We concur with Kimco and county officials that Columbia's villages must consider contemporary economic realities and most likely will be redeveloped with a mixed-use format. However, constructive change must also be flexible to meet varying challenges for years ahead.

We are deeply disappointed that, in spite of resident opposition, Kimco continues to advocate for a Wilde Lake Village Center that consists of 500 rental apartments. This would transform our village center into a residential complex, destroying its community-enhancing function.

Any development plan should retain the village green and internal courtyard. Both are historic community gathering places.

We understand there will be retail space in Kimco's proposed plan. The number of square feet they have proposed for retail/commercial is a significant reduction in the retail space that existed before the Giant closed. The current amount of proposed retail space is far too small to support a village center as a shopping destination.

As we expressed in a recent meeting with Kimco, we continue to support a grocer in the village center to meet the needs of village residents. We are concerned that current data may lack projections proving that a grocer would not be viable in Wilde Lake Village Center.

We urge the County Council and county executive to consider carefully the impact of Kimco's request to rezone the village center in order to allow the construction of 500 apartments.

The Columbia vision is built upon village centers as community and commercial centers, not predominantly residential complexes. Redevelopment and rezoning need not make it difficult for the village to accommodate a mix of community space, retail/commercial uses and housing units, all the while remaining economically viable.

Vince Marando Philip Kirsch

Wilde Lake

Vince Marando is chairman of the Wilde Lake Village Board. Philip Kirsch represents Wilde Lake on the Columbia Association's board of directors.

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