Catonsville (Map, News) - A recent Baltimore County ruling will force a prominent retirement company to alter expansion plans at its Catonsville campus, a decision neighbors are celebrating as the savior of a historic farmhouse once in jeopardy of demolition.

The county’s Board of Appeals reversed earlier this month approvals for Erickson Retirement Communities’ to raze the 1885-era Frederick House for a parking garage and expand the adjacent carriage house on its Charlestown Retirement Community campus. After months of testimony provided by residents in the nearby Kensington community, the board ruled the plans would overcrowd the campus and constituted more than the “refinement” they were approved as.

“It just proves you can get something done,” said resident Edith Robinson. “It gives you a sense that your government does work. I’m very happy.”

In its opinion, the board said Erickson can explore alternative sites for expansion, and officials from the national company said they intend to do just that. Originally proposing a 40,000-square-foot office building with a 40,000-square-foot garage attached and a new data center building, company spokesman Mel Tansill said they are preparing smaller-scale designs that will be more compatible to the surrounding community.

Tansill said the company expected the ruling.

“We want our national headquarters to stay in Catonsville if we can do this,” Tansill said. “Our roots are there. We want to stay there.”

County officials approved Erickson’ expansion plans in 2005 as a refinement to the company’s original 1991 construction proposal. Community activists said the case highlights the county’s overuse of approvals as refinements.

“Any developer can come in with a partial presentation and come back later and ‘refine’ the approved plan,” said Berchie Manley, a Catonsville activist and former county councilwoman. “The initial presentation should have all of it. They are deceiving the public.”

jmalarkey@baltimoreexaminer.com