Seventh District Baltimore County Councilman Todd Crandell is upset that Council Bill 3-24 Mixed-Use Development bill was extended at last night’s County Council Legislative Session after it was scheduled to get withdrawn.
Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and Council chair Izzy Patoka announced on Tuesday the controversial bill would be withdrawn and a new compromise bill would get introduced but that changed a few hours later.
According to the minutes from the Feb. 20 session, it was the intention to withdraw Bill 3-24 and to introduce a similar Mixed-Use bill at the Council’s next Legislative Session on March 4 “a bill that would create a Mixed-Use Overlay District zoning classification in which the County Councilmembers would retain authority over the application of such an overlay.”
The minutes then stated since Bill 3-24 was not on the Feb. 20 agenda, Patoka wanted to extend the bill until the next Work Session on March 12 with a final Reading and Vote to occur at the Legislative Session on Monday, March 18.
According to the council minutes, six councilmen voted in favor of the motion to extend Bill 3-24 “with the understanding that the bill will be brought forward and withdrawn at the Legislative Session on Monday, March 4, 2024 – the same date that Patoka intends to introduce the aforementioned Mixed Use Overlay bill,” but Crandell voted no and wants to know why Bill 3-24 was not withdrawn.
“Citizens of Baltimore County, I have never had to make such a statement, but you need to know that the Chair of the Council and the County Executive lied to all of us In a joint announcement, the two of them said they reached a compromise on Bill 3-24 and that the bill – the most unpopular piece of legislation I have seen in my nine years of service – would be withdrawn,”
Crandell said in a statement.
“Then, one day later, at last night’s Council legislative session, the Chair moved to extend the life of 3-24 and not withdraw it as promised. I was the only member who voted against keeping the bill alive. People do not trust government or politicians; now it is clearer to me more than ever why that is the case.”
