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News Flash from Community Park


The Hearing Officer's Hearing to determine if our plan meets County guidelines for approval was completed on September 27, 2007. The revised plan meets all County requirements so a written order indicating approval will be issued within 15 days.

Summary of revised park features:

Indoor arena is gone
Four fields instead of six
Parking reduced from 591 to 338 spaces
Stormwater management faciltites reduced from 3 to 1
56 acres preserved in a private lot

Last updated: 2010-09-08 at 22:49:28
Chair person: Eric van den Beemt     Email the chair person    Telephone: 410-472-9043
Registration deadline:
Basic information: Hereford Zone Community Park Initiative
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Background

For the last seven years, the Hereford Zone Recreation Council (and before that, the Hereford Recreation Council) has tried to convince Baltimore County to buy land and build a regional park in the Hereford Zone. Given our less-densely populated area, we were not included in former County Executive Dutch Ruppersberger's County Park Initiative, in which six large regional parks were funded and built in other areas of the County. Under Jim Smith’s administration an attempt was made to purchase land in the Maryland Line area but the cost escalated beyond their resources and no alternative property at a reasonable cost has been located.

It is for this reason that we have initiated a private effort to begin the development of our own park. It is our intention to fund the initial phase with funds raised privately from the community, and then donate the improved property to Baltimore County Recreation and Parks for completion. This will move the project along more quickly than if we were to give the unimproved land directly to the County.

Progress to Date

A six-year search for land in the Hereford Zone turned up little suitable land. We have contacted Baltimore County and the State of Maryland regarding land inventory, analyzed available space at our schools, tried to acquire access to the Parkton Landfill, spoken with farmers who we thought might be willing to sell land, worked with realtors, and spoken with the Catholic Church about land they own. None of these efforts has been fruitful.

Finally, in the spring of 2004, we worked with Randy Shelley on a plan to have part of a Middletown Rd. property donated to the Rec. Council.

The preliminary plan was discussed with the community through meetings with various community organizations over several months.

The Freeland Community Association voted on September 13, 2005 to oppose the entire project. While they do not appear to have any grounds for opposition to the County (we are not asking for anything that is not allowed under current zoning regulations) their opposition centers primarily on the grounds that "We don't want it" and "It doesn't belong in this area".

On September 26, 2005, we participated in the Community Input Meeting at Prettyboy Elementary. This was an opportunity for those either in favor or opposed to the project to ask questions of the developer or of HZRPC.

On October 26, 2005, at the monthly meeting of HZRPC in the HHS auditorium, approximately 400 supporters listened as program leaders spoke about the challenges they face in trying to operate their program with limited indoor and outdoor facilities. Councilman McIntire and other County officials heard from leaders representing thousands of kids about these needs. We thank everyone who attended for bringing this clear message to County personnel.

The Freeland Community Association petitioned the Zoning Office of Baltmore County to review our plan and rule on whether our proposal would be allowed on the property on Middletown Road. A hearing was held on May 17, 2006 to listen to their argument. On July 10, 2006 the Deputy Zoning Commissioner ruled that our plan is "allowed by right" on the property.

In May of 2007 a compromise agreement was reached with the Freeland Community Association, Randy Shelley, and the Hereford Zone Recreation and Parks Council. The revised plan is significantly smaller and does not include an Indoor Arena. This plan was presented to Baltimore County officials and others at a Development Plan Conference, then one final day of the Hearing Officer's Hearing on Sept. 27th, 2007.

Important Dates

Next Steps

The Hearing Officer should issue a written approval of this latest plan within 15 days of the Sept. 27, 2007 hearing.

Without a further appeal by the opposition we could begin the development phase next year.

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