A bill introduced by 5th District County Councilman David Marks that would expand the use of rooftop signs and allow for changeable copy — including flashing signs — in Towson was greeted with mixed reviews from county agencies and community groups during a discussion at the council's Tuesday, Oct. 11, work session.
The bill would codify an exemption that would otherwise require a variance request.
Provisions of the bill were lobbied for by the developers of Towson City Center — formerly known as the Investment Building at York and Dulaney Valley roads — who told the councilman the changes are necessary to attract tenants to the new development.
"In a bad economy, I'm going to do whatever I can to stimulate investment and business growth in downtown Towson," Marks said.
But while the bill drew support from the Greater Towson Council and the county's Department of Planning, the Greater Towson Council of Community Associations spoke out against it at the work session on the grounds that it limits community input.
"We believe the current mechanism for requesting a variance … requires an important opportunity for the community to review the project," said Dick Parsons, who read a letter to the council on behalf of David Kosak, president of the GTCCA.
"The GTCCA has been actively involved in revitalizing efforts in Towson," Parson said, "but we want to retain the ability to weigh in on specific projects as they seek zoning relief."
Marks, however, said variance requests could be a hindrance in the process of filling Towson City Center.
"The problem with variances is when you request a variance, you can be tied up in legal action for one to two years," Marks said.
Both Marks and Council Chairman John Olszewski Sr. said the bill, as written, effectively limits its reach to a few specific buildings.
The changes to the signage code only apply to buildings used by the county or state, as well as buildings with 150,000 square feet of floor space in downtown Towson — effectively limiting its effect to Towson City Center, Dulaney Center and Towson Town Center, officials said.
The bill would include size and placement guidelines for various types of signs in the Towson commercial district, depending on whether they are in store windows, on rooftops or are mounted or free standing.
Cynthia Bledsoe, executive director of the Greater Towson Committee, supported the bill.
Bledsoe said that the Towson City Center's proximity to the mall was a big reason why the new signage regulation could be effective in bringing foot traffic and business to the rest of Towson.
"We have a mall close to Towson City Center, where many visitors come in and pop back out," she said. "One of the challenges is that we are trying to connect them to the core.
"The activity at Towson Town Center will be a huge spur to that, and will help bring life to the street and make for interactivity," Bledsoe said.
Andrea Van Arsdale, director of the county Department of Planning, also spoke in support of the legislation.
"Towson is different from most of the other areas that we have in Baltimore County, in that it's truly an urbanized downtown with very high density and diversity of uses," Van Arsdale said.
"This legislation will enable signage that is similar tot hat found in other cities and downtowns," she said, "and it will promote a lively mix of signs that brand large signature buildings with specific uses and will visually reinforce the identity of Towson as a corporate and university center."
A vote on the measure, Bill 65-11, is scheduled for the council's next legislative session, on Monday, Oct. 17, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 400 Washington Ave., Towson.