The Odenton community finally could secure the money it needs to expand roads and utilities to handle the incoming work force at Fort Meade if the state approves a zoning change.
Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold is requesting the Odenton Town Center area to be designated as a Base Realignment and Closure Revitalization and Incentive Zone, which would bring tax breaks and more state funding to an area that will see thousands of jobs.
“This project has been on the books for 30 years, and the biggest challenge has been infrastructure,” said Bob Leib, Leopold’s BRAC coordinator.
“The designation is a critical tool that is going to help us overcome that challenge.”
BRAC is expected to bring 15,000 jobs to Fort Meade by 2010, and Odenton is the city closest to the installation.
The BRAC zoning is a new tool used by the Department of Business and Economic Development that would have the state property taxes paid by developers within the zone refunded to the affected county government to use for road, water and utility expansion.
“This will spur economic development all throughout the state,” said Karen Hood, DBED’s spokeswoman.
Odenton Town Center was in the works long before BRAC was initiated in 2005, but with the influx, the retail, commercial and residential development is now a major priority for the county.
And the BRAC zoning would help build a new boulevard needed for the project to flourish, officials said.
“Without the boulevard, there is no Odenton Town Center,” said David Tibbetts, president of the Greater Odenton Improvement Association.
“We need this designation. The county is broke, and the infrastructure — roads, water, sewer, electricity — needs vast improvements.”
Tibbetts said it would cost $25 million to make the needed infrastructure improvements.
The county has until Oct. 15 to submit its official request to DBED.
Baltimore City has shown interest in the BRAC designation which would help its $1 billion Westport development.
DBED will make its decision by December, Hood said.
But the entire project hinges on a proposed parking garage at the Odenton MARC station, since the town center is being considered a transit-oriented development.
State officials recently deferred some planning money for the garage, which could delay its construction. Leib said state officials told him the deferment should not hinder the town center project.
Officials recently broke ground on part of the development, the Villages of Odenton Station, a mixed-use retail center.
“We’re finally seeing a heartbeat at the town center,” Leib said. “And with this BRAC designation, the town center can finally come to fruition.”
GROWTH SPURT
The BRAC Revitalization and Incentive Zone would allow some of the state property taxes paid by developers within the zone to be used to help expand roads, water and sewer pipes and electricity lines to the development.
