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Howard passes bill aimed at revitalizing Route 1 projects
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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Developers looking to fast track their building projects on Route 1 must donate land along the corridor for elementary schools, community centers or other amenities in coming years.
“It allows developments to be advanced if the developer donates land to the county,” said Councilwoman Courtney Watson, D-District 1, referring to a bill passed by the Howard County Council on Monday.
The donated land has to be “suitable for the construction of public amenities in the Route 1 corridor,” but there’s no designation stipulating how much land, according to the legislation, which will go into effect by the end of the summer.
The legislation was targeted for a few projects, like the Savage MARC Station project, which includes housing, and development at Alladin Mobile Home Park, which have been stalled for a lack of financing.
“It doesn’t increase the [housing] units or density,” said Councilwoman Jen Terrasa, D-District 3, of the legislation.
“But what it does is allow them to be built sooner.”
Developers will be able to take 125 housing allocations per year by borrowing from future allocation years, under the new legislation.
The county allows for 1,850 housing units to be built each year; of these, 250 are along the Route 1 corridor.
The process for seeking approval for development depends on how far out the allocations are, and right now they’re taken for the next three years, said Marsha McLaughlin, the county’s planning director.
In addition, the project’s size and complexity dictate the length of the process, said Kevin Enright, county spokesman.
County Executive Ken Ulman said he recommended the original bill to provide flexibility with the revitalization of Route 1 by not preventing projects from being held up.
“I’m glad they’re looking at developers giving land back to the community for the public facilities,” said Elizabeth Eggleston, who lives in the Elkridge community.
The bill passed with an amendment that excludes a portion of the Elkridge area from development.
“We still have some concerns about the pace of development, but overall we’re happy with the majority of Elkridge being taken out,” said Eggleston.
Elkridge has seen heavy development over the past five to 10 years and needs time for public facilities to catch up to the growth, Watson said.
jkowalkowski@baltimoreexaminer.com
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11:36 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 30, 2008 re: "Howard to pare take-home cars after report of excessive travel"
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Examiner Reader said:
Ken Ulman should set an example how he is cutting back and drive himself to the county government complex each day. He should also eliminate his 24/7 police escort he has had since he's been in office. Do other county executives have 24/7 police escorts? These officers could provide better services to the citizens of the county in other capacities. And, what about those positions he found or created for his friends? Anyone who has followed what he's done so far can see he is all about building his political career and moving onto bigger and better things. Let's hope he doesn't win a second term.
5 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
No executive staff members will lose their take-home vehicles. Okay, if take home cars weren't meant to be a benefit, then why do they still get them? I doubt having to drive in their own cars to work will "compromise county services." Hey Ulman, what are you going to spend THIS money on?
6 agree | 1 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Hey Kenny, take home cars aren't green. The only thing green about you is your ability to waste other peoples money.
1 agree | 0 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Perhaps Ulman can drive himself to work now, scrapping the 24/7 police escort he set up for himself.
1 agree | 0 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
How can Ken Ulman and the county council spend our money on wasteful positions and recycling bins when our schools and county government buildings are literally falling apart. One day he celebrates the fact that we have a surplus and now he crying poor mouth. If you want a perfect example of corrupt leadership look no further then our own local politicians. Quote from Ken Ulman: "The citizens who live here are willing to support the higher costs associated with the level and quality of police and fire services, as well as public schools" I understand we need public safety but he should not use our public safety servants as a deflection to warrant higher taxes and his inability to manage a county budget.
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Examiner Reader said:
Cost of Living increase??? The Howard County employees do not receive cost of living increases. That is why most of them live in neighboring jurisdictions. Those increases were scale adjustments not COLA's or connected to CPI, ECI or any other index. They were scale adjustments. That is Ken Ulman's own words. Ken Ulman and the county council view the general workforce as the red headed step child and view the Police and Fire department as a highly skilled and qualified workforce of Howard County. The Fire and Police Dept.'s do not require college degrees but their starting pay is higher than most professional entry level county positions which do require 4 year degrees. If you want to cut a bloated budget how about cutting back on the Fire and Police Departments 5% and 6% increases. Either that how about cutting back on Ken Ulman's wasteful positions he has created for his friends. Ulman and the people who run HoCo are incompetent and a joke!!
