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Vital Views
The Severna Park Voice, September 2005
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Council in Action
By Councilwoman Cathleen M Vitale
September already. It seems only yesterday that the kids were ending the
school year, exchanging their back packs for pool bags and heading for
the beach, pools and summer camp. Did it really go by so quick? With the
start of the new school year, so starts my annual visits to community
associations, schools and local events. As always, please contact my
office to update your community association meeting dates. Over the
years I have used those meetings as an opportunity to update you on
local events, land use issues and zoning enforcement successes (and of
course, the less than successes). I look forward to seeing you in the
next several months.
Legislatively, the County Council voted down Bill 50-05, which would
have given the County the opportunity to charge a fee for marking
utility lines and county water and sewer along both residential and
commercial property. In speaking with the affected utility companies,
one point was made abundantly clear. If they were charged for the
service, they would pass it on to the consumer. In other words, a fee...
is a fee... is a fee... In the end, it would be the citizens who paid
for the service, not the companies. The Council voted 6-1 to fail the
legislation. (I was one of the six).
Bill 49-05, the Pasadena Marley small area plan is still pending. This
comprehensive re-zoning will be heard for the last time on September
6th. At that time, either the legislation passes as it is currently
posed, or the legislation dies and the process has to start all over
again. As with each small area planning process, the Council learns a
few things. The longer the wait between completion of the plan and the
zoning, the more likely there are changes in the area that result in
additional requests for changes. Unfortunately, this tends to upset the
plan members as well as the general public. It seems that if there is a
next time around for small area plans, they need to be finished,
published and brought before the Council. The second, and perhaps more
important issue is public notice. As changes are made to property, the
land owner is notified. However, the adjacent property owners are not
notified. Unless the change is picked up by the media, or discussed at a
community meeting, people tend to learn after the fact. The notification
process has to be changed.
Bill 71-05 is the comprehensive zoning for Glen Burnie and Brooklyn
Park. September will be the beginning of the process for the northern
part of the County. As the Council has yet to be briefed, all I can say
is "stay tuned".
In the district, several happenings. I recently attended the Maryland
Association of Counties conference to participate in several meetings
and seminars which could have a direct affect on our area. First, the
Bay Bridge. On September 13, 2005 at 9:30, the Maryland Department of
Transportation is scheduled to appear before the County Council to brief
us on Bay Bridge Alternatives. Residents and affected business owners in
Arnold and Broadneck are strongly encouraged to attend. While it is not
a public hearing, and no public comments are taken, it will be
worthwhile to hear first hand what alternatives the State is
considering. If you plan to attend, please confirm that the presentation
is still on, so as to avoid an unnecessary trip to Annapolis in case of
a cancellation. During the conference I met with representatives of the
Toll authority including Secretary Trent Kittleman to discuss the Rt
50/Bay Bridge issues. You will be pleased to know that there are proven
successes with the EZ pass program, and the number of back ups and
accidents to the Bridge have been reduced. There is a plan to increase
the EZ pass lane another half a mile or so, to allow more cars to cross
with fewer stops at the toll booths.
Second, I also had an opportunity to meet with several staff members to
discuss local services in Broadneck, Arnold and Severna Park. There are
several possibilities to a local inter community service to shuttle
people around our area and reduce the numbers of cars on College Parkway
and Ritchie Highway. Since January, there have been more than 75
accidents along our stretch of Ritchie Highway. I have asked for the
assistance of the Secretary of Transportation in evaluating how to make
Ritchie Highway a safer roadway. I will keep you posted on my progress.
Since I am out of space, let me leave you with a thought. No matter what
solutions are in our future, we are responsible for the problem, the
discussion and the resolution. Put your thinking caps on, and please,
drive safely over our roadways. They are heavily traveled by drivers,
bikers and pedestrians. I look forward to hearing from you. Safe start
of school to all.
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