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BALTIMORE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP Newsletter
Land Use and Transportation Issues Around the Region
November 6, 2001
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Contents:
*Partnership Critical of I-95 Study Options
*Arundel Council Approves Parole Design Standards
*New Development Fund Receives Federal Grant
*Nov. 8 Symposium Highlights Transit Hubs and Revitalization
*City Outlines Plans for East Baltimore Biotech Park
*Racial Gap in Home Values Studied
*Piney Run Lake Lawsuit Filed
*Dundalk Revitalization Plan Taps Volunteer Panel
*Baltimore Co. Meetings Explore Residential Development
*Calendar of Events
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PARTNERSHIP CRITICAL OF I-95 STUDY OPTIONS
In an August letter to the Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA), the
Baltimore Regional Partnership expressed concern over the number of new
lanes the authority potentially envisions adding to I-95 north of
Baltimore in its new Master Plan Study. The study, which is still
pending, includes several options that add 2-3 lanes in each direction
south of MD 543 in Harford County by 2020, a capacity increase of 50% to
100%. The Partnership noted that such ballooning capacity on I-95 would
likely spur sprawl and act as a disincentive for residents to use
transit or freight to use rail. The Partnership urged MdTA to consider
new alternatives that add far less capacity and employing variable
pricing, expanded express bus service, improved bike and pedestrian
facilities, enhanced rail freight capacity in the corridor, and better
modeling to account for traffic attracted by increased highway capacity.
Full text of letter available at
http://www.balto-region-partners.org/mdta_letter.htm.
Fact sheet on I-95, Variable Pricing, and Smart Growth available at
http://www.balto-region-partners.org/brp_factsheet.htm
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ARUNDEL COUNCIL APPROVES PAROLE DESIGN STANDARDS
Near the end of a long November 5 meeting, the Anne Arundel County
Council approved design standards for the redevelopment of Parole Town
Center by a vote of 4-3. The standards had been developed through a
public process by the Parole Growth Management Committee. Councilwoman
Barbara Samorajczyk, who represents Parole, submitted the standards as
legislation, which was supported by the Baltimore Regional Partnership
and several members of the Parole Growth Management Committee. The
standards were seen as especially crucial because of the September
agreement between County Executive Janet Owens and developer Carl
Freedman clearing the way for construction of a Wal-Mart as the first
phase of a major redevelopment of the Parole Plaza shopping center.
While County Planning Director Denis Canavan claimed that more work
needed to be done to finalize the standards, he also would not guarantee
that such revisions would be completed before any building permits were
issued in the Town Center area. County Executive Owens now has ten days
to sign or veto the legislation.
November 6 Annapolis Capital story available at:
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/live/11_06-12/TOP
For full text of Partnership comments, go to
http://www.balto-region-partners.org/parole_urban_design.htm.
December
2000 Partnership letter on Parole available at
http://www.balto-region-partners.org/canavan_letter.htm
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NEW DEVELOPMENT FUND RECEIVES FEDERAL DESIGNATION, GRANT
Faith Fund, Inc., a new region-wide revolving loan fund being
capitalized by the region's religious community to support community
development, recently was granted provisional certification as a
Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and received $200,000
in capital and technical assistance support from the federal Department
of Treasury's CDFI Fund. Faith Fund will finance projects that provide
increased opportunities for low-income people in the Baltimore region,
such as affordable housing and microenterprise development. Faith Fund,
which is currently developing a detailed business plan, plans to be
making loans by mid-2002. Key organizations involved include
representatives of the region's Baptist, Jesuit, Jewish, Lutheran,
Marianist, and Methodist communities; bank representatives; and the
Baltimore Regional Partnership, which has provided staff support to
Faith Fund.
