CCD’s Response

• The most important question about GGP’s proposals is whether they are enforceable. That is, will the community get the benefits promised in exchange for the benefits (guaranteed by zoning) to the developer. We believe they are not at this time.
• We are quite concerned that they are insisting on proposing 5500 new residential units, three to four times the size of Wilde Lake – a number which Ken Ulman, the County Executive, says is “ludicrous”.
• Their “affordable housing” proposal provides for nowhere near the full spectrum of housing they say they favor. In fact, it is a protection plan for the well off, those earning $75,000 to $120,000, with nothing for what is known as “workforce housing”..

We will insist on specific, enforceable safeguards to ensure that new density does not cause the degrading of environmental, traffic, or the quality of life in Downtown.

Downtown:

The Planning Board has held public hearings and two work sessions on ZRA 113. Here are some notes on those sessions:

CCD notes on the 5/14 Work Session

Marsha McLaughlin’s notes on the 5/14 session. Marsha is the Director of Planning & Zoning for Howard County

CCD notes on the 5/27 Work Session

Nest stop: The proposals go to the County Council, for public hearings.

Village Centers:

ZRA 102 has become Council Bill 29-2009, submitted by Mary Kay Sigaty. Though much improved from the original submission, there is still much work to be done to make this bill achieve its objectives.

Though we applaud the move from GGP as the “gatekeeper” of new development in all of Columbia, we question whether the County Council is the appropriate gatekeeper for Columbia.

In addition, the bill allows additional residential density of about 2250 units over and above what the current Development Plan calls for.

"To build a better city is to work
at the heart of civilization."

Mort Hoppenfeld, designer of the Lakefront,
to whom “The Hug” sculpture is dedicated.

info@coalitionforcolumbiasdowntown.org