The County Council will take testimony July 20 on potential amendments to a bill that would change the redevelopment process for Columbia's village centers.

The hearing is set for 7:30 p.m. at the county Board of Education, at 10910 Route 108, in Ellicott City. The bill is set for a vote July 30.

The bill would allow the owner of any property within Columbia's village centers to directly petition the county for development changes instead of going through developer General Growth Properties for initial permission, as they must do now.

Under a provision created when Columbia was founded, the property owner has to first gain the permission of The Rouse Co. for changes. After General Growth Properties bought out Rouse, it became the gatekeeper that must present development proposals to the county.

Kimco, which owns the bulk of commercial property in six of the village centers and has proposed the bill, said it has never been turned away by General Growth, but views the company as a competitor.

In addition to removing General Growth as the gatekeeper, the bill also defines what a village center is and lays out a procedure for approval of both major and minor development changes. In the case of major changes, a developer must hold at least two public meetings before submitting plans, and county planners will seek village board input in making their recommendations on any projects.

The council is currently considering six potential amendments dealing with related issues such as how village center community plans fit into the process, how parties are notified of the Zoning Board's decision in a case and when the design advisory panel reviews a proposal. The amendments are available on the council's Web site at www.howardcountymd.gov.

-- Derek Simmonsen

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