For more information, contact Adam Gordon, Baltimore Regional
Partnership, at adam@balto-region-partners.org
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SYMPOSIUM HIGHLIGHTS TRANSIT HUBS FOR COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION
The Maryland Transit Administration continues its symposium series on
November 8, with a forum on how transit "hubs," or major stations and
connections, can help curb sprawl and revitalize communities. The goal
of the symposium is to broaden public awareness about the opportunities
and challenges of building a system of primary transit lines in and
around the Baltimore metropolitan region. This symposium will begin at
7:00 PM at the Morgan State University Engineering Building Auditorium
at 5200 Perring Parkway in Baltimore. For more information visit:
http://www.mtamaryland.com/news/files/symposium3-2.pdf
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CITY OUTLINES PLANS FOR EAST BALTIMORE BIOTECH PARK
Last month Baltimore City presented an ambitious plan for a major
redevelopment effort centered in East Baltimore to community leaders and
others. The city has chosen the site adjacent to the John Hopkins
Hospital complex for a proposed Biotech Park, also proposing to
redevelop and rehabilitate nearby areas plagued by vacant housing with
new townhouses and apartment buildings. The plans are ambitious, and
many issues still need to be worked out including the project's ultimate
price tag; funding sources; and a work schedule for what planners and
city officials say will be a period of up to 10 years. Oct. 29 Sun
story available at
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.biotech29oct29.story
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RACIAL GAP IN HOME VALUES STUDIED
A new study conducted by urban researcher David Rusk and the Brookings
Institution has found that the gap in home values between blacks and
whites in Baltimore is among the greatest of any of the nation's 100
largest metropolitan areas. Only Detroit, Philadelphia and Harrisburg,
PA had higher disparities. The report, titled "The 'Segregation
Tax':
The Cost of Racial Segregation to Black Homeowners," highlights a
problem of wealth creation in the region. Rusk is well-known in this
area for his mid-nineties report " Baltimore Unbound" which
advocated
regional solutions for many of the problems contributing to the city's
decline. Visit
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.homes01nov01.story
or
http://www.brookings.edu/urban for
more information.
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PINEY RUN LAKE LAWSUIT FILED
In a move that many southern Carroll County residents hope will derail
the plans for a new water treatment plant on Piney Run Lake, several
citizens of the area have filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of
using maintenance fees charged by the county to finance construction of
the controversial plant. Construction of the new plant is a capital
expenditure, not maintenance of the existing system, and the lawsuit
challenges the legality of collecting funds from these fees for purposes
other than maintenance. Nov. 2 Sun story available at
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/carroll/bal-ca.suit02nov02.story.
Two Carroll County Times stories available at
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=2578885&BRD=1289&PAG=461&dept_id=156627&rfi=8
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=2593788&BRD=1289&PAG=461&dept_id=156627&rfi=8
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DUNDALK REVITALIZATION PLAN TAPS VOLUNTEER PANEL
A seven-day workshop recently commenced in the East Baltimore County
town of Dundalk, an area whose fortunes have gone the way of
Baltimore-based steel making and ship building. The workshop, lead by
an 11-member volunteer "Urban Design Assistance Team" (UDAT) of
architects, planners and other professionals under the sponsorship of
the American Institute of Architects began the forum at the Dundalk
campus of the Community College of Baltimore County. The local hosting
organization is the Dundalk Renaissance Corporation, a fundraising and
leadership group. The UDAT team began the process by touring the
community for a few days, and then sat down with long-time residents to
discuss what the residents would like to see changed and preserved. The
UDAT team will make its final presentation at noon on Nov. 7 at St.
Rita's Church Gymnasium at the corner of Dunglow and Mornington Roads in
Dundalk. Nov. 4 Sun story available at
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.dundalk04nov04.story.
Nov. 2 Sun story available at
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.dundalk02nov02.story.
Additional info from Baltimore County available at:
http://www.co.ba.md.us/p.cfm/news/dundalkrevital3.cfm
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BALTIMORE CO. MEETINGS EXPLORE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
As highlighted in our last issue, Baltimore County is undergoing an
extensive process to assist county planners in developing design
standards to help with suburban develpment. The first of seven town
meetings throughout the county was held on October 29. The County is
also planning public meetings in each council district over the next few
months. See our Calendar of Events for a meeting date, location and
time or visit their website for more detailed information and a list of
the dates and locations for the town meetings:
http://www.co.ba.md.us/p.cfm/news/suburban.cfm.
