The heights of buildings planned for downtown Columbia have come under fire by leaders who want to preserve the original aesthetics of the community.
Because Columbia currently has no height restrictions, plans for a 22-story condo building have some residents and officials concerned.
“It?s been on folks? minds for quite a bit,” said Elmina Hilsenrath, chief of environmental and community planning at the county?s Department of Planning and Zoning.
A few months ago, the county brought the debate to the Downtown Columbia Focus Group, which is working with developers and the county on the Town Center redevelopment plan.
Nothing was decided then, Hilsenrath said, and the group is expected to take it up again today.
“I think we really need to go through another round of discussions about height,” she said.
According to the county?s draft proposal submitted in spring, most buildings would be between four and six stories, with the maximum of 20 stories.
However, the 22-story plaza is not included in these plans.
Bridget Mugane, president of the Howard County Citizens Association, said the process surrounding the building was controversial.
The plans for the plaza are wrapped up in court, so the outcome will determine if the building will be built.
There are concerns the plaza proposal was approved by the Planning Board when public hearings on the proposal were held last year, Mugane said.
The entire redevelopment plan, which has not been approved, outlined developers? vision for revamping Columbia?s downtown.
The Planning Board could have imposed height restrictions, but chose not to, Mugane said, and many residents were upset.
Among members of the focus group, opinions run the gamut, Hilsenrath said.
“Some people say height doesn?t scare them, and others feel very strongly that [buildings] should be more in line with what exists now,” she said.
