Will a ratio of 1.2 parking spaces for new apartments in Towson be enough ("Towson Row can succeed, experts say," July 9)?
Parking is already a critical problem now that Towson has a population comparable to Annapolis. In the last four years, 1,500 apartments have been built in Towson. Many more were added within the preceding five years.
Examples of poor oversight and decisions include the luxury Palisades apartments with 415 parking spaces for 357 apartments. That's a ratio of 1.2 spaces for occupants who rate parking as a poor 2.5 in a scale of 1-5 in apartmentguide.com. The nearby Crescent apartments — now called 20 Lambourne Road — reserves public street parking for trash pickup twice a week. Both apartments use street parking. So do the owners in the Valleys of Towson condos. Where do visitors and service trucks park?
Massive development projects have been lauded by Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and Nancy Hafford of the Towson Chamber of Commerce plus the usual "experts" — real estate and development companies.
Public transportation? Circulators will share congested roads with buses that require transit space. Those who use public transportation may prefer to have a car in a parking space for other longer trips. Those trying to promote bike paths are ignored, although scooters, now approved by Medicare, serve so many elderly who prefer nearby shopping in the Towson area.
Is it too late for logic, statistics, and common sense?
Barbara Boland, Towson