Oct. 28 Sun story
available at
http://www.sunspot.net/business/realestate/bal-re.planning28oct28.story
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
November 5
*Anne Arundel County Meeting on 6-year State Transportation Budget, 3:00
PM, The Arundel Center, Council Hearing Room, Annapolis. Md. Dept of
Transportation presents its Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) to
local officials and the public in advance of the 2002 General Assembly.
For more information, see
http://www.smarttransportation.com/cgi-bin/mdotnews/news_display_index.pl,
and go to two CTP links at bottom.
November 6
*Baltimore County Forum on Suburban Residential Development - 1st
District Council Town Meeting. 7:00-9:00 PM, Catonsville High School
Library. Public meeting regarding suburban residential development
issues. More information at
http://www.co.ba.md.us/p.cfm/news/suburban.cfm.
November 7
*Dundalk Urban Design Assistance Team Final Presentation. 12:00 noon,
St. Rita's Church Gymnasium, Corner of Dunglow and Mornington Roads,
Dundalk. Results from the week-long effort to aid the County and
community in a long-term revitalization plan. More information
available at
http://www.co.ba.md.us/p.cfm/news/dundalkrevital3.cfm
Regional Outlook 2002: Communities Deciding Their Future, 6:00 - 9:00
PM, Lansdowne Senior High School, 3800 Hollins Ferry Road. Community
workshop continuing the campaign to address issues communities are
facing across the region. Sponsored by the Citizens Planning and
Housing Association. For more information, see
http://www.CPHARegionalCampaign.org.
November 8
*Transit Hubs for Smart Growth and Community Revitalization. 7:00 PM,
Morgan State University Engineering Building Auditorium at 5200 Perring
Parkway in Baltimore. Third in a series of symposia that accompany the
development of a Baltimore region transit system plan. Former Federal
Transit Administrator Gordon Linton is slated to speak. For more
information see http://www.mtamaryland.com/news/files/Symposium2.pdf.
*Howard County Meeting on 6-year State Transportation Budget, 7:00 PM,
George Howard Building, Banneker Hearing Room, Ellicott City. Md. Dept
of Transportation presents its Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP)
to local officials and the public in advance of the 2002 General
Assembly. For more information, see
http://www.smarttransportation.com/cgi-bin/mdotnews/news_display_index.pl,
and go to two CTP links at bottom.
November 13
*Baltimore County Forum on Suburban Residential Development - 6th
District Council Town Meeting. 7:00-9:00 PM, Parksville High School
Library. Public meeting regarding suburban residential development
issues. More information at
http://www.co.ba.md.us/p.cfm/news/suburban.cfm.
November 14
*Baltimore Regional Transportation Board: Citizen Advisory Committee.
Hear a status report on the Baltimore Regional Rail System Plan, 2:00 -
4:00 PM. Baltimore Metropolitan Council, 2700 Lighthouse Point East,
Suite 310. More information at www.baltometro.org.
Click on "Calendar
of Events."
November 15
*Baltimore County Meeting on 6-year State Transportation Budget, 10:30
AM, Old Courthouse, County Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, Towson. MD.
Dept of Transportation presents its Consolidated Transportation Program
(CTP) to local officials and the public in advance of the 2002 General
Assembly. For more information, see
http://www.smarttransportation.com/cgi-bin/mdotnews/news_display_index.pl,
and go to two CTP links at bottom.
November 19
*Baltimore Regional Rail System Plan Advisory Committee, 4:00 - 6:00 PM,
Morgan State University Schaefer Engineering Building - Library (Room
102), 5900 Perring Parkway. Third meeting of committee advising Md.
Transit Administration on new transit system plan for Baltimore region.
November 20
*Baltimore Regional Transportation Board monthly meeting with local
elected officials, 5:30 PM, Baltimore Metropolitan Council offices, 2700
Lighthouse Point East, Suite 310, Baltimore (on the 2700 block of Boston
St. in Canton, directly above Blockbuster Video). First meeting of
region's chief local elected officials as the region's transportation
board since the last meeting, scheduled for Sept. 11, was canceled. For
more information go to www.baltometro.org
and click on "Transportation
Planning."
