At least 49 acres in Perry Hall neighborhoods could be designated as open space by the end of the summer, announced on Tuesday. The classification would prohibit nearly all future development in those areas.
Marks was the principal sponsor of a bill, passed by the County Council in March, that created a new zoning classification known as .
He first plans to apply it to two areas in Perry Hall:
- 37 acres within the Tremper Farms and Northgate Hall communities and bordering the along Honeygo Boulevard (Issue 5-056).
- 12 acres west of Honeygo Boulevard at the (Issue 5-038).
A map showing the designated areas is attached in PDF.
“This will be the first time the open space zoning overlay will be used in Baltimore County, and we will use it to protect nearly 50 acres of land in eastern Perry Hall along Honeygo Boulevard,” Marks stated in a press release. “This is also the first zoning decision I have made in Perry Hall, but there will be others to come that will lower the level of future development.”
The classification has garnered support from Perry Hall Improvement Association President Dennis Robinson, Tremper Farms Homeowners Association President Joyce Shinsky, Northgate Hall Community Association President Jerome Lee, and Maryland State Fish and Game Protective Association President David Van Sant, according to Marks.
“The Perry Hall Improvement Association supports the application of the Neighborhood Commons zoning designation to these properties because it is consistent with the organization's goal of promoting sustainable growth in Perry Hall,” Robinson stated in the release.
The designation will go before the County Council for approval in August.
Marks has been a proponent of downzoning in the Perry Hall area since taking office in 2010. He first announced plans to in Perry Hall in December 2011. The Baltimore County Office of Planning, however, has to nearly all of the downzoning proposals, claiming that they would needlessly devalue the land.
Marks' proposals and the Office of Planning's stance, as well as and community feedback, will be factored into the county's 2012 Comprehensive Zoning Map Process, which reexamines zoning designations every four years. The County Council is scheduled to vote on the final zoning map by Sept. 16.
Do you think Perry Hall is in need of more open space? Tell us in the comments which areas you believe should be protected from development.
States. That is a priority!
From Mr. Marks himself Northgate Hall Association owns 18.9 acres of open space that was deeded to the H.O.A. by the original developer. Under the terms of the deed that land cannot be developed, but is deeded for the exclusive use of the H.O.A. members, subject to rules and regulations established by the H.O.A. Board of Directors. However all “common areas” owned by all local H.O.A.s have zoning designations that are not appropriate for these areas. Many have zoning that are associated with development even though there is no development potential.
I personally feel there is already too much "protected open space" around here. What we have seems to be rarely used. I live just behind one section of the Gunpowder State Park (and there are several sections) and hardly ever see people using it. We have the entire Loch Raven watershed (technically private property, but Baltimore City doesn't seem to mind us using it), the farms along Cromwell Bridge Road, and several smaller parks.
It's a vicious cycle. 1) The fast foods make everyone fat. 2) Then they all get high blood pressure, heart attacks, etc etc and then they need the pharmacies. 3) The prescription costs are largely ridiculous in this country depending on your policy, (especially older folks on medicare) so next thing you know, you actually need to shop at the dollar store. So you see, it's all the big "circle of American lifestyle" that's doing WAY more to raise health care costs in this country then any type of "individual mandate".
Fed Up - with all due respect, even anonymous commenters should know their facts. There is a different Mr. Marks involved in the homeowners association. As far as the value of Neighborhood Commons legislation, with homeowners associations often collapsing, the purpose of the bill was to add another level of protection so open space can not be developed.
From: David Marks Baltimore County Councilman Fifth District About Those Zoning Change Letters Recently, members of the Northgate Hall Homeowners Association (H.O.A.) received letters from Baltimore County concerning area zoning changes. Every property in Baltimore County has a zoning designation that includes schools, libraries, parks, and even “common areas” owned by the local Homeowners Association. Northgate Hall Association owns 18.9 acres of open space that was deeded to the H.O.A. by the original developer. Under the terms of the deed that land cannot be developed, but is deeded for the exclusive use of the H.O.A. members, subject to rules and regulations established by the H.O.A. Board of Directors. However all “common areas” owned by all local H.O.A.s have zoning designations that are not appropriate for these areas. Many have zoning that are associated with development even though there is no development potential. To correct this situation, I have proposed a new zoning designation that would preserve H.O.A. “open spaces” in Baltimore County neighborhoods. During the present re-zoning process, a new “Neighborhood Common Overlay District” that would preserve the “open spaces” concept and would prohibit development in H.O.A. common areas that are reserved for that purpose.
The Comprehensive Zoning Maps Process is presently underway; and throughout the fifth district, I have proposed lowering the development potential of about 480 acres in my councilmanic district. This legislation is a big plus in providing even more certainty to Northgate Hall as it will protect valuable open space. Should anyone have any questions about any county issue, please call me at (410) 887-3384 or email me at DMARKS@baltimorecountymd.gov. Sincerely, David Marks
County went so far as to deprive ''old'' Perry Hall of a library. After years of promising a larger library, new library was built just minutes from White Marsh Library to add convenience to new homebuyers of two close-by large libraries. Please tell me about one planned project between Joppa Road and Chapel Road funded by taxpaper money that is designed simply to enhance life of the residents to the same caliber and extent as all the projects in the new Honeygo area. There should be an investigation as to why all funds are being channeled to this area.
Wmlsr
I just saw your initially replyand it was a good opportunity to break out last night's post, it mentally all just fell into place ;)
Does open space classification needlessly devalue land, or does it provide a worthwhile community benefit? Tell us in the comments.