ASK THE HOWARD COUNTY COUNCIL TO
STOP THE SWAP
|
NO HOUSES ON OUR PARK LANDS!
STOP Trading Away Our Public Park Land for
the Benefit of a Large Residential Developer!
PROTECT our Woods and Parks!
In December 2016 Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman gave his blessing for the Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) to proceed with Bozzuto Homes’ development plan for 35 units at The Settlement at Savage Mill.
The plan involves trading the developer's steep slopes (not usable for recreation) for several acres of flat public park land in Savage Park to meet the developer’s desired ‘maximum’ density!
Savage Park was purchased with Federal dollars (Land and Water Conservation Fund) so the National Park Service must ultimately give their approval for converting the public park land to other non-recreational uses.
BUT FIRST, the swap requires approval by the Howard County Council. The County Executive will submit a bill to do the swap in early 2018.
Help us convince the Howard County Council to STOP the SWAP!
This would be the first time HoCo has converted parkland for the benefit of a residential developer! But it certainly won’t be the last if we allow this precedent to be set!
(At this time we are awaiting clarification on whether the bill can be introduced before the Planning Board’s Decision and Order is completed and signed.)
Today it's Savage’s Park. Tomorrow... perhaps yours?
The Planning Board approved the Preliminary Equivalent Site Plan without addressing the reality that without the swap, the Bozzuto development has NO access road and NO storm water management retention pond.
Neither the developer, the Dept of Planning and Zoning, or the Dept of Recreation and Parks has presented any objective, measurable evidence that the swap will more effectively protect the environmental and historical resources of the area compared with confining the developer to the land which they have under contract purchase and had rezoned in 2013.
It's hard to see any environmental benefit with the swap, given that:
- They began with less than 5 acres total and will now be clearing more than 6.
- Although they are trading away all challenging features like steep slopes, they are actually building steep slopes to support private roads and a SWM retention pond.
The swapping of land of unequal market value and unequal recreational value amounts to a GIVE-AWAY to the Developer and another reach into the pocket of taxpayers!
Taxpayers will also be on the hook for the inevitable expense of mitigating the erosion and sedimentation which will occur on the surrounding parkland.
The R-H-ED zoning district was established in 2013 to provide requirements for single-family attached dwelling units on certain properties determined to contribute to the historic character of areas designated on the National Register of Historic Places.
It is the intent of this zoning district that the dwellings be compatible with the historic character of the area, and be developed with sensitivity to the natural environment. Protection of historic and environmental resources is to be achieved by requiring Historic District Commission review, and directing development away from sensitive resources.
The Bozzuto project threatens the environmentally sensitive and historic nature of the area the zoning district was designed to protect!
The 2.73 acre parcel is:
- Land-locked, has no direct access to a public road.
- Totally wooded and surrounded by public park land on 3 sides.
- Sits at the highest point in Savage’s historic district where homes were built as early as 1820.
- Sits on a bluff where the Piedmont meets the Coastal Plains, 250 feet above the Little Patuxent River and the trails which border it on two sides.
- Includes erodible soils and steep slopes to the river below.
- Has been identified as a (link) Targeted Ecological Area by the MD Dept. of Natural Resources. A TEA is defined as: "lands and watersheds of high ecological value that have been identified as conservation priorities by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for natural resource protection. These areas represent the most ecologically valuable areas in the State: they are the "best of the best".
- Home to the trifecta of RTEs-- influencing habitat to one each Rare, Threatened, and Endangered species, as well as Forest Interior Dwelling Birds.
The R-H-ED zoning was designed to protect this sensitive site by minimizing clearing and grading. <> But it may be destroyed! <>
Under the plan approved by the Planning Board, the site will be COMPLETELY STRIPPED of vegetation and totally re-graded, with the exception of ‘possibly’ saving one specimen tree!
Does that seem like adequate protection of environmental resources to you???
The developer refuses to acknowledge any historic resources other than the Savage Mill itself and will actually be building within the National Historic District if the swap is permitted. On their original land, Bozzuto is building 29 attached units on 2.9 acres (a totally inconsistent density of 10 units per acre in a community of 2 to 4 units per acre.) The addition of 2.73 acres of parkland and a half acre of county right-of-way enables them to import density to add 6 singles through the magic of the swap. The developer considers the Mill’s parking lot as sufficient to buffer the new economically segregated, barracks-style development from the old.
Does that seem like adequate protection of historic resources to you???
Citizens must take a stand and make it clear to the County Council that converting public parkland for residential development is a reach too far and won’t be tolerated. It’s time for our elected representatives and those who work for them to REGULATE development, NOT FACILITATE it no matter the cost to established neighborhoods, the environment, and to taxpayers County-wide.
NO HOUSES ON OUR PARK LANDS!
STOP Trading Away Our Public Park Land for
the Benefit of a Large Residential Developer!
PROTECT our Woods and Parks!
In December 2016 Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman gave his blessing for the Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) to proceed with Bozzuto Homes’ development plan for 35 units at The Settlement at Savage Mill.
The plan involves trading the developer's steep slopes (not usable for recreation) for several acres of flat public park land in Savage Park to meet the developer’s desired ‘maximum’ density!
