Howard County school board members will vote today to approve a 40-acre site in North Laurel for two new schools, angering some residents who say they might sue because impact studies have not been completed.
"We're not opposing the school site," said Laurel resident Gregory Fries, who is leading the campaign against the school system. "We simply want the studies completed. I think it's a very reasonable request."
Mr. Fries and a group of Laurel residents who live near the proposed site -- off winding Gorman Road between Interstate 95 and Murray Hill Drive -- hired Columbia development attorney Richard B. Talkin to argue their concerns to the school board and, if necessary, to a judge.
In a letter delivered Tuesday to school board Chairwoman Susan J. Cook, Mr. Talkin asked the school board to delay its vote on the Gorman road site until traffic and environmental studies are completed. School board members refused to postpone their vote, saying the residents will have ample opportunity to comment before any land is actually purchased from the Rouse Co. A purchase is likely in about two months.
"We're not handing over a check [today]," Ms. Cook said. "The school system wants to be a good neighbor. We want to work with the community."
The school system wants to construct a middle school and an elementary school on property now used for the Hidden Stables Equine Rescue Facility -- a horse rescue and boarding shelter.
The site is one of the few undeveloped locations in southeastern Howard County for new schools, needed to ease severe overcrowding.
Several of the elementary and middle schools in the Laurel area require portable classrooms to accommodate students.
The Rouse Co., which owns the land and more than 100 other acres in that area, has agreed to sell the property to the school system for a price that is still being negotiated.
If the school board approves the site at its meeting this afternoon in Ellicott City, it will have 60 days to conduct impact studies before purchasing the property.
Sydney Cousin, associate superintendent for finance and operations, says such an approach is not unusual when the school system buys land.
During that period, residents can write or call board members about any concerns they have.
But residents complain that they want to be able to comment to the board about the impact studies in a public forum. No such forum is scheduled, although there was a public hearing about two weeks ago, when residents raised initial objections.
"Legally, this is no longer a public process after the vote is taken," Mr. Fries said. "We will be present and state that they are acting in a dangerous manner."
For the past two weeks, residents who live along Gorman Road have been mounting a campaign against the project. They object to the use of Gorman Road -- a winding country road that the county has designated as a scenic route -- as a way to get to the schools.
The residents say Gorman Road would need improvements for safety if the schools are built there, and changing the road might erode the character of their community.
In addition, the schools would be on the site of a 145-year-old farmhouse used by the owners of the horse rescue and boarding facility. Researchers are trying to determine if the house has any historical significance -- if it does, residents may seek to have it declared a historic site in an effort to halt or stall development.
The Rouse Co. has said that, if the school system doesn't build on the site, the land would be used for residential construction. And Rouse land surrounding the 40 acres planned for the schools still would be used for houses, research facilities and office buildings.
"We certainly will try to address all of their concerns," Ms. Cook said. "But I really hope these people understand that the land is going to be developed. I happen to think a school will be a much better neighbor than anything else that would go there."