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Resident raises alarm over proposed 171 townhouses at Nixon property, urges council review of workforce housing rules
Summary
A resident told the council that a developer’s plan to put 171 townhouses on the lower half of the Nixon property shocked neighbors and used the county’s workforce housing rules as the vehicle to permit a much higher density than prior rezoning requests had received. Councilmember Volke said he will follow up with Planning and Zoning staff.
Jigna Patel, a Glen Burnie resident, urged the council to re-examine how the county’s workforce housing rules are being applied after learning a developer is proposing 171 townhouses on the lower half of the Nixon property.
Patel identified herself as living in the Marley Sun Valley area of Glen Burnie and said portions of the top half of the Nixon property were previously developed in two phases—47 single‑family houses—and that earlier redevelopment proposals for the lower half had envisioned 35 single‑family homes. Patel said county planning staff had previously denied rezoning requests in the surrounding neighborhood (from R5 to R10) and that the workforce housing provisions “are a work around that just allows them to do it anyway.” She added, “Never did we imagine that that would be 171 townhouses.”
Patel told the council the affected area stretches along Spencer Road between Marley Neck and Freetown Road. She said neighbors were surprised by the proposed scale and expressed concern about traffic, environmental and infrastructure impacts.
Councilmember Volke acknowledged Patel has been active in offering public comment, said he has met with community members and committed to follow up. Volke said he would speak with the Office of Planning and Zoning staff present and see whether there are changes that could address the community's concerns. He also referenced a 2023 amendment (to workforce housing legislation) that increases a setback from 30 feet to 75 feet and said the administration and staff will review options.
No final council action on the Nixon property was taken at the April 7 session; Patel's remarks were part of the public comment period. Councilmembers and administration staff said they would pursue follow-up conversations with Planning and Zoning and review potential options raised by neighbors.
