Land By Liriodendron Can Be Annexed: Bel Air Planning Commission

BEL AIR, MD — The Bel Air Planning Commission recommended approving a request to annex 1.577 acres near the Liriodendron mansion Thursday into the town of Bel Air.

Developer Liriod LLC proposed annexing land off West Gordon Street north of Catherine Street. The property is in Harford County and abuts the town of Bel Air.

Liriod plans to split the parcel into three lots, according to documents submitted to the town.

Nearly 20 residents testified before the planning commission Thursday night that they had concerns about changing the status of what is currently an open field adjacent to the historic Liriodendron mansion.

"We are deeply disappointed by the failure of the county and town officials to preserve this beautiful green space," said Phil Anderson, on behalf of the Ma & Pa Heritage Trail.

Harford County and the town of Bel Air were given the right of first refusal after the death of the property owner, and neither wanted to purchase the property, project representatives said.

Then the land went up for sale.

"What kind of community are we trying to build?" said Erika Antanauskaite, who lives nearby on Gordon Street.

She said she thought the property was part of the Liriodendron campus because it functioned as a park near the historic mansion for the 16 years she said she has lived nearby.

"When you say it was offered for sale," she asked, "did anyone know about it?"

Planning Commissioner Phil Raub, who said he walks by the site nearly every day, suggested recommending approval of the annexation request with three stipulations, which the commission unanimously supported.

Here are the conditions for approval:

• Any future land use is limited to three single-family detached lots.
• The subdivision plan must include a landscape buffering plan.
• No vehicular access will be allowed on Gordon Street.

"It's a beautiful site, and it can still be a beautiful site," Raub said. "Some very beautiful homes can be put here. "

Dennis Reimann, managing member of Liriod, said: "The goal is to do something there that’s going to complement the Liriodendron."

His development company, which has an out-of-state address and had been not in good standing with the state, was a concern for some residents in attendance at the hearing, which was moved from Town Hall to Calvary Baptist Church due to public interest and the need for social distancing.

Liriod LLC is listed as having an address of 22 Constitution Ave., New Freedom, Pa., on the plat and as having an address of 222 Constitution Ave., New Freedom, Pa., on the annexation proposal. The latter is the address for Gemcraft Homes.

Reimann said the company is actually based on Harford Road in Fallston.

When asked to name who was part of Liriod LLC, Reimann said the company was "made up of LLCs." Upon further questioning by those in attendance at the hearing, he said that Len Parrish Sr., father of Harford County's head of economic development, is "in one of the LLCs."

Residents said they were not sure why Liriod was seeking annexation into the town.

"The only way to supply sewer is to be annexed into the town," Bel Air Director of Planning & Community Development Kevin Small said.

Density was part of the reason for the proposed annexation as well.

Dudley Campbell of Bay State Land Services, which surveyed the property, said the town would allow for four dwelling units per acre for R1 zoning, while Harford County would allow for 3.5 units per acre for R2 zoning. But he said the lot size in Harford County was 7,500 square feet, while in Bel Air it was 10,000 square feet.

"That is really why we’re here," Campbell said. "We’re discussing what density is."

Documents submitted to the planning commission said the developer was seeking a change from R2 zoning in Harford County to R2 zoning in Bel Air, but Small told Patch that was a misprint.

"The accurate proposed zoning is R1 in the Town as described in the petition submitted by the applicant," Small said.

In Bel Air, R1 is described as residential low-density, while R2 is medium-density.

In Harford County, R2 zoning permits single family residences on 7,500- and 10,000-square-foot lots and may permit townhouses in four-unit buildings.

"This property will be developed, whether it's in the county or the town of Bel Air," Campbell said.

Next, the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners will review the proposal, which Small said was likely to happen with a public hearing in mid-November. He said the final decision for the property rests with the commissioners.

This article may be updated.

Gordon Street Plat

Liriodendron Area Proposal