The following article was submitted by 5th District County Councilman David Marks about his legislation requiring posting of warehouse proposals
In September, I will introduce legislation that requires public input on major warehouse proposals.
The legislation comes after an investigation and public hearing into how a warehouse was approved in Wilson Point despite the County County approving a downzoning of the parcel.
The bill would require an applicant who is seeking a limited exemption or waiver from the normal development process for a warehouse of at least 50,000 square feet to post the notice of their request on the property.
The notice must be posted in the same manner as the posting required for a petition for variance or special exception, and must be done prior to the consideration by the Development Review Committee.
There will also be a section of the bill that requests the Planning Board to review the County’s limited exemption laws, including their purpose, intent, and function within the County’s development process.
The Planning Board will compare Baltimore County’s to other peer jurisdictions in Maryland and the country, and make recommendations on whether any changes to our limited exemption law should be made, and if so, give suggested changes.
These recommendations should come to the County Council prior to the start of the next Comprehensive Zoning Map Process in September, 2027.
Over the past four years, we have done much to lighten development across eastern Baltimore County, especially in Middle River.
We blocked intense development at the C.P. Crane property, and we negotiated a 60 percent reduction in growth at Greenleigh. The new warehouse being built at Wilson Point is, candidly, a monstrosity.
The developer found a loophole that was approved by the administration despite the County Council’s downzoning of the property.
I hope this legislation opens up the process for future projects so we never have this repeated.