Carrolltowne United considers options

Townhouse development sparks concern from residents

Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006

by Tammi Slater

Staff Writer

Carrolltowne United will meet today to discuss traffic concerns over a planned 254-unit townhouse development in Eldersburg.

The grassroots community group, which opposed the development on Kali Drive, wants to work with Security Development Corporation and the county on improving roads, access points and traffic flow with the project, said Michele Carroll, president and co-founder of Carrolltowne United.

Some residents propose installing a cul-de-sac and adding a right-in⁄right-out access off of Md. Route 26 to decrease the number of access points on Kali Drive.

The community group will meet at 7 p.m. today at the South Carroll Senior Center, 5745 Bartholow Road, Eldersburg. Members plan to discuss concerns, seek community input, and explore options for the 20-acre proposed townhouse development project at the corner of Kali Drive and Ridge Road in Eldersburg.

A State Highway Administration spokesman and the county attorney are expected to attend.

Carroll is optimistic that road and traffic alternatives will be considered by the county, she said.

Rob Moxley, principal of Security Development, declined to comment on suggestions proposed by Carrolltowne United.

“We are working on the plan in accordance with the county’s instruction,“ Moxley said. “At this time we are bound only to respond to the letter of instruction by the county attorney.“

Moxley did not know when the development would break ground or be completed. “At this time we are working on the plans in response to the county attorney’s instruction.“

Steve Horn, director of the Department of Planning, said the developer is tweaking the plan to comply with the code. He added that he expects to see the plans soon.

“They are not substantive changes but minor adjustments to satisfy local codes,“ he said. “We are preceding in compliance with the court's order.“

Horn anticipates a meeting with Carrolltowne residents, the Department of Planning, the county attorney and the developer to discuss traffic concerns.

“I expect we will sit down to discuss some potential improvements to the plan soon,“ he said. “Particularly in terms of traffic.“

Dave Sherwood, spokesman for Carrolltowne United, said today’s meeting “is the result of work the county has done with the developer behind the scenes.“

“This is an opportunity to mitigate the safety of the neighborhood,“ Sherwood said.

Chuck Gischlar, a State Highway Administration spokesman, said the state requires a traffic study from developers. “We review the study and inspect it to make sure it’s up to our standards,“ he said. “We are essentially a third party, but we do review traffic studies to see if there will be a traffic impact.“

The traffic study is expected in the next few weeks, he said.

Cheryle Franceschi, co-founder of Carrolltowne United, said the development also affects surrounding areas.

“It’s not just the 20 houses on Kali Drive,“ she said. “It’s McDuff Court, Falstaff Drive, Othello Drive and Gladstone Drive.“

Her biggest concerns are schools and fire and emergency services, Franceschi said.

“Is there anything in the capital improvement plan to handle this? We’ve got a lot more people coming in,“ she said. “It seems like the storm water management and traffic are being addressed but what about police and schools?“

“This impacts Eldersburg as a whole and I don’t think a cul-de-sac is going to solve the bigger issues,“ Franceschi said.

Plans for the proposed development progressed in early September following a Maryland Court of Special Appeals decision.

Residents began opposing the plan in the mid-1990s due to the development’s size and issues such as traffic and noise which they expect will increase.

The 254-units would complete the last phase of the Carrolltowne development, a subdivision that has been in place since 1972.

Carroll encourages residents to attend tonight's meeting.

“We urge as many people to attend as possible because this will impact everyone,“ she said. “We want to give everyone a chance for input and to voice their concerns.“