Local Residents Attend Town Hall Rezoning Meeting

Derek Fink (R-Third District) hosted a town hall meeting Monday evening to review the Comprehensive Rezoning bill with constituents. Nearly 60 community members, political officials and property owners attended the meeting, arriving prepared with questions and concerns to present to the Councilman.

Fink opened the meeting by explaining Comprehensive Zoning, a process which occurs every 10 years in Anne Arundel County. The process provides the county an opportunity to rezone property according to community or county needs.

“This town hall is about opening the process of zoning up to the community, and making sure that everyone is informed,” Fink shared.

According to Fink, of the 58 applications submitted for rezoning in District Three, 19 were approved. Fink also shared that the county later added an additional four projects to the district, moving the total number of rezoning projects to 23.

The Councilman shared details of each project, walking constituents through detailed explanations of the plans for each property. Rezoning plans for District 3 include adding new shopping centers, allowing existing businesses to expand their property, building new homes, allowing waterfront properties to operate as marinas, bringing existing businesses up to zoning compliance, and eliminating occurrences of split-zoning in the area.

After a review of the approved zoning projects, Fink opened the floor to questions from the public.

Concerns were raised about run-off from building projects affecting local waterways, as well as about the impact new housing communities will have on area traffic. Residents also expressed frustration about plans to possibly build a Royal Farms on the property that was formerly the Rivera Beach Bowling Alley.

Fink was also presented with suggestions of the need for a mass-retail store such as Wal-Mart in the Pasadena area, and was questioned about plans for a youth or community center in the area.

Fink encouraged constituents to be active in the rezoning process, and to file amendments if there are projects that they are concerned about.

All amendments must be submitted to the County by September 21. Public hearings are scheduled throughout October and November to review each amendment submitted.

“I do expect some amendments to come in. This is not going to be a final list. I expect things to be added and to be taken away from this,” said Fink.

“Rezoning is done once a decade,” Fink continued, “We need the involvement and the input of the community because, if we get this wrong, we have to wait ten years to be able to correct it.”

Information about the Comprehensive Rezoning process and about submitting amendments can be found on the Anne Arundel County website.