Goucher College in Towson faces concern and opposition from neighbors over its proposal to rezone more than 8 acres near the campus entrance for commercial use.
Residents say they're worried because Goucher hasn't disclosed its plans for the property, a parcel on corner of the campus along busy Dulaney Valley Road between the entrance to Goucher and Southerly Road.
"Our position has been, from the beginning, that we are going to oppose the rezoning unless and until they reveal what their development intentions are, and discuss with us some possible limitations," said Sander Wise, a resident of the nearby Edenwald retirement community who heads the residents association's zoning committee.
The 8.6-acre parcel in question is a small but visible piece of the 287-acre Goucher campus. It's currently a largely wooded area with a small one-story building leased to a tenant, though designated for a mix of office and residential uses.
The college requested a change to a commercial "town center" zoning as part of Baltimore County's comprehensive rezoning, a countywide review process that happens once every four years. The Goucher request is among hundreds the County Council is scheduled to decide on by the end of August.
Goucher College Vice President Lynne Lochte said officials haven't decided what they want to put on the land.
"We haven't committed to anything at this point," Lochte said. "We're trying to explore our options, but the rezoning happens only every four years."
The college is considering options such as a conference center, concert space or graduate student housing, she said. The college could mix multiple types of uses on the parcel.
Lochte said she hopes neighbors will trust the college — founded in Baltimore in 1885 — to put an attractive "mission-focused" development on the parcel.
"This is our front door," she said. "It comes right up to our entrance. It will be a nice front door, in some way, shape or form."
The college has told neighbors it's not pursuing a gas station or retail development, but Edenwald President Sal Molite said he still has plenty of concerns for his residents. They want assurances that the project — whatever it is — won't increase traffic or cause other problems.
"If we knew what they were planning on doing, we could support it or not support it," Molite said. "My residents are concerned."
The county's Planning Board has recommended that the zoning change be granted, with conditions that the college agrees to covenants that include a promise not to put an entrance on Dulaney Valley Road and not to include a nightclub or retail stores.
The final decision will be made by the County Council, whose members are expected to defer to the wishes of Towson-area Councilman David Marks. Marks said he'll support the rezoning only if Goucher and residents of Edenwald and the nearby Towsongate condominiums can reach an agreement limiting development.
"The burden is on Goucher College to agree to terms that will satisfy both the Edenwald and Towsongate communities," said Marks, a Perry Hall Republican. "I fully respect Goucher College's desire to improve its campus, but on the other hand, I want protections for both those neighboring communities."
Lochte said discussions are ongoing.
Dozens of residents of Edenwald and Towsongate attended public hearings on the rezoning to make sure council members were aware of their concerns.
"That zoning gives them the right to do just about anything. That's the issue," Molite said. "Hopefully, we can come up with an agreement on covenants."
Wise would like the property to stay mostly wooded and undeveloped, but acknowledges that's not likely.
"I think the crux of it is, we'd like them to stay as close as they can to educational purposes and educational uses," Wise said.
The County Council is scheduled to vote on Comprehensive Zoning Map Process requests at 6 p.m. Aug. 30 in a meeting at the Historic Courthouse, 400 Washington Ave. in Towson.
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