Marks to recommend downzoning 275 acres in Wampler area

Baltimore County Councilman David Marks announced last Thursday that he will support one of the largest downzoning efforts ever considered along the Wampler and Bengies Road corridors.

Marks will recommend that 125 acres be redesignated as Neighborhood Commons, or open-space zoning, and that 150 acres be downzoned to DR 1, or one house per acre.

The rezoning recommendations are related to Issues 5-042, 5-072, 5-073, 5-086, 5-090, 5-092, 5-094, 5-118, 5-119, 5-162, 5-175, 5-179, 5-180, and 5-185.

“During my tenure as Baltimore County Councilman, I have worked aggressively to prioritize development in areas that have infrastructure, such as the Greenleigh community off White Marsh Boulevard,” Marks said.

“Unfortunately, growth has spread out to areas that cannot absorb this new development. We are working to protect some of the older neighborhoods in eastern Baltimore County.”

“I wholeheartedly support Councilman Marks’ work to slow development and reduce the impacts of unplanned, overdevelopment in eastern Baltimore County,” Delegate Ryan Nawrocki added.

“As a local resident, I hear continual and justified complaints about unplanned development. Government should have a plan in place before development occurs to ensure proper road and school infrastructure exists and this forward thinking approach allows for that to occur.”

Accordingly, EMRCC President Josh Sines concluded that “the Essex-Middle River Civic Council has been an active partner during the rezoning process, and we appreciate Councilman Marks’ work to reduce sediment pollution and lighten development.”

Marks to recommend downzoning along Eastern Ave.

Last Thursday, Marks also announced plans to downzone dozens of acres of land in the Eastern Avenue corridor to limit development in one of Baltimore County’s most sensitive areas.

Marks said he will propose modifying the zoning on land to block intense development throughout the corridor. He’ll propose more than 10 acres of Neighborhood Commons zoning; more than 130 acres of DR 1 zoning, nearly 50 acres of RC 7 zoning and about 10 acres of RC 20 zoning.

“We greatly appreciate Councilman Marks’ work to lighten development and protect the woods along Eastern Avenue, including near Marshy Point Nature Center,” commented Dave Gerstmyer, president of Biscayne Bay Community Association.

The Comprehensive Zoning Map will be adopted on August 27.

“By downzoning this property, we are not only protecting communities and the natural habitat along Eastern Avenue,” Marks said. “We are also lightening traffic along a corridor that has a history of crashes.”