, at least temporarily, the debate over expansion of Maple Lawn, Maryland, the luxury, planned, mixed-use community in Fulton, by embracing the concept that their commitments must be honored.

Further, County Executive James N. Robey has said he would not support "down zoning"- imposing tighter density controls - in the west, and the county's general plan, the basic blueprint on how and where development will occur, does not advocate changing zoning in that region.

Copyright © 2005, The Baltimore Sun