Residents Can Comment On Ellicott City Watershed Master Plan

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — Residents are encouraged to offer their opinions during a 30-day comment period about the current draft of the Ellicott City watershed master plan. This comprehensive, long-range document creates a community-driven vision for historic Ellicott City and the surrounding Tiber Branch Watershed. The master plan establishes goals, desired outcomes and policies for the next 20 years.

“As Ellicott City is about to celebrate its 250th anniversary, we want to ensure that this town continues to be one of Howard County’s most important economic epicenters, a landmark of American history and one of this nation’s best places to live,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “This master plan provides a long-term vision for a thriving Ellicott City that showcases the community – its people, commerce, history, culture and natural environment.”

The plan represents the culmination of a multi-year public outreach process that began in response to the 2016 flooding and builds upon Ball’s “Ellicott City Safe and Sound” flood mitigation plan.

Howard County’s department of planning and zoning has established several ways community members can engage and offer comments on the draft plan during the 30-day comment period. Details for reviewing the plan FAQ’s and a user guide are available at www.howardcountymd.gov/ecmp.

Community members will find a comprehensive menu of recommendations in the draft plan, grouped under five topics that apply to the entire watershed:

1. Community character and placemaking

2. Flood mitigation

3. Environmental sustainability

4. Economic development,

5. Transportation and parking.

The plan then illustrates how these topics apply to specific areas within the watershed, with recommendations and options for Main Street Ellicott City and the West End neighborhood. Once the 30-day public comment window closes, the planning and zoning department will compile all comments into a summary to be transmitted to the planning board and County Council this fall as part of the legislative process to adopt the master plan.