Eastern Baltimore County residents are divided over a proposed remedy to help save local marinas and shoreline from condominium development.
Community leaders of Bowleys Quarters testified Tuesday on both sides of a proposal to create barriers for marina owners who want to develop condos on their waterfront property. Councilman Joe Bartenfelder has introduced legislation that would eliminate a county law that allows 5.5 residential units per acre of land zoned for marinas or boatyards in the Bowleys Quarters and Back River Neck communities.
“This doesn?t give them anything, it takes away something,” said Bartenfelder, D-Fullerton.
But the proposal would allow marina owners to build condominiums under a county process known as a planned unit development, which could allow even more homes than currently permitted, some opponents said.
A 36-unit condominium building at the Galloway Creek marina already was approved under the process, and, now, five other property owners are seeking marina designation under the countywide rezoning process under way.
Zoning for each marina should be addressed individually, said Alan Robertson, a member of the Bowleys Quarters Community Association.
“We?re not interested in taking away their property rights,” Robertson said. “We feel this is not being done to protect us but to further help the marinas.”
Members of that community association suggested matching residential zoning for marinas to adjacent properties. But members of an opposing group ? the Bowleys Quarters Improvement Association ? said Bartenfelder?s proposal was fine by them.
The bill takes away residential development as a matter of right for marina owners and forces them to pursue the planned unit development process ? which requires County Council and planning board endorsement, they said.
“It covers exactly what it should cover,” said Michael Vivirito, president of the improvement association.
The council is scheduled to vote on the proposal Monday. Bartenfelder said none of the five property owners seeking zoning changes is interested in developing condos.
