When her babysitter cancels, Renee O?Neill usually stays home with her five daughters.
But Wednesday, the Freeland resident settled her girls into benches on the fourth floor of Baltimore County?s courthouse as she waited to speak against a proposed housing and recreation complex near the Baltimore-Carroll County line.
It was O?Neill?s third round of tedious testimony, and at least three more are planned. She and other residents worry the project threatens the scenic landscape and country roads frequented by tractors.
“It?s imposing to think everyone can drop their lives and come and listen,” O?Neill said. “Especially when it goes on and on.”
Baltimore County department heads testified that the 19-home project meets all regulations and recommended Zoning Commission Deputy John Murphy give his approval.
The proposal hinges on an agreement property owner Randy Shelley made two years ago to donate land and build an athletic complex if Baltimore County rezoned the site to allow more houses along Middletown Road.
But community attorney J. Carroll Holzer said Baltimore County should not have approved the proposed six fields, a 32,000-square-foot indoor athletic facility and nearly 600 parking spaces because the site?s zoning calls for agricultural preservation. Holzer and neighbors allege top county officials might have illegally agreed to allow more houses in exchange for assuming ownership of the athletic complex.
Previously, county spokesman Don Mohler said Shelley apparently has agreed to contribute some profits from home sales to build the facility, and the rest would be funded by the local, private recreation council.
“This is a private venture,” Mohler said.
