The Howard County Council has until March 15 to approve changes before a map recommended by the county’s Redistricting Commission becomes law.
At a January council work session, council members weighed the changes they would like to see to the proposed map, but there was little agreement on what the best solution would be.
Council members did, however, agree that the objections raised by the Wheatfield community to being moved from District 1 to District 2 were valid.
“In my view, we had one community that was extremely upset … and that is the one community I felt was not satisfied in this [recommendation], and I think that’s the community we need to focus on,” said Councilwoman Courtney Watson (D), who represents District 1.
“There are a lot of different ways to solve that problem, and most of them are ugly,” she said. She proposed four minor changes that would keep Wheatfield and Brampton Hills in District 1, while attempting to rejoin other communities in District 5 that had been split by the recommendation.
“In my view, this was the way to solve it with the least amount of changes to the recommended map,” Watson said.
Dorsey’s Search
There was also focus on a request from citizens and from the Dorsey’s Search Village to remain in District 4.
“I don’t see the Dorsey Hall situation … asking to be [kept] in District 4 after the fact as the same level of concern,” Watson said, although Council Chair Mary Kay Sigaty (D-Dist. 4) said she heartily disagreed.
Councilwoman Jen Terrasa (D-Dist. 3) said she preferred the commission’s map, even though the changes might bring a little more balance to the number of villages located in three of the districts.
Councilman Calvin Ball (D-Dist. 2) concurred. “I think there’s a reason why we appointed a commission,” he said. “If we make dramatic changes … that have never been discussed in a public forum, we run the risk of certain folks not even knowing that certain things are under consideration.”
Councilman Greg Fox (R-Dist. 5), argued in favor of considering some nonpartisan options put forward by Ray Rankin, a Democratic appointee to the Howard County Board of Elections.
“Just because the commission [recommended this map] doesn’t mean it’s perfect and there can’t be tweaks,” Fox said. “I’m happy with any solution that’s going to include [keeping Wheatfield in District 1], but I’m concerned we’re doing it at the expense of others. There are ways to do it and not affect other areas of the community.”
The council was scheduled to vote on the map on Feb. 6 [after this publication’s deadline], but could extend that deadline until its March 5 meeting.
Proposed Legislation
At the council’s January legislative hearing, citizens testified in favor of Watson’s proposed legislation that would allow neighborhood swimming pools occupying land zoned for development to transfer the land’s density allocation to larger developments.
In exchange, Watson said, the pool would receive cash that could be used for physical improvements and land would be preserved in the process.
“The legislation is something that could be beneficial to these nonprofit clubs, but [it’s] not the complete or comprehensive answer that we seek,” said Noel Hall, president of the Atholton Swim Club. “We do support the bill as a tool and something that could be helpful … but would be hesitant to be looking at a one-time cash take, as opposed to something that could be more sustainable throughout the years for the club and leave a legacy.”
A Zoning Regulation Amendment that would relax regulations for pick-your-own agricultural operations in Howard County met with opposition from a number of western county farmers.
The proposed amendment would remove a requirement that pick-your-own operations have frontage on, and access to, collector or arterial roads.
According to Marsha McLaughlin, director of the Howard County Department of Planning & Zoning, the amendment comes at the request of an operation that is seeking to expand by acquiring new property.
Robert Long of Woodbine identified the business as Larriland Farm and testified that bringing more visitors to the operation would constitute “a hazard to the residents in that area.” He also apprised the council of the nuisance situation he experiences from visiting customers who park on or wander through his property.
Sandra Lutes of Woodbine argued that bicyclists, horse riders and farm machinery traveling on local roadways would be endangered by increased traffic.
School Board Race
The Howard County Board of Education race is shaping up, with 15 candidates filing to vie for three school board positions this fall.
Among those candidates are three incumbents: Allen Dyer of Ellicott City, Ellen Flynn Giles of Laurel and Janet Siddiqui of Columbia. Former Board Member Patricia Gordon of Ellicott City, who served for 10 years before retiring in 2010, is also in the running.
The remaining candidates include Ellicott City residents Jim Adams, Bob Ballinger, David Gertler and Owen Hanratty; Columbia residents Ann DeLacy, Jackie Scott and Kelly Casey Van Horn; Elkridge residents Corey Andrews and Olga Butler; as well as Leslie Kornreich of Hanover and Mary Jo Neil of West Friendship.
The Business Monthly will take a closer look at each of these candidates and their positions in upcoming issues.
