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This Wednesday, February 7 2007, the Planning Commission will meet to discuss three topics: Minor revisions to the plans for Watkins Mill Town Center (if I’m reading it correctly, the developer wants to change the orientation of some rooftop decks), an issue regarding site plan requirements for older neighborhoods, and something — it’s unclear what, exactly, having to do with Crown Farm. Regarding the Crown Farm discussion, the only recent additions (from 1/26/07) to the Crown Farm Record are some emails between the city and some residents in the slice of unincorporated County between Washingtonian/Rio and Crown Farm; the residents are concerned about the impact of the Crown Farm development on their neighborhoods. The agenda does not make clear if this is the issue that staff plans on raising.

The site plan requirement issue is concerning, I think. Some of the older neighborhoods in the City were built before the CIty started to require site development plans; examples listed include Deer Park, West Riding, Rosemont, Walker’s Addition and Observatory Heights. There appears to be some concern that modifications, alterations and additions to homes in these neighborhoods require “nothing more than a residential building permit”, and thus there is not the opportunity for public input that exists in the newer developments in the City.

Personally, I think that there is a significant chance that many people purchased homes in these older neighborhoods specifically because of the lack of this intense sort of public scrutiny over what one can and cannot do with one’s property. I think that a change such as this would represent a taking of property rights, and I’m strongly opposed to its adoption.

SITE PLAN

AFP-07-002 –  Watkins Mill Town Center
MXD Zone
Metropolitan Grove Road
Elevation Revisions for Fairgate Townhouses
AMENDMENT TO FINAL PLAN REVIEW

Background Material ( pdf format: Large File - 7.5M)

DISCUSSION

T-373 — Single-Family Lot Review
Ordinance to Amend Zoning Ordinance § 24-168

Background Material (pdf format)

FROM STAFF

SDP-06-005 — Crown Farm
MXD Zone
Fields Road/Sam Eig Highway/Omega Drive

Mixed Use Development
Background Material

On Monday, February 12 2007, the Mayor and City Council and the Planning Commission will hold a joint work session on two parallel applications (Z-304 and SDP-06-004) related to the rezoning and redevelopment of the Broadstone apartments parcel, on the northwest corner of West Deer Park & South Frederick. The new background materials are not yet up; the following pictures are from the previous presentation before the Mayor and City Council (in particular, they’re taken from this pdf document, which contains additional pictures).

From the City’s Crime Summary:

Armed Robbery
On 2/3/07 at 10:20 P.M. in the 400 Block of Girard Street there was an armed robbery of a citizen. The victim was approached from behind by the suspect who was armed with a knife. The suspect demanded money which the victim gave him.
Suspect: Unknown race male wearing a dark ski mask.