Savage Park was purchased with Federal dollars (Land and Water Conservation Fund) so the National Park Service must ultimately give their approval for converting the public park land to other non-recreational uses.
BUT FIRST, the swap requires approval by the Howard County Council. The County Executive will submit a bill to do the swap in early 2018.
Help us convince the Howard County Council to STOP the SWAP!
This would be the first time HoCo has converted parkland for the benefit of a residential developer! But it certainly won’t be the last if we allow this precedent to be set!
(At this time we are awaiting clarification on whether the bill can be introduced before the Planning Board’s Decision and Order is completed and signed.)
Today it's Savage’s Park. Tomorrow... perhaps yours?
The Planning Board approved the Preliminary Equivalent Site Plan without addressing the reality that without the swap, the Bozzuto development has NO access road and NO storm water management retention pond.
Neither the developer, the Dept of Planning and Zoning, or the Dept of Recreation and Parks has presented any objective, measurable evidence that the swap will more effectively protect the environmental and historical resources of the area compared with confining the developer to the land which they have under contract purchase and had rezoned in 2013.
It's hard to see any environmental benefit with the swap, given that:
- They began with less than 5 acres total and will now be clearing more than 6.
- Although they are trading away all challenging features like steep slopes, they are actually building steep slopes to support private roads and a SWM retention pond.
The swapping of land of unequal market value and unequal recreational value amounts to a GIVE-AWAY to the Developer and another reach into the pocket of taxpayers!
Taxpayers will also be on the hook for the inevitable expense of mitigating the erosion and sedimentation which will occur on the surrounding parkland.
The R-H-ED zoning district was established in 2013 to provide requirements for single-family attached dwelling units on certain properties determined to contribute to the historic character of areas designated on the National Register of Historic Places.
It is the intent of this zoning district that the dwellings be compatible with the historic character of the area, and be developed with sensitivity to the natural environment. Protection of historic and environmental resources is to be achieved by requiring Historic District Commission review, and directing development away from sensitive resources.
The Bozzuto project threatens the environmentally sensitive and historic nature of the area the zoning district was designed to protect!
The 2.73 acre parcel is:
- Land-locked, has no direct access to a public road.
- Totally wooded and surrounded by public park land on 3 sides.
- Sits at the highest point in Savage’s historic district where homes were built as early as 1820.
- Sits on a bluff where the Piedmont meets the Coastal Plains, 250 feet above the Little Patuxent River and the trails which border it on two sides.
- Includes erodible soils and steep slopes to the river below.
- Has been identified as a (link) Targeted Ecological Area by the MD Dept. of Natural Resources. A TEA is defined as: "lands and watersheds of high ecological value that have been identified as conservation priorities by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for natural resource protection. These areas represent the most ecologically valuable areas in the State: they are the "best of the best".
- Home to the trifecta of RTEs-- influencing habitat to one each Rare, Threatened, and Endangered species, as well as Forest Interior Dwelling Birds.
The R-H-ED zoning was designed to protect this sensitive site by minimizing clearing and grading. <> But it may be destroyed! <>
Under the plan approved by the Planning Board, the site will be COMPLETELY STRIPPED of vegetation and totally re-graded, with the exception of ‘possibly’ saving one specimen tree!
Does that seem like adequate protection of environmental resources to you???
The developer refuses to acknowledge any historic resources other than the Savage Mill itself and will actually be building within the National Historic District if the swap is permitted. On their original land, Bozzuto is building 29 attached units on 2.9 acres (a totally inconsistent density of 10 units per acre in a community of 2 to 4 units per acre.) The addition of 2.73 acres of parkland and a half acre of county right-of-way enables them to import density to add 6 singles through the magic of the swap. The developer considers the Mill’s parking lot as sufficient to buffer the new economically segregated, barracks-style development from the old.
Does that seem like adequate protection of historic resources to you???
Citizens must take a stand and make it clear to the County Council that converting public parkland for residential development is a reach too far and won’t be tolerated. It’s time for our elected representatives and those who work for them to REGULATE development, NOT FACILITATE it no matter the cost to established neighborhoods, the environment, and to taxpayers County-wide.
How Can YOU Help??
Email your concerns to these officials and say "STOP THE SWAP!"
All members of the Howard County Council: [email protected]
Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman: [email protected]
Director of Howard County Recreation and Parks: [email protected]
Maryland Deptartment of Natural Resources: [email protected]
The National Park Service: [email protected]
Savage Community Association Chair: [email protected]
MORE WAYS TO HELP!
JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP- Protect Howard County Woods and Parks ( STOP THE SWAP ) We have over 135 members and growing every day!
Testify at the Council session when the swap bill comes before them in early 2018. Bring your family and friends interested in preserving HoCo parkland!
<> Offer to put up our informational lawn signs in your yard or community
<> Share information (like the link to this website) on your social media to make citizens throughout HoCo aware that this affects everyone—not just historic Savage!
<> Engage candidates for political office in a dialogue on this precedent of giving residential developers our public park land. Be sure you know where they stand before voting!
<> Bookmark and save this site to your Favorites List and check back often!
<> SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL LIST BELOW SO YOU DON'T MISS A THING! <>
QUESTIONS? NEED HELP WRITING A LETTER TO OFFICIALS?
Send an email to: [email protected]