A plan to build a shopping center in Turf Valley is now in line with county zoning laws.

The county’s five-member Planning Board unanimously agreed March 4 to amend the Final Development plan, allowing the shopping center’s grocery store to reach 55,000 square feet.

The zoning regulation, which allows developer Greenberg Gibbons Commercial to build a grocery store larger than the previously allotted 18,000 square feet, was approved by the County Council in November 2008.

Opponents of the increased size asked the Planning Board to vote against the measure Thursday.

Leaders of Howard County Citizens for Open Government, Marc Norman and Angela Beltram, previously attempted to bring the zoning regulation to referendum, but more than 80 percent of the signatures they collected to do so were deemed invalid by the county Board of Elections.

Norman and Beltram filed a subsequent lawsuit last March to appeal that decision and are still waiting on a written opinion from Circuit Court Judge Timothy McCrone.

“I think it’s important that board members understand that 10,000 people signed it in good faith,” Norman said during the meeting.

— Sarah Breitenbach

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user comments (4)

user independent says...

We'll handle the issue of dismissing the voter's Democratic rights in November.

Posted 6:10 PM, 03.09.10 | Permalink

user independent1 says...

Once again a vocal minority is trying bully everyone into submission. As a resident of the area I can speak for many who are happy to be hosting a new Harris Teeter (or Whole Foods?) close to us. The nearest Giant and Safeway stores need some competition - they are desperately in need of sprucing up.

Posted 3:06 PM, 03.10.10 | Permalink

user independent says...

The issue of voter rights and wanting a Harris Teeter nearby are not incompatible goals. In other words, residents might want both a good working Democracy as well as upscale grocery experience.

Posted 4:27 PM, 03.10.10 | Permalink

user mdcommish says...

^^well said

Posted 4:38 PM, 03.10.10 | Permalink