Districts 6-7 Councilmen Release Final Rezoning List

The final list of amendments for county council Districts 6 and 7 have been announced, and some of the more controversial proposals are not on the list.

District 7 Councilman Jerry Walker (R-Gambrills) sent constituents an email on July 29 saying that he was going to approve the following amendments at the Monday night County Council hearing:

• CC 6 Cunningham – SBD instead of C1
• CC 10, 14 & 60 B. Cox, E. Cox & Coleman-Casey – R1 instead of R5
• CC 11 Hill/Chesapeake Landscape – C4 as requested
• CC 57 Conner residence – MB
• CC 58 Conner Marina – MBChristhilf, Tony
• 7-04 Fred O’Fiesh – Fat Boys Café & Rest – C3
• 7-13 & 7-15 Magenau – C3 & W2
• Property @ 650 / 654 Deale Rd – C4

Walker indicated that he remained undecided on theses properties:

• CC 50 Lothian Circle, Chaney – C3
• CC 8 Criswell Property – Southern Police Station – C4
• CC 21 SRC / Bruno – Split zone C3 & RA
• CC 22 Maragousis – Split zone C3 & RA

Walker told his constituents that he knew not all would agree with his choices.

"I am sure we will not agree on everything that I submit for amendment, but please understand that I have spent countless hours studying these recommendations and I am trying to reach the best decision I can, given the information available," he said.

The Criswell property was the focus of several hours of the most recent public hearing for District 7's comprehensive rezoning, with arguments heard on both sides of the issue on whether a car dealership at the gateway to south county was desireable for the community. 

Walker has yet to weigh in on the proposal, but Monday will be the last chance to fit it under the wing of comprehensive rezoning. 

Amendment CC10, on farmland located at 2256 Cox Road in Gambrills, was voted down by a 3-4 vote at the County Council's last meeting. Walker has changed the proposed rezoning, from R5 down to R1, in the hopes that it will survive a second pass.

On Sunday morning, Edgewater Patch received email correspondence indicating that phone calls were made on Saturday (July 30) from both Councilman Jerry Walker and Council Chair Dick Ladd (R-Arnold) indicating that the two final "undecided" properties—the Bruno and Maragousis parcels at the southwest intersection of Routes 2 and 214—were indeed going to be upzoned to commercial use at the Monday night meeting.

According to the email, the owner of one of those parcels, John Bruno, who also owns South River Colony Main Street, is indicating to council members that the homeowners association of South River Colony (South River Colony Conservancy) is in general agreement to upzone the property through a special agreement.

However, the talks between SRCC and Bruno (the sources of the "special agreement") broke down in June of 2010 and South River Colony Conservancy has opposed the rezoning application throughout the process.

Edgewater Patch sent an email to Walker to get clarification on this list on Sunday, but have not yet received an answer to our inquiry.

Single Amendment for District 6

District 6 Councilman Chris Trumbauer's final amendments are also due by Monday. He has said he only has one to submit, a small-business rezoning in Crownsville.

• CC28: 1361 and 1369 Generals Highway in Crownsville - RLD to SB

Trumbauer said he is still weighing his options on this proposal, but wants to have open discussion on it.

"I had this drafted about a month ago and I have been trying to decide whether or not to support it. I am still undecided, but I think there is enough merit to warrant a public discussion," Trumbauer said.

The council will meet to vote on these amendments at 7 p.m. Monday in the council's chambers. A final vote with the complete package of amendments will take place later this month.