Council downzones Sparks acreage, denies Obrecht residential development
Current zoning on Shelley property remains, letting developer move forward
By Pat van den Beemt
pvdb@comcast.net
Posted 8/27/08
After months of attending a series of public hearings, making countless phone calls, submitting petitions and letters, it took 30 minutes for North County residents to learn the fate of 234 rezoning issues filed in Baltimore County’s 3rd District.
County Council, with Councilman Bryan McIntire recommendations, made some sweeping changes during the County Council vote Aug. 26 in the Comprehensive Zoning Map Process.
He agreed with several downzoning requests submitted by the Sparks-Glencoe Community Planning Council. He reduced housing density on a total of 1,336 acres.
For the most part, McIntire reduced density from one house per five acres to one per 25 or one per 50 acres.
The decision affects: 376 acres between Interstate 83 and Big Falls Road, north of Monkton Road; 307 acres on the north and south sides of Armacost Road at Cooper Road in Parkton; 520 acres on the north and south sides of Monkton Farms Drive at Corbett Road in Monkton; and 166 acres at the southeast corner of I-83 and Quaker Bottom Road in Sparks.
McIntire did not reduce density on 309 acres in Monkton, south of Everett Road, or on 1,665 acres in White Hall, east of I-83 on the north and south sides of Wiseburg Road.
“We were very pleased he recognized the importance of protecting the natural resources out here, including the source of the metropolitan area’s drinking water,” said Sparks-Glencoe president Kirsten Burger. “But we were surprised he didn’t grant our other requests that were supported by the Planning Board.”
McIntire agreed with community sentiment and went against the Planning Board’s recommendation when he turned down Obrecht Properties’ request to build 178 residential units — townhouses, villas and condominiums — instead of offices on 19 acres in Sparks.
Neighbors had presented McIntire with a petition signed by 768 residents who opposed houses, and the Sparks-Glencoe group backed the neighbors’ decision.
“We’re pleased Mr. McIntire responded to the strong community statement,” Burger said. “It shows he’s in touch with the local communities.”
Under the current zoning which was upheld, Obrecht Properties can build 200,000 to 300,000 square feet of offices or warehouse space.
McIntire did not agree with the Freeland Legacy Alliance in its effort to downzone 153 acres in Freeland, on which developer Randy Shelley will build 18 houses. Shelley has agreed to donate 40 of those acres to the Hereford Zone Recreation Council for the creation of four athletic fields.
“This is a very positive step and we plan to move ahead with the design of the community park,” said recreation council president Roger Fitzgerald. “We are facing field shortages, so these fields will really help.”
Harold Burton’s attempt to remove restrictive zoning on his 5.8-acre property in Hereford did not succeed. The land next to Graul’s is commercially zoned, but Burton wanted McIntire to lift restrictions on size of buildings. Neither the Planning Board nor McIntire supported his request.
McIntire also did not agree to rezone Maryland Concrete Septic Tank on York Road in Freeland to manufacturing light zoning on its 7.5 acres.
County Council, with Councilman Bryan McIntire recommendations, made some sweeping changes during the County Council vote Aug. 26 in the Comprehensive Zoning Map Process.
He agreed with several downzoning requests submitted by the Sparks-Glencoe Community Planning Council. He reduced housing density on a total of 1,336 acres.
For the most part, McIntire reduced density from one house per five acres to one per 25 or one per 50 acres.
The decision affects: 376 acres between Interstate 83 and Big Falls Road, north of Monkton Road; 307 acres on the north and south sides of Armacost Road at Cooper Road in Parkton; 520 acres on the north and south sides of Monkton Farms Drive at Corbett Road in Monkton; and 166 acres at the southeast corner of I-83 and Quaker Bottom Road in Sparks.
McIntire did not reduce density on 309 acres in Monkton, south of Everett Road, or on 1,665 acres in White Hall, east of I-83 on the north and south sides of Wiseburg Road.
“We were very pleased he recognized the importance of protecting the natural resources out here, including the source of the metropolitan area’s drinking water,” said Sparks-Glencoe president Kirsten Burger. “But we were surprised he didn’t grant our other requests that were supported by the Planning Board.”
McIntire agreed with community sentiment and went against the Planning Board’s recommendation when he turned down Obrecht Properties’ request to build 178 residential units — townhouses, villas and condominiums — instead of offices on 19 acres in Sparks.
Neighbors had presented McIntire with a petition signed by 768 residents who opposed houses, and the Sparks-Glencoe group backed the neighbors’ decision.
“We’re pleased Mr. McIntire responded to the strong community statement,” Burger said. “It shows he’s in touch with the local communities.”
Under the current zoning which was upheld, Obrecht Properties can build 200,000 to 300,000 square feet of offices or warehouse space.
McIntire did not agree with the Freeland Legacy Alliance in its effort to downzone 153 acres in Freeland, on which developer Randy Shelley will build 18 houses. Shelley has agreed to donate 40 of those acres to the Hereford Zone Recreation Council for the creation of four athletic fields.
“This is a very positive step and we plan to move ahead with the design of the community park,” said recreation council president Roger Fitzgerald. “We are facing field shortages, so these fields will really help.”
Harold Burton’s attempt to remove restrictive zoning on his 5.8-acre property in Hereford did not succeed. The land next to Graul’s is commercially zoned, but Burton wanted McIntire to lift restrictions on size of buildings. Neither the Planning Board nor McIntire supported his request.
McIntire also did not agree to rezone Maryland Concrete Septic Tank on York Road in Freeland to manufacturing light zoning on its 7.5 acres.
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