Mike Ertel is president of the Greater Towson Council of Community Associations — again. He started his second two-year term in December. But this time around, he is prepared. During his first term as president from 2006-08, he wasn't.
"Little did I know it's one of the hardest jobs," Ertel said about leading GTCCA, which was founded as an all-volunteer nonprofit umbrella group in the 1970s to coordinate efforts with Baltimore County officials, private developers and other heavyweights on the Towson scene.
"We wanted them to consult with the neighborhoods," said Ertel, 48, a commercial insurance broker and West Towson resident who is married and the father of three teenagers. He has long been active in GTCCA.
But it's easier said than done. Not all of the 30-plus neighborhood associations that belong to the umbrella group, agree with each other or with GTCCA.
Whatever their differences, though, Ertel said, they share a common goal:
"We want Towson to be a viable place to live," he said. "It's a livability issue."
On a wintry afternoon, Ertel came from work to a local coffee shop to talk to a reporter. He is a pleasant man with an amiable manner. Then he started talking about Towson and the scenario darkens.
"People love this community," he said, himself obviously among them. "It's got a long, rich history. It's known for its small-town feel, for its friendly walkable neighborhoods."
These days, though, practically everywhere Ertel looks, he sees threats to Towson's character. He doesn't think it unrealistic to want to maintain the charm. He doesn't consider it unreasonable to ask elected officials, or private developers, or university bigwigs to be sensitive to the community.
But others do, he said.
"If you question anything, you're labeled anti-development," Ertel said. "It's frustrating."
GTCCA's member associations run east to west from Loch Raven Village to Ruxton, north to south from Hampton to Rodgers Forge. Roughly 55,000 residents live within those boundaries, mostly in single-family homes but also townhouses and condominium buildings.
But GTCCA doesn't have any regulatory authority or enforcement power. It can pressure elected officials with the power of the vote behind it. The association can speak with one voice on important issues. But when Baltimore County administrations change, so do priorities.
Ertel recalled the previous administration of County Executive Jim Smith, who encouraged development in Towson via Urban Design Assistance Teams or UDAT. There were public meetings called charettes. Developers, Towson University and other civic groups were involved. A common vision was created. And then, nothing.
"We went through the charettes but we didn't incorporate any of it. It was back to every man for himself," Ertel said.
As a counter-measure under Ertel's presidency, GTCCA has issued its first-ever vision statement. The statement identifies four critical areas with key problems in each and possible solutions.
The four areas are schools, safe and stable neighborhoods, Towson University's growth, and downtown Towson's revitalization. These are goals GTCCA has long advocated but they are now articulated in a document, he said.
Ertel had examples of current problems that are of concern to GTCCA:
• A developer would like to have the option of putting a large sign, perhaps even with flashing lights, atop his high-rise building.The signwould be somuch bigger than what's allowed that it would be visible from Cockeysville. "It's urban, it's Las Vegas-style," he said, and not compatible with Towson's character.
• Towson University is bursting at the seams. Full-time students have increased from 17,667 in fall 2004 to 22,285 in fall 2014, he said. They have to live somewhere, but absentee landlord-owned rental houses are decimating neighborhoods.
"The houses are investment property and the landlords don't live in Towson or even in Maryland," Ertel said. "They don't care if the house becomes a nuisance. But the residents in the neighborhood do."
• Towson University again, this time related to a plan to accommodate traffic at the intersection of Osler Drive and Towsontown Boulevard. The university wants the county to expand the intersection 25 feet north, into the yards of 10 houses, according to Ertel. TU is not interested in splitting the yardage between the home-owners and university property.
Ertel also talked about overcrowded public schools, lax code enforcement and the density of proposed York Road residential developments. He hardly considers himself the proverbial little Dutch boy with his finger in the dike but there is, he said, "a fine line" before a neighborhood falls apart and residents choose to move elsewhere.
Josh Glikin, a former GTTCA board member and current adviser, has worked with Ertel for the past eight years. During that time, Ertel "has been involved in virtually every important governmental issue and decision that impacted Towson," said Glikin, an attorney.
Glikin estimated that in the last two to three years, more than 15,000 housing units, either condos or apartments, have been built or are planned in Towson. He agreesd with Ertel that this explosive development is a major issue, resulting in what Glikin called a "subset" of problems.
"The developers have passed the burden to the residents," Glikin said of problems like the accelerated overcrowding of schools and lack of open space.
Paul Hartman, immediate past president of GTTCA, said the group tries to maintain a constant, visible presence.
"We don't want to be seen as coming out of the woodwork when issues arise," said Hartman, owner of Computer Engineering Group and part-time radio host on WTMD-FM. "We want to show that we are fair and balanced and support a lot of the development going on in the Towson area."
County Councilman David Marks, a Republican who represents Towson, is familiar with GTTCA and with Ertel, a Democrat who ran against him for the council seat in 2010. Although Marks agrees with many of GTTCA's goals, he also pointed out initiatives to address them.
In recent years, the county has invested more than $100 million in Towson schools for improvements and to reduce overcrowding. During the county's 2012 Quadrennial comprehensive rezoning process, Marks lowered the zoning designations, or downzoned — lessened density designation — more than 67 acres in Towson. Marks is also planning to introduce a bill in the council that would result in more open space in downtown Towson.
"I look forward to a constructive dialogue" with GTCCA, Marks said.
Those who have worked with Ertel use words like "straightforward," "collaborative" and "committed" to describe his leadership style.
Ed Kilcullen of Towson Manor Village, who himself served as GTCCA president from 2007-2010, said Ertel has the ability to work well with people, even those with "competing efforts."
"In his previous term [as president], he worked with Greater Towson Committee, the Towson Chamber of Commerce. He will continue to strengthen those relationships and find common ground," Kilcullen said.
Lorrie Geiss of the Greenbrier Community Association described Ertel as one who is "very committed to making Towson a viable community, both for business and residents. ... He has always been a part of its community and its outreach."
Glendale-Glenmont Community Association member Joan Orozco, who has been a member of GTCCA since its inception, summed up Ertel's abilities this way: "He is a great community activist, a sincere person, and not afraid to meet challenges head on."
For more information on GTCCA go the the website at http://www.gtcca.org.