Residents Speak of Ellicott City Mixed-Income Development

At a public hearing that stretched into early Tuesday, Howard County residents testified in favor of redeveloping land containing an aging apartment complex, but said they worried about the density of a new mixed-income residential area.

In contrast to a at the Roger Carter Recreation Center, the majority of Monday’s hearing attendees spoke in favor of a development, and a resolution that would hand the land over the Howard County Housing Commission for the development, which would allow for the construction of a total of 278 units in pockets along Ellicott Mills Drive in Ellicott City.

At about 11 p.m., County Council Chairman Calvin Ball asked those opposed to the resolution and those in favor to stand, allowing them to indicate their position without having to wait to testify.

Four stood in opposition, while 15 stood in favor.

Of the four who opposed, a couple later testified they were not completely against the development but had serious concerns they wanted addressed.

One of those residents was Joseph Hauser, who lives on Fels Lane near the Roger Carter Recreation Center, which would be torn down under tentative plans by developer Stavrou Associates. The land would be used for housing and a new center would be built on the other side of Ellicott Mills Drive.

“Is there no sensitivity to the Historic District?” Hauser asked. He said he was concerned that renters on Fels Lane would not be as invested in the area as homeowners.

He also said he was worried about property upkeep, saying he had been cutting the grass near the Hilltop Development, a county-owned, public housing complex that would also be redeveloped as part of the proposed project.

“The rest of the project looks great,” he said. “The density, I believe, is too much.”

Several attendees—from neighbors to Main Street business owners—also expressed concern over the proposed density of the project. At Hilltop alone, 204 units of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments would replace 94 existing apartments.

Final testimony came just before midnight from Joseph Henley, who said he and his family recently moved to the adjacent Chapel Hill neighborhood, fully aware of the project. He said he welcomed it.

“We looked forward to seeing the Hilltop Community transform,” he said.  “It goes without saying that this 40-year-old development has fallen into disrepair and should be redeveloped at this time.”

But Henley, who said he worked for a development company that also submitted a bid for the project, added that an increase to 204 units at Hilltop,  “along with building a recreation center and a parking garage, is far beyond what I think the community can absorb.”

The next community meeting regarding the project is scheduled for March 30.