June turned out to be a busy month, with legislative initiatives, informative meetings with Howard County nonprofit organizations, and many wonderful events at the Columbia Festival of the Arts. I introduced two pieces of legislation that would have
created more public access in the Planning Board and land-use process. The details of the bills are below.
Councilmember Yungmann and I attended an abridged version of t
he "VA Way" Veterans Support for Mental Health Training. John Way, the founder of this training, is a veteran who is trying hard to help other veterans by teaching people how to recognize and appropriately respond to those with mental-health issues.
Finally, June wouldn't be June in Howard County if the Columbia Festival of the Arts wasn't in full swing. There were so many wonderful events this year, but Soulful Symphony was a particular stand out and will be back at Merriweather in late July. Get your tickets early!
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Tax Credit Help
Get help filing for County tax credits. A Maryland Access Point (MAP) counselor will be available at the Cashier’s Office at the George Howard Building on the following dates:
- July 15, 9am-1pm
- August 7, 8am-5pm
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Potholes Be Gone
Got potholes and other road and infrastructure repair requests? Report the problem and track the solution through
SeeClickFix
.
Create a login, set your location, and rest assured that the county is working on it for you.
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Go Litter Free!
Do your part to keep Howard beautiful by disposing of trash in a proper receptacle. And if you meet trash on the trails, collect it to keep it from accumulating in our waterways and highways.
Thank you
!
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Necessary Disturbance Report
Necessary disturbance is an administrative tool used by the Department of Planning and Zoning to allow development-related disturbances in sensitive areas, mostly waterways and wetlands. The Council considered a bill that would eliminate this waiver but the bill in its original form did not pass. Instead an amended bill requir
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General Plan Update
The
General Plan
will being its update in the fall of 2019. The General Plan (currently titled PlanHoward 2030) is the comprehensive long-range plan for Howard County that guides decisions related to land development and preservation, changing demographic and employment trends, neighborhood sustainability, capital projects, county services and other key issues.
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Columbia Association Development Tracker
Need more information on development in Columbia?
- Upcoming meetings
- Previous meetings and decisions
- Newly submitted development plans
- Previous development proposals and decisions and status
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Roadway Resurfacing
- Broken Land Parkway (night work)
- Hickory Ridge Road (day work)
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Pre-Submission Meetings & Public Hearings
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7/24 - KimCo, Hickory Ridge Village Center, amend PDP in NT district
Visit the county's interactive
pDox
tool for more.
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The Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission is a not-for-profit community organization dedicated to enhancing the vibrancy of downtown Columbia, Maryland.
They work to expand artistic and cultural activities in and around downtown Columbia and at
Merriweather Post Pavilion
, the world-class amphitheater in the heart of our community.
Click
here
to learn about the DCACC "Founding Donor" Campaign.
Click
here
for more information about the Soulful Symphony Inaugural Season performances.
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Recent Legislation
Summer has heated up and so has the Council 's legislative business. On July 1, we considered two annual growth control measure along with affordable housing financing tools and increased public access to the development process.
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My Legislation
Reforming the Planning Board
I sponsored two bills that would have corrected errors in the code, clarified legal ambiguity, and provided more transparency to land-use decisions made by the Planning Board.
Unfortunately these bills did not pass (3-2 vote).
CB32
- This bill would have required the Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) to be sworn in under oath and allowed the public to cross examine them in quasi-judicial Planning Board hearings.
At the public hearing on this bill, there was compelling testimony on the importance of the DPZ’s Technical Staff Report analysis and recommendations on how it is often Exhibit A in a Petitioner’s case. Under existing procedures, there is no way to directly question DPZ about the factual or regulatory assumptions underpinning the recommendations and find out what DPZ considered or didn't consider and why.
This exact issue was before the last Council as
CB16-2018
for proceedings before the Zoning Board on piecemeal map amendments and development plans and as
CB71-2018
for proceedings before the Planning Board, sponsored by Councilmember Terrasa. CB16-2018 passed with amendments. CB71-2018 failed by a 2-3 vote.
CB33
- This bill clarified the definition of "standing," which determines who has the right to appeal, from a Planning Board's quasi-judicial hearings.
The purpose of this bill was to correct an error in the code, to provide predictability and consistency in appeals cases, and to level the playing field for the community. This bill would have allowed parties to Planning Board proceedings to consistently appeal decisions to the administrative level.
Because this bill did not pass, the Howard County Code continues to define a critical term in the Code ("aggrieved") by referring to an irrelevant section of code as the definition of who can appeal. Thus, standing is defined by Maryland case law as parties who are “specially” aggrieved.
My bill would have granted standing to anyone who is a p
arty to the Planning Board hearing, which is consistent with the other administrative reviews' definitions, including the Board of Appeals.
It is also identical to the definition used in Montgomery County for both administrative appeals and for judicial review of Planning Board decisions.
