Howard County recently doubled the cost per acre for agricultural preservation easements in the western part of the county up to $40,000 to better compete with developers and preserve farmland.
The county currently has fewer than 20,000 acres under easement and aims for roughly 5,000 more, but not much farmland remains.
How would you control growth in the eastern part of the county?
County Council candidates
Calvin Ball: “We need to ensure that any growth considers the infrastructure … the community should be appropriately notified and engaged, growth should not unduly damage the environment and the neighborhood should not be compromised.”
Tom D?Asto: “First, elect leaders that are opposed, as I am, to high-density over development! Second, use my Town Center Guidelines [online at www.tomdasto.org] to assess the viability of
county development.”
Don Dunn: “Strict enforcement of existing zoning regulations. Where a change appears to be beneficial, involve the citizens affected and listen to them.”
Gina Ellrich: “I will carefully approach growth on Route 1 and in other areas, manage density, protect the county?s beauty, work through the zoning process and seek resident input.”
Greg Fox: “I would resist pressures on increased density in the East due to BRAC.
This regional issue requires cooperation from surrounding jurisdictions. I would also look into strengthening infill development regulations.”
Tony Salazar: “I?ll ensure adherence to our General Plan and start the process of creating the next plan. I support use of independent traffic studies, and will fight for stronger infill regulations.”
Mary Kay Sigaty: “Monitor the goals of the General Plan; support the recommendations of the Route 1 study; evaluate success of APFO legislation as tool for controlling growth.”
Jen Terrasa: “Any growth that occurs in the eastern part of the county should complement and nourish the existing community, and not overwhelm it. This is my guiding principle in all development countywide.”
Donna Thewes: “Preserve land as open space, limit density levels, limit residential development on Route 1. Create a plan with parks and open space and obtain land before it?s bought for development.”
Courtney Watson: “I would pass new laws to protect existing homes from poorly planned infill development, so houses cannot be crammed on every inch of space in Ellicott City and Elkridge.”
County executive
candidates
Chris Merdon: “… I will commission a task force to identify costs of infrastructure, charge developers for increased density, build parks [not] infill, have the county commission independent traffic studies, and create a compatibility review board for neighborhoods.”
Ken Ulman: “Growth in the eastern part of the county must be carefully planned and regulated. We must reverse the trend of haphazard infill development which has overwhelmed many existing neighborhoods.”
Stephen Wallis: “I?ll work with county agencies, preservationists and the community [to meet] the challenge of additional easements. Growth … must meet standards revolving around sustainable infrastructure, open space and existing character of communities.”
Part of the Baltimore Examiner’s 2006 Election Coverage
