A northern Baltimore County community association continued its fight against a proposed housing and recreation complex, expressing fears that the athletic fields could fall on taxpayers? backs.
Deputy zoning commissioner John Murphy heard a second round of testimony Thursday on a 19-house community planned near the Pennsylvania and Carroll County lines. The proposal hinges on an agreement Randy Shelley made two years ago to donate land for an athletic complex if the county rezoned his property to allow more homes.
Community attorney J. Carroll Holzer last month subpoenaed several top county officials, including County Executive Jim Smith and District 3 Councilman Bryan McIntire, to question them on the potentially illegal agreement and whether the county plans to contribute construction funds. Zoning commissioner William Wiseman ruled they are exempt from testifying; Holzer asked him to reconsider.
Smith spokesman Don Mohler ? also subpoenaed, and represented by a county attorney Thursday ? called the project a “private venture.”
“It?s my understanding that … the developer would look to turn the recreation facility over to the county and we would be in charge of maintenance,” Mohler said.
Shelley has apparently agreed to contribute some profits to build six soccer fields, an indoor facility and almost 600 parking spaces. The local recreation council would fund the rest.
Opponents worry the project could bring noise and traffic to the narrow, windy road. They accuse McIntire (R-District 3), who down-zoned the rest of the region?s property to conserve open space, of trading principles for fields.
“We?re trying to maintain a rural way of life and support farming, and Councilman McIntire makes a ruling in favor of a developer,” said Barbara Cochran, a board member of the Freeland Community Association. “We?re not a populous area. The need is a fallacious argument to support this plan.”
McIntire was unavailable for comment. Attorneys expect testimony to last at least three more days.
