The Department of Planning and Zoning staff asked numerous organizations and county agencies for their reaction to General Growth Properties' plan to redevelop downtown Columbia. Below are some of the responses.

Howard County Arts Council: The council wants more information on how the Town Center Cultural Commission would be set up and operate; it also needs more specifics on the size and type of cultural buildings proposed and their cost. The council recommends doing a cultural plan for the entire county rather than just focusing on Columbia.

Howard County Housing Department: While the department supports mixed-income housing, it recommends devoting 15 percent of homes to those making less than 80 percent of the county's median income and another 10 percent to those making between 80 and 120 percent. The department also suggests adding affordable housing requirements into the zoning regulations, allowing the county to hold the developer accountable if it does not reach those goals.

Howard County Office of Environmental Sustainability: The office supports the idea of sustainable development and the use of green technologies, but believes these goals must be listed in the zoning regulations or a design manual. The office also has concerns about removing trees in the Symphony Woods area and recommends General Growth seek out alternative designs that would protect open space.

Howard County Department of Public Works: General Growth is overly optimistic in the amount of cars it thinks will be taken off the road downtown based on increased mass transit and pedestrian-friendly design. Traffic studies should be done frequently throughout the construction process to evaluate how things are going. The company also needs to give details on how private/public road and water projects would be paid for and who would maintain them.

-- Derek Simmonsen

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