Wegmans moves forward in Howard

Columbia (Map, News) - The fate of a 92-foot clock tower and the contested traffic study for the planned Wegmans in Columbia remain up the air, as decisions on perhaps the most contentious parts of the project have been delayed.

The county’s Planning Board approved most of the building’s site development plan Thursday, not including the clock tower, which exceeds the 50-foot height limit.

Developers first need to post a sign at the location notifying the community of a meeting about the building plan, a requirement in the county zoning regulations, board members said.

Wegmans officials said they didn’t think they needed to post the 15-day notice, but will do so and return to the board for approval.

“That’s just an accessory,” said Wegmans project manager Stephen Leaty, referring to the tower.

Most of the newly built stores include a tower, which officials called a “trademark element.” Wegmans has a store in Hunt Valley and also is planning to build in Crofton.

Meanwhile, the traffic study conducted for the site, which was approved by the county’s Department of Planning and Zoning, has been appealed to the hearing examiner.

Opponents to the proposed two-story, 160,000-square-foot Wegmans Food Market at the intersection of Snowden River Parkway and McGaw Road have said the traffic study of the area underestimated the volume of congestion.

The study by Baltimore-based Traffic Group didn’t consider the size of the store and traffic generated on Saturdays, opponents said.

Planning board members determined they didn’t have the authority to delay a decision on the site plan based on the appeal.

But they weren’t without their reservations following residents’ concerns raised at a public hearing in early January.

“We certainly were a forum where people could raise these [traffic] issues,” said Board Chairwoman Tammy CitaraManis, adding county planners will have to defend their traffic study approval during the appeal process.

Leaty said, “It’s hard to say” how the appeals will affect the construction of the building.

“We’ll have to see how it goes.”

smichael@baltimoreexaminer.com

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