Howard County Councilwoman Mary Kay Sigaty will push her legislation to cap building heights in Columbia, despite a court ruling clearing the way for the planned 275-foot Plaza Residences.
“I am still looking at moving forward with it, because I think it?s important,” said Sigaty, D-District 4.
Sigaty has until about the third week in August to file legislation for September based on two of her proposed zoning regulation amendments that would limit buildings, including the Plaza Residences, to 150 feet.
With several complicated bills before the council this month, Sigaty plans to focus on the current measures and revisit the height-limit legislation after the August recess.
She said she is working with the Office of Law to determine how Howard Circuit Court Judge Diane Leasure?s July 16 ruling might affect her plans to file legislation.
Leasure denied two motions by Columbia resident and tower opponent Joel Broida, which essentially upholds a previous decision that he did not have legal standing to fight the project.
William Rowe, a vice president at developer WCI Communities Inc., said the company was “happy with the ruling.”
However, Sigaty said, “I have to believe someone is going to appeal” the court ruling.
The Planning and Zoning Board, which voted down the proposed changes last month, said in its written opinion that attempts to limit heights are “the dissatisfaction of a lone group to receive the outcome it desired.”
County officials have been in discussions with the developer to reach a possible compromise on the Plaza Residence?s height.
