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Anne Arundel planning staff present Region 5 rezoning proposals and contested parcels along MD-3
Summary
Planning staff outlined the Region 5 (Odenton, Piney Orchard, Gambrills, Woodwardville, Crofton, Two Rivers) plan and proposed comprehensive rezoning, noting holding-capacity shortfalls and multiple owner-requested upzonings along the MD-3 corridor that drew mixed recommendations from staff, advisory committees and the planning board.
County planning staff presented the Region 5 portion of the Plan 20-240 comprehensive rezoning to the Anne Arundel County Council on March 10, summarizing a public outreach process and the mapping recommendations in Bill 1826.
Mark Wonger of the Office of Planning and Zoning said the holding-capacity analysis shows existing zoning in Region 5 will not fully accommodate projected growth and noted that Odenton Town Center is a targeted growth area expected to accommodate much of the additional housing demand. Staff recommended changes to align zoning with built patterns, protect environmental open space and establish mixed-use (MXD) opportunities along Maryland 3 in locations with transit access.
Planner Sam Meyers walked councilmembers through owner-initiated applications that produced differing recommendations. Examples include property owners along MD-3 seeking MXD or higher-intensity commercial (C4) zoning to support mixed residential and commercial redevelopment; staff recommended MXD-medium (MXDN) for some parcels and retained lower-intensity commercial (C2/C4 or RLD) in others where the adopted plan and neighborhood character suggested conservation.
Why it matters: region-wide rezoning is the last step in the countywide Plan 20-240 effort and will set the regulatory framework for density, redevelopment and environmental protection in several fast-growing communities.
Next steps: staff will post full maps and tutorials online; several councilmembers requested follow-up briefings on parcels within their districts before final action.
Sources: Office of Planning and Zoning staff presentation (Christina Pomp, Mark Wonger, Sam Meyers), Anne Arundel County Council work session, March 10, 2026.
