As promised, this provides a summary of the questions asked at the April 1st HCCA Town Hall Meeting, but first, we would like to thank the participants…
Thanks to all the county residents who came with questions for our panel of government officials. You provided an excellent opportunity for candidates and officials, in a position to respond, to hear and ideally move to address your concerns.
We also would like to thank our panel of officials for coming out to hear and respond to citizen’s concerns.
- Marsha McLaughlin, Director of the Department of Zoning
- Tom Carbo, Director of Housing
- Ellen Flynn Giles, Chairman, Board of Education, HCPSS
- Ken Roey, Executive Director of Facilities Planning and Management, HCPSS
Additionally, we are pleased that so many of the candidates came out to hear the voices of concerned citizens. Thanks so much for attending. (Candidates are listed alphabetically by first name.)
- Alan Schneider – County Council – District 5
- Allan Kittleman – County Exec
- Allen Dyer – Board of Ed
- Calvin Ball – County Council – District 2
- Christine O’Connor – Board of Ed
- Clarence Lam – HOD – District 12
- Corey Andrews – Board of Ed
- Courtney Watson – County Exec
- Dave Grabowski – County Council – District 1
- Jen Terassa – County Council – District 2
- Jon Weinstein – County Council – District 1
- Kevin Schmidt – County Council – District 1
- Leslie Kornreich – Board of Ed
- Lisa Markovitz – County Council – District 1
- Mike Smith – Board of Ed
- Ralph Colavita – County Council – District 2
- Rebecca Dongarra – HOD – District 12
- Sandra French – Board of Ed
- Terri Hill – HOD – District 12
- Tom Beck – Board of Ed
- Wendy Royalty – County Council – District 1
And…finally, onto notes from the questions and statements from the citizens. (Please note: These are based on notes taken during the session and are subject to the interpretation of the note taker. These do not represent the full text of the questions. If you have corrections, please let us know in the comments section.)
- Environmental Protection is an important issue. There are 59 watersheds/streams in HoCo; the water quality is already poor in most. However, we still have 6 high quality streams. How will our leaders take steps to protect these 6 remaining rare high quality streams in Western Howard County which flow into the bay? Forest is essential for protecting streams. The County’s new General Plan requires enhancing and restoring forests, and for high quality streams the buffer is at least 100ft as required by the state and county regulations since 2001. Yet, in a Clarksville mortuary plan, 50 feet of the original natural forests within the 100 ft minimum stream buffer has already been removed. The potential damage to the stream is irreparable. DPZ approved this plan in 2012. Is DPZ going to do anything to protect this stream? (See Water Resources Elements in Plan Howard 2030, pages 28, 31, 33, and 34.)
- With regard to the Rt. 1 corridor… Where can we find specific plans (development plans) for this Rt. 1 corridor?
- I feel dismay every time I turn a corner; there is a new high density housing project going up. Where/when, during the zoning process do you allow for amendments to permit this high density housing?
- The older villages in Columbia have 2 problems. Affordable housing is concentrated in the older villages. This impacts the schools w/higher concentration of low-income students & it impacts the village centers. Can you bring us up to date on the latest thinking regarding the village centers?What are you actually doing to provide affordable housing in areas like Dorsey Search & River Hill?
- I would like to understand why the level of subsidized/affordable housing in River Watch is higher (50%) than the 15% standard? And why was the community not informed that this level of subsidized housing was planned as part of the pre-submission meeting?
- You mentioned a citizens committee — what is a realistic time frame for a comprehensive zoning plan for Columbia getting to the County Council?
- Due to the recent changes in comp zoning, there is now mulching/composting allowed on environmentally zoned properties… Will we leave it at 13% or roll back to 2%?
- Do you have an opinion on the Dayton property [the property allowing the composting], re: traffic, roads, noise?
- Stevens Forest Elementary School has been expanded; unfortunately it means a lot more students attend. All students walk to school. We have had meetings re: widening the sidewalks to make sure the students can get to school safely, also a cross walk. A lot of money has been spent on the building but nothing on sidewalks. It’s a very dangerous situation. The congestion on the school property also hasn’t been addressed. Put money in the budget to look at the whole site, not just the buildings.
- Re: Impact of Zoning & Housing Decisions on HoCo’s Shared School System & Interdependence of Agency Decisions Howard County shares a school system, projects/development in one community impact another community. We have an opportunity to solve this problem — between all the members in this room there is the capability for creating a [better] school system. We aren’t meeting the needs of children — 115% overcapacity, redistricting, 200 modulars… How are you going to work together [e.g. BOE, Dept of Housing/CD, DPZ] to solve this problem & what you would propose for solving this continuing situation here?
- I am curious whether DPZ has ever examined its role in increasing the cost of housing & school construction. With up-zoning, the property is worth more. In the SouthEast area we have run out of school sites. Are we currently considering a site near a rock quarry (carcinogenic) for school construction?
- Re: Schools Over Capacity vs. Under Capacity – My kids went through River Hill, 140% capacity. I think there is a fundamental flaw in the relationship of comp zoning to school planning. Significant growth in the east (overcapacity) and not in the west (under capacity). Seems that there needs to be a change in how you are doing this.
