Public testimony on the long-awaited 30-year redevelopment plan for downtown Columbia continued Monday and Wednesday where it left off Saturday, with critics condemning the plan as a recipe for overcrowding and traffic congestion, and proponents insisting the changes are needed to reinvigorate downtown.

After a total of 15 hours of testimony from 90 people, the County Council concluded public testimony Wednesday evening.

Council members will begin dissecting the legislation in work sessions beginning Monday, Nov. 23. The  work session will be held at 4:30 p.m. at 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

The three hearings were held to gather input on the proposal by General Growth Properties, Inc. to bring 5,500 new residential units, 1.25 million square feet of retail space and 5 million square feet of office space to Columbia.

John Jay Bonstingl, president of Bonstingl Leadership Development, an educational consulting firm, said Monday he worries redevelopment will create a city-like atmosphere, complete with increased crime.

“The personality of Columbia is why we stay,” he said. “Columbia is quiet. Some may say that’s a deterrent. I say that’s an asset.”

Bonstingl said he does not look forward to a  more vibrant Columbia because it reminds him of downtown Baltimore or Washington.

“When we come home from a hard day at work, the last thing most of us want is vibrancy beating on our (door),” he said.

Chip Lundy, a Howard County developer, supported the plan, comparing GGP’s development philosophy to that of Columbia founder James Rouse.

GGP has consulted a team of experts on their redevelopment plan, much like he believes Rouse would have done, Lundy said.

However, he acknowledged that the Rouse plan for the future of Columbia was not perfect.

“He did a tremendous job,” he said of Rouse, but added:.” I think looking back he might have missed it on Town Center.”

On Saturday, opponents to the plan, which includes two pieces of legislation that would amend the county’s general plan and zoning regulations, argued that allowing the bankrupt General Growth to move forward is risky.

Some speculated that the developer could sell off assets and skip town on the project before the redevelopment is complete.

But Gregory Hamm, GGP’s vice president of master planned communities, rejected that accusation.

He said the legislation before the council would create more development standards, such as building height restrictions, than currently exist.

“The bigger risk is that we sell it off piecemeal under the current zoning,” Hamm said.

While some suggested the council scrap the GGP plan and create government-generated legislation, councilwoman Courtney Watson, a Democrat from Ellicott City, said the county needs to work with the current plan.

“We are where we are today,” Watson said. “We are here now and I’d like to see us work together make this the (people’s) plan.”

Alan Klein, spokesman for the Coalition for Columbia’s Downtown, told the council his group supports redeveloping downtown Columbia, but worries the GGP plan will create excessive traffic and the housing units should only be allowed in phases as the developer successfully builds infrastructure and meets other community needs.

“This is a business proposal,” Klein said. “The first offer in a complex negotiation.”

He also urged the council to strip language from the bill specific to General Growth, thereby making the plan apply to any developer who would buy the company’s holdings.

“All references to GGP must be removed or else we are pinning our hopes on a bankrupt company,” Klein said.

A number of supporters spoke at Saturday’s hearing.

Standing before the council in spandex cycling gear, Chris Tsien, a Columbia lawyer who identified himself as a member of Bicycling Advocates of Howard County, said he welcomed increased density downtown.

Columbia roads are generally unsafe for the county’s bicycle riders and pedestrians, he said, noting few people can be found walking or biking in the downtown area.

“If you plan for traffic, you will get traffic,” Tsien said. “If you plan for people you will get people.”

Pamela Klahr, president of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce, said her organization supports the legislation because the redevelopment signals a reinvestment in business.

“These are not exactly Columbia’s glory days,” Klahr said. “For too long, no one has invested in downtown. Businesses have found other places to locate their offices.”

In coming weeks the County Council will hold work sessions and may modify the legislation.

The five-member council has until early 2010 to issue a decision on the general plan and zoning regulation amendments.

Wednesday’s public hearing is to begin at 4:30 p.m. at the school board headquarters at 10910 Route 108.

This report has been updated.

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user comments (1)

user independent says...

GGP is disbursing $47 million in bonuses following bankruptcy due to the very same bonus receiving individual's direction driving the company to bankruptcy. It would be nearly criminal to put this burden on county taxpayers: 5,500 residential units is more than 10,000 cars. We'd need to subsidize this developer in order to build roads, schools, put in sewage and water from mountainous capital funding squeezed from existing residents. Then we'd need to fund firefighters and police and teachers on an ongoing basis, again squeezed out of existing citizens.

Posted 7:34 AM, 11.16.09 | Permalink