Selling off county-owned land to fund renovations and the purchase of space in Columbia is a “short-sighted” solution for the county?s office space needs, said critics of Howard County Executive Ken Ulman?s plan.
“To sell off government property because we have no use for it now could be leading us to problems in the future as our population continues to grow and more government services are needed,” Columbia resident John Bailey said at a recent hearing on the capital budget.
Ulman abandoned an office-consolidation plan to build a new government campus in favor of renovating the current buildings in Ellicott City and buying a floor in a the planned Meridian Square development in the Oakland Mills village of Columbia.
His plan, proposed in his capital budget, would be funded in part by $13.3 million from the sale of unused government land, including 24 acres next to the existing county seat along Rogers Avenue, according to Ulman.
“Any short-sighted decisions will come back and haunt us,” said Maureen Eiker, of Ellicott City.
Eiker said the county should keep the land it owns for county use, as land in Howard is expensive and in short supply.
Angela Beltram, an activist and former County Council member, also opposed the new plan, saying it was a “major policy change” that shouldn?t be determined during budget time.
Beltram said she?s not against investing in Oakland Mills to boost revitalization, but wants the government to invest in the Route 40 area.
The concerns residents raised hint at the debate the County Council will have during work sessions on the capital budget this month and next. Some council members have already questioned the proposal and whether it makes financial sense.
Residents of Oakland Mills, however, have supported the government campus plan and purchase of space in the village. At the recent hearing, Oakland Mills Village Board member Phil Engelke spoke in favor of the project at the budget hearing, saying the community needed the government?s support in its revitalization efforts.
“It makes a lot of sense,” he said.