November 26
*Baltimore County Forum on Suburban Residential Development - 4th
District Council Town Meeting. 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Loch Raven High
School Library. Public meeting regarding suburban residential
development issues. More information at
http://www.co.ba.md.us/p.cfm/news/suburban.cfm.
November 27
*Maryland Transportation Plan 2002 Public Open House, 5:30-7:30 PM,
Baltimore City Hall, 100 N. Holliday St., Baltimore. Opportunity for
public input into the statewide plan that the MD Dept. of Transportation
develops every three years to guide its future project and funding
decisions. Additional information and copy of the draft plan available
at http://www.smarttransportation.com.
*Baltimore Regional Rail System Plan Advisory Committee. 7:30 - 9:30
AM, Maryland Transit Administration, 6 Saint Paul Street. Fourth
meeting of committee advising Md. Transit Administration on new transit
system plan for Baltimore region.
*Baltimore County Forum on Suburban Residential Development - 3rd
District Council Town Meeting 7 PM - 9 PM, Franklin High School
Library. Public meeting regarding suburban residential development
issues. More information at
http://www.co.ba.md.us/p.cfm/news/suburban.cfm.
December 12
*Baltimore Regional Rail System Plan Advisory Committee. 4:00 - 6:00
PM, South Campus Technology Center University Of Maryland Baltimore
County. Meeting of committee advising Md. Transit Administration on new
transit system plan for Baltimore region.
January 8, 2002
*Baltimore Regional Rail System Plan Advisory Committee. 4:00 - 6:00
PM. Morgan State University Schaefer Engineering Building - Library
(Room 102). 5900 Peering Parkway. Meeting of committee advising Md.
Transit Administration on new transit system plan for Baltimore region.
January 14, 2002
*Baltimore County Forum on Suburban Residential Development - 5th
District Council Town Meeting, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Perry Hall High
School Library. Public meeting regarding suburban residential
development issues. More information at
http://www.co.ba.md.us/p.cfm/news/suburban.cfm.
January 16, 2002
*Baltimore County Forum on Suburban Residential Development - 7th
District Council Town Meeting. 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Patapsco High School
Library. Public meeting regarding suburban residential development
issues. More information at
http://www.co.ba.md.us/p.cfm/news/suburban.cfm.
January 23, 2002
*Baltimore Regional Rail System Plan Advisory Committee. 4:00 - 6:00
PM. Mondawmin Mall Community Room. Corner of Gwynns Falls Parkway
and
Reisterstown Road (adjacent to Mondawmin Metro Subway Station). Meeting
of committee advising Md. Transit Administration on new transit system
plan for Baltimore region.
February 12, 2002
*Baltimore Regional Rail System Plan Advisory Committee. 4:00 - 6:00
PM. South Campus Technology Center. University of Maryland Baltimore
County. Meeting of committee advising Md. Transit Administration on new
transit system plan for Baltimore region.
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ABOUT THE BALTIMORE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP AND NEWSLETTER
The Baltimore Regional Partnership is an alliance of five civic,
environmental, and anti-sprawl groups: 1000 Friends of
Maryland (www.friendsofmd.org),
Baltimore Urban League (www.bul.org),
Chesapeake Bay Foundation (www.savethebay.cbf.org),
Citizens Planning and
Housing Association (www.CPHARegionalCampaign.org),
and Environmental
Defense (www.environmentaldefense.org).
This newsletter explores current issues, recent and upcoming events, and
ongoing deliberations that affect the region's quality of life through
transportation, economic development, and land use policy and planning.
We hope to link citizens in the region who are working to fight sprawl,
promote clean and efficient transportation, protect valuable farm and
forest lands, and revitalize urban areas, older suburbs, and historic
towns. You can view past issues at
www.balto-region-partners.org/news.htm.
Has this newsletter been forwarded to you, and you would like to receive
it yourself? Go to
http://www.balto-region-partners.org/news.htm to sign up.
Send us information, too. Let us know about your work on land use and
transportation decisions that are affecting the Baltimore region. Email
information to Steve Beck at steve@balto-region-partners.org.
Visit the
Baltimore Regional Partnership website at www.balto-region-partners.org
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