News from The Sparks-Glencoe Community Planning Council

Dear North County Neighbors,

Those who have lived in the north county for a while will not be surprised to learn that the Sparks-Glencoe Community Planning Council has filed petitions for rezoning during the Comprehensive Zoning Map Process that takes place every four years. Thousands of acres of north county land have been downzoned by the county government over the last couple of decades in response to petitions filed by our organization and others in the north county. You probably enjoy the fruits of those efforts as you admire the long stretches of greenery that set northern Baltimore County apart from nearby areas that have seen intensive development.

We decide which land to include in our petitions by studying GIS maps compiled by North County Preservation, which are based on information from the State Department of Natural Resources and Baltimore County agencies. We read Baltimore County’s Master Plan and consider whether the current zoning upholds the goals of the Master Plan. For instance, the Master Plan states that growth and development must be managed sustainably in order to protect resources providing for the basic needs of all citizens, including local food production and high quality water supply. It states that there are places where development should not occur, such as agricultural properties, and places near drinking water supplies and other land with environmental resources. We use the GIS database to identify land containing these resources, and then consider whether the development allowed by the land’s current zoning would be detrimental to the resources.

Much of the land that Sparks-Glencoe has included in our petitions contains rivers and streams that ultimately empty into the Loch Raven Reservoir, a water supply system that is already under federal orders to reduce phosphorus. By reducing the density of future development near waterways flowing into the reservoir, the amount of phosphorus being added into the Reservoir will be reduced, as will other threats to water quality, such as sodium and chlorides.

Some of the land included in our zoning petitions is wooded. Trees serve many environmental purposes, including protecting water quality, cleaning the air, controlling flood damage, and providing wildlife habitat. Efforts to protect forests are enhanced by Resource Preservation zoning which we have suggested.

Baltimore County’s zoning methodology is to place large blocks of land in the same zoning category. This prevents incompatible uses from being close together. In some cases, the Resource Preservation zoning we have requested has no effect on a given piece of property, because that property has no more development potential. The land is still included in our petition in order to achieve zoning that is comprehensive.

We recognize that some landowners disagree with our opinion-- they are entitled to explain to the county that they want to keep the development rights afforded by their current zoning. Hopefully, landowners’ sense of stewardship will lead them to support Resource Preservation zoning to protect the resources on their land for their own enjoyment and for the well-being of the larger community. As Baltimore County’s Master Plan says, “Reducing and mitigating negative impacts on natural resources and the environment is crucial to the long-term success of any community. Clean air and water is essential for all living beings to survive and flourish.”

The Board of Directors of the Sparks-Glencoe Community Planning Council

The community is invited to attend Sparks-Glencoe’s meeting about CZMP on November 9 at Sparks Elementary School at 7 pm.

Local farmer and Planning Board member Wayne McGinnis wrote in response to our article on utility poles being replaced with taller poles:

"About three years ago, our combine caught a low cable line across a field and tore down several poles and lines. They sent us a bill for $3,000. After checking with the Public Service Commission, I found out that the lines must be at least 16 feet above ground. They tried to say the problem was with the cable company, but I pointed out that the lines were on their poles and that the law required them to clear the ground etc. Many farmers have complained about the low lines and the danger to equipment."