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Anne Arundel County Council adopts Region 5 general development plan and comprehensive zoning
Summary
After a joint public hearing and public comments about Parcel O and developer promises, the Anne Arundel County Council approved bills 1726 and 1826 to adopt the Region 5 general development plan and comprehensive zoning map by unanimous 7-0 votes.
The Anne Arundel County Council on June 1 adopted two linked ordinances to finalize the Region 5 general development plan and comprehensive zoning map, completing a nine-year Plan 2040 process for the areas that include Odenton, Piney, Orchard, Gambrill, Woodwardville, Crofton and Two Rivers. The council approved bill 1726 (general development plan) and bill 1826 (comprehensive zoning) as amended by recorded 7-0 votes.
The adoption followed a joint public hearing and oral testimony from residents who urged the council to enforce earlier commitments tied to local developments. "If the council fails to address the exploitation of our affordable housing legislation ... then the council is complicit," said Kyle Nimhard of Glen Burnie, who criticized the Spencer Glenn development as car-dependent and said transportation costs undermine the purpose of workforce housing.
Another resident, Jim Hullman of Meyer Station Road, told the council Two Rivers Associates previously relinquished building rights on Parcel O and said residents were promised the parcel would become open space and an environmental park. "I strongly urge each of the county council members to vote no on overturning the veto from the county executive on the amendments you passed to not downzone parcel O," Hullman said.
Christina Pompa of the Office of Planning and Zoning summarized the region-plan process, saying the office reviewed roughly 270,000 parcels twice during the Plan 2040 process and outlining follow-up implementation work including a countywide trails master plan, an equity and community-health study, and sector plans for several village and station areas. "The planned land use and zoning is now more reflective of on-the-ground uses as well as the future vision established by stakeholders," Pompa said.
Council members praised the planning staff and the transparency of the process, describing it as a substantial, collaborative effort. After discussion, the council called the roll and recorded seven affirmative votes and no negatives for each ordinance, officially completing the comprehensive rezoning for Region 5.
The council posted related materials and written testimony to the meeting record and indicated implementation work will continue through staff-led studies and sector plans.
