Howard County parkland swap for Savage housing development nears finalization

Residents of the Savage community continue to oppose a new development next to the Savage Mill more than two years after the developer, Bozzuto Homes, proposed the 35-unit project on roughly five acres of land.If approved by the county, the development, called the Settlement at Savage Mill, would be the first project in a new zone created during comprehensive zoning changes three years ago to protect the historic and environmental nature of the area.As proposed, the housing project includes a land swap between the Department of Recreation and Parks and the developer of county parkland, some of which is used as a staging area for sewer line construction.According to Recreation and Parks Bureau Chief Raul Delerme, as proposed, the county will receive 2.77 acres from the developer; the developer will receive 2.73 acres from the county. The developer would then dedicate 0.51 acres it received back to the county as open space, giving the county a total of 3.28 acres.Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman plans to decide whether or not to approve the swap next week, said Anna Hunter, a spokeswoman for the county's Department of Recreation and Parks.The administration cannot release details of the real estate deal until they are finalized, Hunter said. The project is located on Fair Street near the Savage Mill.While the amount of acreage to be swapped has not been finalized, Delerme said the county may receive more land from the swap than the developer.In a statement, Bobby Byrd, the developer's development manager, said Bozzuto has been working closely with the county and neighbors to include their input throughout the process. The developer said it reduced the density of the project from 56 to 35 units and plans to work with the community to &quot;create a community that complements and enhances the neighborhood.&quot;But some residents said the project threatens the environmentally sensitive and historic nature of the area the zoning district was designed to protect.&quot;They're going to flatten the acres to the point where there is hardly a blade of grass,&quot; said Ron Coleman, a Savage resident and board member of the Savage Community Association.Ellen Long, also a Savage resident, said the land swap supports a project that is against the historic nature of the area.&quot;What do we get out of the land swap? Nothing. I don't understand why the county would even consider giving a developer land to build on. Howard County needs to redefine what they are doing to protect waterways and little villages like Savage. They just don't see the big picture.&quot;Councilwoman Jen Terrasa created the zone, where a developer planned to build two hotels, in order to preserve the area's history and environment. Terrasa said it was essential to examine whether or not the density allowed in the zone made it possible to preserve the area.&quot;The land swap seems to have morphed over time. The community needs to be involved in the conversations,&quot; Terrasa said.The land swap pushes the project further north and away from the Little Patuxent River, near where the project was initially proposed, but residents said the density of the units is too high in areas closest to river. The area includes steep slopes, a watershed and specimen trees.The land under consideration for the swap — originally proposed by residents — has changed since the swap was proposed and includes an area designated for reforestation.Community members said the benefits of the land swap decline with each proposed change.&quot;There is no indication of a willingness on the part of the developer to consider any of the community's major concerns,&quot; said Susan Garber, president of the Savage Community Association, which has fought the plan for the last three years.Charlotte Watts, an 85-year-old resident who lives near the proposed project, said she was concerned that the housing units will create more traffic on an already constrained road.&quot;We're not going to be able to get up and down the street,&quot; Watts said. &quot;It's already a struggle. Cars park on each side of the path and you can't get up and down. I don't know what's going to happen once this goes in.&quot;In August last year, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources emphasized the need to protect endangered species like those on the site by protecting their environment.Brian Clifford, a Savage resident of 12 years, said he is one of a handful of residents who support the new project. Clifford said the developer addressed his concerns about high density and alignment of the project with Washington Street.&quot;I'm the view in the minority, but I believe the developer has addressed concerns,&quot; Clifford said.Coleman said it is critical for the county to rethink the impact of development on flooding and stormwater management.Major flooding in Ellicott City last month should call for a holistic county-wide analysis of the effect of development on the environment, Coleman said.&quot;There's just one development after another and no consideration of the whole picture in the county,&quot; Coleman said. &quot;It's not going to be a pretty sight.&quot;

Howard County parkland swap for Savage housing development nears finalization

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