- I am here as a disappointed resident. There is a disconnect between planning & schools. There are many schools with over 30% of the population from [Free And Reduced Meals] FARM communities. Can you consider dispersing this FARM population? Mont. County uses this strategy of dispersal – why doesn’t HoCo?
- Stevens Forest Increased it’s FARM percentage – pushed one school over 60%… Why do we have a policy that would allow this to occur?
- Since the west is under capacity, why didn’t we fan the population out? There are schools that are within distance, but there seems to be a policy where certain schools are targeted…
- Traditionally, our APFO just deals w/intersections. What are we going to do about the roads?
- There was recently a referendum where the citizens applied all the stages for a referendum…after 6928 signatures were collected – later the BOE decided this process wasn’t correct. I think that the things that are being asked for should be put on the ballot.
- HoCo’s student musicians perform at high levels and consistently receive all-state honors at numbers that far exceed the representative population. Our system works and the instrumental music teachers are remarkable. But music is for everyone… not just for the best…with music it’s all about participation.Kids are first being exposed to instruments in elementary school & [we find that] student musicians graduate at higher rates, are less likely to be involved in drugs & alcohol, and score higher on STEM tests. Also, music parents are involved parents…. Our system works, but…There is a new scheduling model at Duckett’s Lane E.S. that is greatly reducing pullouts or sectionals in favor of larger group instruction. I feel this may negatively impact music education in HoCo. This model is proposed to roll out in five Title 1 schools next year. We must slow down the decision process in regards to these changes. More transparency & discussion around these schedule changes is needed so that the true impact of these proposed changes can be brought to light & mutually beneficial solutions can be uncovered to allow the best system for all stake holders.
- I am here to speak about the Storm Water Utility Fee. We need full support for the fund. It’s really needed for managing the 1000’s of miles of pipes… Incentive programs that are part of the fund, like the tax breaks for rain gardens, are important for improving the [environmental health]… We really need the funding in order to make a real difference to improve our streams.
- [I would like to speak on] Storm water plans & the storm water management fee. One of the components is to require developers to have storm water ponds (it’s really more than just a rain garden). [We need to] work with organizations re: how to maintain the storm water ponds. Neighborhood associations are required to maintain them. We need to get our act together and decide as a county how we will maintain these storm water ponds.
- There is probably not another area in the county that has the number of historic properties that Highland does. These properties have been re-purposed into businesses. As part of the BRX zoning, properties could request that adjacent areas be re-zoned for commercial use, but now we are in danger of over-development & over commercialization. Several additional properties were converted to commercial as a result of comp zoning. Suddenly the commercial areas can increase by ~100%. How do we survive as the last historic village? If the council had only listened to us [during comp zoning]…
- Embalming uses cancer causing chemicals. During comp zoning they removed regulations restricting these toxic chemicals. How can you protect residents against this cancer risk?
- Happy to see a new high school planned for 10 years from now to relieve overcrowding in the NE region. Can we expect that high school to be built in the NE region?
- State government is telling us what to do. We have a status quo problem at the state level. Are you going to be a status quo representative or are you going to be a change agent to deal with this issue?
- The projection in Verona was that in ten years you would increase the density & the pop that was subsidized from 20% to 40%. Are you (housing) consulting with the school board re: Verona?
- I have been following since ‘03 the buildup of low-income housing in the villages. Every year the number of kids that need special help goes up. It is now approaching 50% of FARM & special language needs kids. In 4 years it went up to 62% (increased 30 or 40%). Can we enact legislation that will spread the impact of this across the county?
- There seems to be a recurring theme that the FARM students are a problem. These are the people who live in this community and we are attempting to serve their needs. The job of school system isn’t to increase property values. Poverty is not the problem. Poor kids are not the problem.
- The housing commission has purchased housing with the goal of increasing affordable housing in the county [much of it in already overburdened communities]. While the housing commission may be getting the best deal, there are costs to the community — financially and socially — the cost of special services (failing Village Centers, busing, etc) Doesn’t it make sense to buy properties at a higher cost in other places around the county so that you avoid these other costs? My suggestion is that the housing commission start looking at properties throughout the county. It may cost more at the beginning, but could save other government entities money in the long run.
- I have a concern about flexibility. [I think there is] too much flexibility in the development process. There is a great deal of latitude in pre-submission meetings. Because there is no representative from DPW at the meetings there is no requirement for developers to follow this process — a lot of variability in preparation for, response to, and knowledge levels of representatives sent to conduct pre-submission meeting, decisions can be reversed, no requirement to adhere to previous communication…. As zoning cases arise, there may be too much flexibility. Additionally, building security is more lax for developers (if I walk in w/rolled up plans, I’m waved in).
- Funding is a big problem. We need funds for education and many other infrastructures. While the county spends hundreds of millions of tax payers dollar treating low quality watersheds, it doesn’t make sense to approve a project that will destroy one of the remaining high quality streams. The General Plan is our “road map” for protecting the environment and a better future, but we will no longer have 6 rare Tier II, high quality streams if we let this (mortuary project) happen. It costs much more to treat and restore water resources than protecting them. DPZ as the gate-keeper, should check on issues that can have a significant impact on the environment before approval. [Reference to: Mortuary project & mulching/composting project]
Again, thanks to everyone for your participation. We hope to see you at the May 7th annual meeting.