Erickson Retirement Communities wants to change local zoning regulations in order to allow for a new campus-style retirement community near Doughoregan Manor in Ellicott City.

The owners of the 18th-century Doughoregan Manor estate struck a deal last September with Erickson to sell part of their 892-acre property for a senior community in exchange for preserving the original manor and at least 665 acres of adjacent land.

The estate, located just south of Frederick Road where it meets Route 40, was once home to Charles Carroll -- who signed the Declaration of Independence -- and has been in the Carroll family for nine generations.

Erickson plans to build 1,500 independent living units, 128 assisted living units and 96 nursing units, divided into three neighborhoods, on 153 acres. The buildings would be four-story apartment-style complexes, with parking underneath, and the community would include restaurants, banks, a gym and medical services.

The Catonsville-based company submitted a proposal to county officials last week to create a new zoning category for "continuing care retirement communities" to accommodate those plans. The new zoning category would allow for density of up to 15 housing units per acre and heights of up to 60 feet for non-apartment buildings under certain conditions, according to the application.

Another unrelated zoning regulation change also was filed in February by County Council chairwoman Mary Kay Sigaty, a Democrat, and County Council member Greg Fox, a Republican. It would allow more residents to have apiaries -- a building that holds beehives -- on their properties, in an effort to promote the positive environmental and economic effects of beekeeping.

Apiaries are completely banned in some zoning districts in the county and there are tough restrictions on where they can be placed in other areas, the petition states.

The requested zoning changes will first be considered by the Planning Board before the County Council reviews them.

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