Members of the Baltimore County Council will weigh new rules for redevelopment at the Fort Howard VA campus next week amid rumblings that another developer is considering a role in the project.
Councilman Todd Crandell's proposal for a special overlay zone at Fort Howard would limit the site to 400 residential units, which could be a combination of homes and assisted living units. Council members will discuss the overlay during a work session July 21, with a vote tentatively scheduled for Aug. 1.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs owns the 104-acre property on the Chesapeake Bay in eastern Baltimore County that was once used as an Army installation. More recently, the property was home to a veterans hospital that closed in 2002.
Since the closure, the VA has leased the property to developers with the goal of redeveloping the site. The first developer, John Infantino, couldn't get his Bayside at Fort Howard project off the ground and was ordered to return money to veterans who had paid deposits to secure spots.
The current developer, Timothy Munshell, also failed to make progress on his initial proposal — The Landings at Fort Howard. That concept that would have included about 1,400 units of independent senior living, assisted living and nursing care, as well as a 112-room hotel, more than 100,000 square feet of retail shops and nearly 60,000 square feet of offices.
Crandall previously refused to introduce legislation that would have enabled Munshell to build his larger project.
Munshell may be considering a partnership with Armando Cignarale of Timonium's Cignal Corp., which has developed dozens of residential and office projects in the Baltimore region.
Cignarale spoke at a community meeting in late June, telling audience members he was joining the project, according to people who attended the meeting. Crandall said Cignarale briefed him on a plan for 400 townhomes that would be marketed to veterans and a 100-bed assisted-living facility.
Cignarale confirmed last week he's interested in Fort Howard, but said his involvement is not yet finalized.
"We're studying it," he said.
He declined to comment further, and Munshell did not respond to requests for comment.
A VA spokesperson said the agency is aware that "there have been discussions" about a new developer coming on board, but "the changes have not been finalized."
Crandell said he's hopeful that whatever plan emerges for Fort Howard will be appropriate for the property and can pass muster with the surrounding community.
"I'm extremely cautious," said Crandell, a Dundalk Republican. "I want to protect us from just another bad experience on this property. We've had disappointments. We've had false promises. We've had unreasonable development proposals. I just want to make sure we're not going down this road again."
Crandell's overlay zone would allow for no more than 400 residential units. If the developer proposes 100 beds of assisted living, that would count as 25 units of the 400 units. A supportive housing center for veterans, which is required by the VA, would count for 50 units, leaving 325 private homes to be built, Crandell said.
Crandell said that with uncertainty over the development team and concerns from neighbors, it's possible that the overlay zone will be amended before the council's vote on Aug. 1.
Scott Pappas, vice president of the Fort Howard Community Association, said he's optimistic that if Cignarale does get involved, it will be a positive for Fort Howard.
Residents of the Fort Howard neighborhood next to the VA property have expressed concern about the size of past proposals and how the developments could affect the peninsula's two-lane road and utilities. Many have steadfastly advocated that any redevelopment project at Fort Howard should be focused on veterans, given the property's lengthy military history.
"I believe there are great possibilities at this time," Pappas said.
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