Protest In Towson Planned One Year After 'Tree Massacre'

TOWSON, MD — Concerned citizens in Towson are planning what they are calling a "Treegate Anniversary Protest Rally." The event will draw attention to Baltimore County's removal of 30 mature trees at the corner of York Road and Bosley Avenue in 2017.

Protesters plan to chant and vow "Never again," near the site of the controversial Towson Station project, where Baltimore County broke its agreement to preserve the trees. Citizens said that the county took out the trees in April 2017 at taxpayers' expense to benefit a developer.

Developer Caves Valley Partners had planned to purchase the property, where the old fire station was, and build a Royal Farms gas station there. However, the property was not zoned for such a use and required special permission. Community members rallied against making an exception for the project, which they said was not appropriate for the location, partly due to the traffic.

After trees were uprooted at the site in the spring 2017, Baltimore County Chief Administration Officer Fred Homan said at a council meeting that the county was "trying to accelerate the close of the property" by clearing the land since "the county needs the cash" to finance the new fire station, the Towson Flyer reported.

The firehouse moved in December 2015 to 204 Courtland Avenue to a new building with drive-through bays and other features reflective of current public safety standards. According to the county, the new firehouse cost $7.6 million. When it opened, county officials said the cost to taxpayers was $0 because the sale of the land where the firehouse used to be would cover it.

When the removal of the trees came to light following residents' outcry, County Councilman David Marks recommended the project be put on hold. He cited the bulldozing of 30 trees as a violation of the council's resolution, approved in 2016, which stipulates that "...existing mature trees that surround the site are protected."

Using the land for a gas station did not ultimately go through, and the county is reviewing plans for the developer to buy the site. Caves Valley would pay $5 million for the 5.8-acre site under the new terms, according to The Baltimore Sun, which reported the developer formally agreed in January not to pursue putting a Royal Farms there and will instead consider a non-24-hour business, unless it is an urgent care clinic.

Mission BBQ, Mod Pizza and Men's Wearhouse are among the tenants planning to set up shop in the Towson Station project, according to WBAL Radio.

Save Towson Gateway, the group of community activists planning to demonstrate about the removal of the trees, says its Treegate Anniversary Protest Rally will be held at 5 p.m. on April 2, before the County Council meeting; at that event, several community members plan to continue protesting at 6 p.m. at the Old Towson Courthouse building at 400 Washington Avenue, Room 205.

"The protesters are rallying for honest government, vowing county elected officials will never again treat the community with such disdain," according to a statement from community organizers, who say they "intend to Save Baltimore County by electing a County Executive and County Council that is accountable to the people they serve and not the developers who wish to make themselves wealthy on Baltimore County land."

RELATED: Councilman Opposes Royal Farms Gas Station Proposal

Image via Shutterstock.

This article has been updated.