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Other Legislation
School Capacity Chart (
CR99
)
Per the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) of Howard County Code, the County Council has received the annual School Capacity Chart (CR 99)
from HCPSS
. This chart lists the current and projected student enrollment numbers for each school and serves as a growth control measure.
APFO contains restrictions on development if the schools meet or exceed a certain capacity threshold. Effective July 1, 2019, the following are the amended APFO capacity limits: 105% elementary, 110% middle, and 115% high school.
The regions with the most number of schools closed to development are in the Northern and Northeastern areas at all education levels.
The countywide utilization totals are greatest at the elementary levels with 101.9% in 2022 and increasing by approximately 2% each year. Countywide middle and high school utilization rates are currently at 102.8% and 112% respectively and will reach APFO capacity limits by 2029.
District 4 school utilization percentages for 2022-2023 are as follows:
Elementary Schools
- Fulton Elementary - 134.7%
- Bryant Woods 117.2%
- Clemens Crossing – 122.5%
- Longfellow – 81.4%
- Running Brook – 125.4%
- Swansfield – 83.4%
- Clarksville – 73.1%
Middle Schools
- Harpers Choice – 100.6
- Wilde Lake – 91.4%
- Clarksville - 98%
- Limekiln – 97%
High Schools
- Wilde Lake – 97%
- Atholton – 109.9%
- Reservoir – 115.2%
- River Hill- 95.4%
Final vote outcome: PASSED
Housing Allocations Chart (
CR98
)
The Council is also required to adopt an amended annual Housing Allocations Chart (
CR98
) concurrently with the School Capacity Chart. Yearly housing allocations change due to the actual number of allocations that occurred in prior years. Unused allocations are distributed over a three-year period into the future so as to meet cumulative total goals of 33,350 units over a 20-year period.
The current chart includes a total of 920 additional units from prior rollovers. I have requested historic data on unused allocations to determine if the rollover provision needs adjustments.
Final vote outcome: TABLED
The Council is considering two resolutions regarding Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT), a financing tool for affordable housing.
CR96
- Enterprise Community Homes Housing, LLC is seeking a PILOT for the following properties: Rosyln Rise, Ranleagh Court, Rideout Heath, Fall River Terrace, and Waverly Winds. The request is intended to offset the increased tax assessment on the properties so as to allow continued below market rental rates.
Final vote outcome: PASSED AS AMENDED
CR97
- Robinson Overlook is a new mixed-income development planned for Grace Drive that is seeking a PILOT. This PILOT requires an APFO exemption because two of the three currently zoned schools are over the capacity threshold. In the code, the Council must hold a public hearing to consider several criteria, including the possibility of the Board of Education to redistrict, student yields, and the need for affordable housing.
Final vote outcome: TABLED pending a public hearing
CB17
- Alter the number of consecutive years a project or phase of a project must be retested to seven years under the school capacity test of the Adequate Public Facilities.
Final vote outcome: TABLED
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2019 School Feasibility Study
HCPSS has released its annual feasibility study and it outlines several boundary adjustments to better balance capacity. There are two high school and middle school redistricting scenarios and eight elementary school scenarios. HCPSS Superintendent and the Board of Education oversee the redistricting process and are responsible for receiving feedback from the public. The Council has no authority over the school system, a deliberate separation of powers that came about during the school integration era.
Read more here:
Public input
HCPSS has provided several options for public involvement.
Public meetings
will be holding public meetings for families in specific zoned areas as well as countywide sessions. It is recommended to RSVP
here.
July 10, 7–9 p.m. at Oakland Mills High School
Families currently zoned for Centennial HS, Howard HS, Mt. Hebron HS, Oakland Mills HS
July 13, 9–11 a.m. at Long Reach High School
Available to any family who is unable to attend their regional meeting.
July 16, 7–9 p.m. at Atholton High School
Families currently zoned for Atholton HS, Hammond HS, Long Reach HS, Wilde Lake HS
July 18, 7–9 p.m. at River Hill High School
Families currently zoned for Glenelg HS, Marriotts Ridge HS, Reservoir HS, River Hill HS
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Summer Food Service Program
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) will serve free meals to children on a first come, first served basis this summer.
When:
Weekdays, June 25-August 16
Where:
D4 locations include
- Wilde Lake Middle School, 1-2 p.m.
- Atholton High School, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
When:
Weekdays, June 25-August 21
Where:
D4 locations include
- Swansfield Elementary School parking lot, 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Wilde Lake Tennis Club parking lot, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
- Howard County Library System-East Columbia Branch, 12-1:30 p.m.
PLEASE NOTE: Meals will not be served on Wednesday, July 4, or any day that HCPSS schools are closed.
Menus are available online
by selecting a specific location
- click
here
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Weekend Warriors Snack Pack Distribution
The Weekend Warrior Snack Pack program distributes a free bag of snacks to provide nutrition over summer weekends to youth ages 18 and under
. The program runs from June 28-August 21.
