An existing landscape and new vision collided as candidates debated the need for legislation limiting the height of buildings when Columbia?s Town Center is redeveloped.
Some hopefuls said limits should be mandated to ensure the downtown redevelopment fits with the existing, traditional landscape, while others said the final plans for the development should include guidelines.
Howard County executive hopefuls, independent Steve Wallis, Council Members Ken Ulman,
D-District 4, and Christopher Merdon, R-District 1, said they did not support a law.
Ulman and Wallis said any building height restrictions ? which currently don?t exist ? should be addressed in an approved plan. A 22-story plaza building, which was not included in the plan, is at the heart of the debate for height restrictions.
Merdon said officials may need to implement a limit in the future, to ensure new developments fit into Columbia?s current landscape, and developers should be held to it. Unlike his competitors, Democrat Harry Dunbar said he would support a law to limit building heights.
“That?s one of the first things I?d want to do,” he said.
“I am very disappointed with how that all occurred,” he said, referring to the public approval process for the redevelopment plan. Critics have said the weeklong session that included several public hearings last fall was too quick and did not provide enough for public feedback.
Merdon said he wants to restart the Columbia Town Center downtown redevelopment process, and better include the public. He also said it went too quickly and was too complicated.
“I don?t believe you can plan a city in seven days,” he said, referring to last fall?s hearing process.
Republican Tom D?Asto and Democrats Josh Feldmark and Mary Kay Sigaty, vying for the one Howard County Council District 4 seat, said they would support a law.
D?Asto said introducing such legislation was a top priority.
The Harper?s Choice Village Board hosted the candidates? forum Monday in the village center?s Kahler Hall.
