Planning Board Hears Three Cycle 43 Water and Sewer Petitions; Vote Set for Sept. 4

The Baltimore County Planning Board on July 17 heard presentations and public testimony on three Cycle 43 Water Supply and Sewerage Master Plan petitions. Department of Public Works and Transportation project manager Andrew Brown presented staff reports and departmental comments for petitions 25‑01 (3117 Rycess Lane, Windsor Mill), 25‑02 (3499 Manor/"Sweet Air" Road, Jacksonville — Manor Center shopping center), and 25‑03 (8400 Park Heights Avenue, Pikesville).

Petition 25‑01 (3117 Rycess Lane): The petitioner, Randallstown Islamic Center, requested changing the water designation from W‑7 (no planned service) to W‑6 (area of future consideration) and the sewer designation from S‑7 to S‑1 (existing service area) to allow connections to nearby Windsor Mill Road mains. The Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability (DEP) expressed no objection and said a public sewer connection would reduce nitrogen pollution and lower Baltimore County’s TMDL (total maximum daily load) obligations by an estimated $59,600. The Department of Planning recommended retaining the current designations based on location and master-plan policy; DPW/T found connections technically feasible but noted no capital improvement project (CIP) is planned and that main installation would be at the owner’s expense. Charles (engineer representing the petitioner) said, “we are inside the Metropolitan District,” and described feasible lateral connections to an existing gravity manhole and nearby pump station.

Petition 25‑02 (3499 Sweet Air Road — Manor Center): The property owner requested changing the water designation from W‑7 to W‑3 (capital facilities area) to secure access to public water after years of limited well yields and repeated unsuccessful test wells. Patricia Farley, representing Manor Center, said the center has supplied water storage for volunteer fire companies and that the center was designated W‑3 in earlier planning documents; she asked the board to “designate Manor Center W‑3 and turn this whole area blue.” Staff recommendations differed: DEP asked for a feasibility study before altering designations because of regional groundwater concerns; the Department of Planning and DPW recommended against a W‑3 change, citing the property’s distance (about three miles) outside the IRDLE and Metropolitan District and the absence of a CIP.

Petition 25‑03 (8400 Park Heights Avenue): The petitioner (a private school) has public water service but a 44‑year‑old septic system and seeks sewer designation change to allow future sewer connection for planned facilities. DEP and DPW raised no objections to replacing septic with public sewer, noting environmental benefits and an estimated TMDL cost reduction of $75,919; the Department of Planning did not oppose the requested change because the property is within the Metropolitan District and already served by public water. Steve Warfield, representing the petitioner, said the school currently serves about 95 students, has dorm capacity, and seeks sewer connections to plan for replacement of the aging septic system.

Public testimony reflected differing views. David Palmer, president of the Greater Jacksonville Association, opposed petition 25‑02 and supported planning and DPW recommendations to retain W‑7, citing distance from the IRDLE, high cost for piping, and community opposition to public‑water extension that could enable denser development. Greg Morgan, an independent property representative, supported 25‑02 to sustain the shopping center and its small businesses. Kathy Wolfson (Greater Patapsco Community Association) opposed 25‑01, arguing the petitioner’s growth is self‑imposed and telling the board the petition seeks future expansion rather than current necessity. Renee Hamidi urged denial of 25‑03’s sewer reclassification absent evidence the septic system’s failure is imminent.

No formal action was taken at the public hearing. The planning board closed the hearing and scheduled a vote on these petitions for its next meeting on Sept. 4, 2025; the board does not meet in August.