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Area-Wide Tick Control Study
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Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks will begin the next phase of a study launched in January 2017 to evaluate integrated tick control strategies on public lands in Howard County adjacent to residential communities. A first in Maryland, the study is part of a larger, five-year Integrated Tick Management Project of the
United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service and University of Maryland (UMD).
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Effective October 1, the new state law requiring drivers to change lanes when approaching a police, fire, or emergency vehicle that is parked on the shoulder of the highway.
Violation of this law is a primary offense with a fine of $80 and one point. If the violation contributes to a traffic crash, the fine is $120 and three points.
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Below are some of the events and meetings I have recently attended. Let me know about your community activities so I can stop by, if my schedule allows.
06/02 - Books in Bloom
06/02 - Chrysalis Cabaret
06/04 - CMS Blue Ribbon Celebration
06/06 - Simulated Congressional Hearing
06/06 - Downtown Columbia Cocktail Crawl
06/08 - Heroes in Healthcare-HCGH
06/10 - Bridges to Housing Stability, Heroes for Housing VIP Reception
06/11 - HAND's Annual Meeting & Housing Expo
06/11 - HCCA Annual Meeting
06/12 - Saketh Celebration at HCPL
6/15 - Lakefest Downtown Columbia
06/17 - Southwest Library Dream Session,
Stoop Storytelling
06/20 - The "VA Way" Veterans Support for Mental Health Training
06/22 - Mimosas and Music
6/28 - Summer Food Nutrition Program
6/29 - Millie Bailey Veterans' Memorial Dedication, Pride Festival, Soulful Symphony
6/30 Columbia Orchestra Pops Concert at the Chrysalis
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Left:
Clarksville Middle School Blue Ribbon Celebration, Pride Festival;
Right: Celebration for Saketh at HCPL, Howard County's Scripps National Spelling Bee octo-champion; Lakefest with my daughter; Summer Food Nutrition Program announcement; Millie Bailey Memorial Dedication
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INDEPENDENCE DAY
Thursday, July 4
There will be
NO CURBSIDE COLLECTIONS
on Thursday, July 4th. Thursday and Friday curbside collections of recycling, yard trim and trash will slide and be made one day later that week. Bulk item collection will slide with trash collection. Scrap metal collection will remain as scheduled and will not slide. Please place all items out by 6am to ensure collection. Collections will return to normal on Monday, July 8th.
The Alpha Ridge Landfill and County offices will be closed
on Independence Day.
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Celebrate the Fourth at the Columbia Lakefront.
Bring a picnic or purchase food from on-site vendors. Parking is free at the mall or off of Wincopin Circle.
July 4, 5-10pm
Fireworks will start at dark, around 9:30pm, weather depending.
Rain date: Friday, July 5
Location: Columbia Lakefront
Inclement weather line: 410-313-4451
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July is Parks and Recreation Month
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S P O T S - S T I L L - A V A I L A B L E!
click
here
for ticket info
On-site parking is limited. Off-site parking with complimentary shuttle available when parking lot fills.
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WILD for WATER
July 7th,
10am - 4pm
Robinson Nature Center
6692 Cedar Lane, Columbia
Don't stay dry! Biggest event of the summer. Enjoy water games for the whole family. Experiment with water in various forms. Create and race homemade mini-boats. Participate in a river treasure hunt or take a guided stroll in the stream. Meet live, aquatic creatures in the traveling "Fish Mobile". Explore the wonders of "snow", ice and water in the "stages of water" area for little ones. Food trucks on-site.
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Thu, July 4 5-10pm • July 4th
Celebration Festival and Fireworks Fireworks at dark. For more info, visit howardcountymd.gov/July4th or call 410-313-4451. Rain date: July 5. Fri, July 5 Fireworks rain date. Fireworks at dark.
Sat, July 6 7:30pm
• The Foundation Band Jazz/Funk/Soul
Sun, July 7 6:30pm
• Jill Fulton Band Country/Blues/Motown/Rock
Tue, July 9 7:30pm
• Teen Open Mic Night
Wed, July 10 Noon
• Ben & Elena Pop/Classic Rock/R&B 7:30pm • Sagamore Band Classic Rock
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click
here
to download complete schedule
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Mon, July 8
Spider Man: Into the Spider-Verse (PG)
Fri, July 12
Green Book (PG-13)
Mon, July 15
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (PG)
Fri, July 19
Aquaman (PG-13)
Mon, July 22
Disney’s Ralph Breaks the Internet (PG)
Fri, July 26
Bumblebee (PG-13)
Mon, July 29
Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns (PG)
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Merriweather Post Pavilion
Concert season has begun!
Check out the full 2019 calendar of live music for an endearing Howard County tradition.
Click
here
for the calendar.
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Chrysalis Events
More outdoor shows, more intimate setting. Columbia is blessed with fine arts and cultural performances.
Click
here
for the calendar.
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