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Community groups clash on Kali Drive property

254-unit townhouse development in Eldersburg sparks concern from residents

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006

Kali Drive residents who left Carrolltowne United to start their own grassroots group hope to schedule a meeting with county officials and the developer of a 254-unit townhouse development in Eldersburg to speed up their fight to address traffic and safety concerns.

Tracey Brocious, a Kali Drive resident, said Carrolltowne United came together to oppose the townhouse development, adding now that the 254-units are a done deal, she and many of her neighbors would prefer to fight their battles separate from Carrolltowne United.

Plans for a 254-unit townhouse development at Kali Drive and Ridge Road are near completion. Carrolltowne United unsuccessfully tried to reach an agreement with Security Development, an Ellicott City based developer, to downscale the project.

The group met Nov. 2 to discuss concerns, seek input, and explore options for the 20-acre townhouse development.

Bracious and nine other Kali Drive residents attended the meeting to voice their dissatisfaction with Carrolltowne United’s progress in working toward settling traffic and road issues with the plan.

‘‘We would really like to take over this issue because it is our street and our issue that is most affected,” she said. ‘‘Are we not better equipped to do that because we are the residents of Kali Drive?”

Residents have opposed the plan since the mid-1990s due to the development’s size and issues such as traffic and noise, which they expect will increase as a result of the development.

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

Changing access to the development and escalating traffic volumes are among residents’ top priorities.

Kali Drive residents argue that turning the street into a cul-de-sac would improve traffic volume and safety on their street.

Michele Carroll, president and co-founder of Carrolltowne United, said the community group’s board has spent the past year establishing a working relationship with the developer and the county. Carroll, a resident of Ridge Road since 1995, said splitting the community in two does not reap positive benefits.

‘‘The mission of Carrolltowne United was to find viable solutions, and that continues to be the mission,” she said.

Carroll said the issue does not solely affect Kali Drive residents. ‘‘Does it affect Kali Drive a lot? Yes. Do I support Kali Drive? Yes,” she said. ‘‘But the point of Carrolltowne United is to let all voices be heard.”

Ron Capwell, a Kali Drive resident, disagreed. Capwell said he would rather those who are directly affected fight this battle alone.

‘‘Carrolltowne United are outsiders to us; it’s our issue,” he said.

Capwell stressed that time is of the essence.

‘‘This is my house and my family, and I will not sit back and let people who don’t live on this street make decisions for me,” he said. ‘‘There will not be one voice.”

Carroll argued that Carrolltowne United has never been about one voice, but a representation of all residents in the community.

‘‘We try to make the best for everyone and that embraces the idea of a cul-de-sac and other traffic issues which help the community,” she said.

Dave Sherwood, spokesman for Carrolltowne United, said he does not believe Kali Drive residents are in a position to negotiate with the developer and the county.

‘‘We want Carrolltowne United to do the negotiations for Kali Drive,” he said. ‘‘We’ve been trying to create the conditions for them to sit down with them.”

Sherwood added that Kali Drive has been acknowledged with the highest priority; however, there are other areas affected.

‘‘There’s more that’s going to be impacted here then Kali Drive – schools, water, safety, crime and traffic,” he said.

Cory Grzymala, vice president of Carrolltowne United and a Kali Drive resident, has been a part of the group since its start. She said she has observed a disconnect between the two groups since the beginning.

‘‘I have never been included in a meeting with the county, Carrolltowne United and the developer since day one,” she said. ‘‘So why should Carrolltowne United represent me now?”

Some residents, such as Philip Baines, feel the contention is unnecessary.

Baines lives three blocks from Kali Drive on Ridge Road, where he has lived for the past 48 years. He has been with Carrolltowne United from the start and disagrees with the request to divide the community in two.

‘‘Carrolltowne United and Kali Drive need to get together; this is a community headache,” he said. ‘‘This is the first time in a year I’ve spoken up but I don’t like what’s happening.”

Ken Speulstra’s property is one of the most affected, positioned on the corner of Kali and Falstaff drives.

Speulstra, a five-year resident, said, ‘‘there’s nothing that Kali Drive residents provided that says they will do a better job then Carrolltowne United has done. ... If Kali Drive residents want faster action on this one issue, maybe Carrolltowne United needs to step aside on this one thing.”