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Residents urge DNREC to reverse development approvals in Auburn Valley (Yorkland); committee hears calls to remove bond epilogue
Summary
Dozens of Yorkland residents, local officials and advocacy groups told the Joint Finance Committee that the Auburn Valley master plan was mismanaged, pressing DNREC to halt three approved subdivisions, remove bond‑bill epilogue language that exempts the projects from county rules, and use open‑space funds or county resources to resolve the dispute.
Residents of Yorkland and nearby communities, elected local officials and conservation groups told the Joint Finance Committee on Feb. 18 that prior DNREC approvals and bond‑bill language have enabled development in sensitive floodplains and over a Cockeysville aquifer recharge area without adequate traffic, aquifer or environmental protections.
Multiple speakers described a long history: the National Vulcanized Fiber (NVF) site went bankrupt after severe flooding, public‑private plans and a 2011 Auburn Valley master plan were developed, and bond‑bill epilogue language exempted redevelopment under that master plan from Newcastle County zoning, subdivision and building codes. Residents and county representatives said that language effectively allowed developers to bypass the county’s unified development code and that three subdivisions now have recorded plans despite community concerns.
Speakers asked DNREC to take a range of actions: remove the bond epilogue exemption, halt construction on the three subdivisions until a comprehensive traffic and aquifer recharge study is completed for all parcels together, use open‑space funds or county resources to acquire problem parcels, and transition regulatory authority back to Newcastle County land‑use where appropriate. Several residents urged DNREC not to “cave to the threat of a developer’s lawsuit” and to prioritize long‑term public safety and water‑resource protection.
Secretary Patterson said DNREC inherited a complex, multi‑decade arrangement and acknowledged communication lapses under prior leadership. He said the department rejected a large condominium proposal, purchased 21 acres to add to Auburn Valley State Park, commissioned consultants for aquifer and traffic work, and has been meeting with residents; Patterson also said DNREC will seek to transition land‑use authority away from the agency over time but cautioned that previously approved record plans pose legal and contractual limits.
What’s next: Residents asked for a written transition plan by April 1 and a finalized plan by June. The committee and DNREC committed to continuing dialogue; the broader legislative process (bond language and budget choices) will determine whether funds or statutory fixes are used to resolve the dispute.
