Sewer Lines, Sidewalks Planned for Cowenton Avenue

Ready or not, changes are coming to Cowenton Avenue.

Within the next year to two years, a public sewer line is planned to extend along the half-mile stretch between East Joppa Road and Panorama Drive. Sidewalks are also planned for the quarter-mile stretch between Morning Dove and Honeybrook ways.

And, possibly in 2016, all of Cowenton could be widened and improved.

Baltimore County's capital budget lists the entire project's five-year cost at $4.8 million.

Residents of Cowenton, which cuts through north Perry Hall and into old White Marsh, to discuss how infrastructure improvements would impact properties.

County officials, including County Councilman David Marks and Mike Filsinger, a project engineer, provided maps and information and moderated discussion from the meeting room.

While several attendees left with unanswered questions, Marks promised that more meetings and information would follow.

"That's why I organized this meeting," Marks said. "It was about bringing people together."

Because the sewer extension is deemed a health project by Baltimore County, residents asked how much of the cost to hook up and destroy current septic systems would be government subsidized.

Some pointed to a planned Lilac Lane sewer extension with concerns that the extension could also double their property taxes.

Read about Lilac Lane in the Patch article ""

Officials agreed to contact the department of public works for information on the projected cost.

Resident Kati Van Poppel, however, said she is concerned about faulty septic systems along the road and is looking forward to the sewer line.

"Just to have that state of security that comes with having a clean line—it's worth the cost," Van Poppel said.

"If we all band together, maybe we can find a plumber and help bring down the cost [of sewer hookups]," she said.

Residents also asked questions about the upcoming sidewalk project. The county has already begun the process to appraise and purchase strips of property from landowners for sidewalk construction.

When finished, the sidewalks are expected to improve accessibility to and between two housing developments.

Marks said he will contact each landowner before voting to approve the sale of land to the county. "I take these projects very seriously," he said.

Officials agreed to provide more information on the land appraisal process and the expected impact of construction.

Kathy Martin, a Cowenton resident who led part of the meeting and represented the Perry Hall Improvement Association, said increased communication between community members and county officials is a must, but the meeting was a step in the right direction.

"We're interested in helping the neighborhood figure out what's going on," Martin said.