3 agree | 1 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Jim Robey was bad enough but Ken Ulman has taken the cake when it comes to spending. Until the voters of Howard County wake up and do the right thing at the polls, it will only get worse. In the meantime, Councilwoman Cochran and Councilman Fox, keep up the good work.
1 agree | 0 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
So Kenny got caught gaming the system. Hey, how else does a goverment school graduate and functional illerate get a good goverment job if not from his friends?
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Examiner Reader said:
Way to go Ulman. Way to squander the County surplus on sweetheart deals to campaign contributors! This guy does not deserve a second term.
1 agree | 0 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Budgetcuts! Has economy reality finally trumped Ulman's spending spree? Wonderful!
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Examiner Reader said:
Ulman says times are tough, so let's "only" hire 43 more employees. This guy is out of touch. Maybe we should elect someone with some executive experience, instead of his 10 jobs over 10 years.
3 agree | 0 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Another crappy decision by Ulman. I wish our party would nominate someone talented instead of this guy.
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Examiner Reader said:
Another reason to get rid of Kenny. I pay $5K in property taxes and the HC government can't pay for trask pick-up without a $175.00 surcharge that they now want to raise 29%! These political hacks need to be kicked out of office.
1 agree | 0 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
How does firing 15 people and creating new positions save money amongst Ulman's continuing spending? And I seem to recycle just fine without it being mandatory to own a bin.
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Examiner Reader said:
This notion of forcing residents to own recycling bins by raising fees is ridiculous. It doesn't make any sense. And just how can Ulman call this a tight budget when he funds close to 200 new positions, gives raises, and provides health care? Then why the urgency of firing 15 people? As with the recycling bins, Ulman is using the budget to fund his personal agenda and to support his friends he hired into county positions.
2 agree | 0 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
"...necessary to demonstrate their political support to the community..." This will be even harder to achieve with no GTV, which was recently abolished by our self-obsessed county executive, Ken Ulman.
1 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
if we are going to question anyone's qualifications, we should start with ulman. at least feldmark doesn't claim to have all sorts of experience he doesn't. now ulman on the other hand. what a fraud that guy is.
2 agree | 0 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Sigaty only lost to Ulman (by less than 50 votes, BTW) because Ulman claimed he was "Secretary of the Cabinet" and a "Clinton White House Staffer" and "Director, Board of Public Works" and Ulman's daddy helped him buy his way into office. Ulman is a joke who deserves to be replaced. Good for you - Mary Kay! Maybe you or some other qualified Democrat will run against Ulman, because Ulman just appoints his high school chums and gives his donors sweetheart real estate lease deals.
18 agree | 10 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Ken Ulman has become a bad joke in this county. No matter who we talk to, the next election can not come fast enough. He'll be back practicing law and again ripping off his clients very soon. Better days are coming folks.
16 agree | 15 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
This is an opportunity for Sigaty to eliminate usless an political office that will cost HC taxpayers and have no environmental impact from a scientific perspective. HC doesn't have this position now and doesn't need it in the future. Ulman is a green fool.
12 agree | 14 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Odd, only after cutting Gtv does the council outline their broadcast needs. You don't know what you have until it's gone! And what exactly will be saved by this cut? Ulman speaks of studio cost when it's housed in a building the government already owns. And equipment costs? About half that of the new positions created when he took office. Perhaps the floor of that building in Oakland Mills he wants to purchase will be used to staff a new government station with his friends and campaign contributors.
28 agree | 21 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
There will still be no direct county employee responsible for covering HC government. How can the government hold HCC employees responsible for taping their meetings? They don't receive a paycheck from the government, and what happens when a meeting doesn't get covered? Will the Executive and Council deny funds to the college as punishment?
17 agree | 19 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Make up your minds!! Ulman cuts GTV to save money. Then the council wants additional coverage that GTV is... or was, capable of. Then, hiring new positions may be necessary? After just laying off the GTV staff? Come on Ulman! What poor planning and foresight is this?? It seems to be a complete mystery what "savings" will occur, and that you and the council were never on the same page in regards to television coverage needs. Doesn't sound very efficient to me, though neither does personal, around the clock police transportation, renovating just your offices on the third floor of the Howard building, buying hybrid cars for county fleets in which the upfront cost outweighs the savings, hiring new positions not needed in your so-called "cabinet", and planning to pay for a health plan in a year where he is warned about his spending and a possible deficit. Give me a break! Brace yourself voters, we are only one year into this administration!
30 agree | 13 disagree
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