53 beers on tap

Build healthy?

So, HCCA has asked that the availability of health care services be added to the Adequate Public Facilities Act (APFA).  Of local jurisdictions, only Montgomery County has a similar provision in its land use code.

On the surface, I'll give credit where credit's due-- this is not a bad idea.  The county is still growing, it's demographics are ever-changing, and health care needs are becoming more varied as a result.  For proposed development to consider its impact upon health care facilities, makes sense.

However, there are several caveats here that I see before thinking that amending APFA is a good idea:

1. In-county health care facilities shouldn't be the only ones considered in looking at impact on APFA.  People in southwest Howard use Montgomery County General in Olney, and those on the eastern end use St. Agnes Hospital, among others.  So, in order to consider new development in say, Elkridge, to fully implement APFA in terms of health care facilities, one may also have to look outside the county as well as in it.  To be honest this may be a show-stopper to any possible amendments.

2. The article in the Patuxent fishwrap this week about this isn't clear as to what problem this proposed amendment would be solving.  Some in HCCA are saying that there are lots of complaints about the ER at Howard County General.  I fail to see the direct link between development in Howard County and efficiency at the HCGH ER.  Hell, I fail to see the indirect link.

3. What types of health care facilities/ what types of care would you define in this amendment?  If basic primary care, OK.  If ER-type care-- some of that traffic could be diverted to existing and new private clinics-- let's hope people know about them.  But a car accident victim isn't going to the walk-in clinic on US 40.

4. How would one define a developer's contribution to the health care infrastructure?  How is it quantified?  Howard County does not own HCGH.  So by amending the APFA, who would benefit in terms of actually creating the enhanced infrastructure?  I guess owners/operators of local health care facilities could be incentivized in order to expand-- however, by amending APFA, wouldn't such expansion be mandated?  Under what enforcability?

This idea seems like it walks the line between true thinking ahead, and complete overlegislating.  I'd be interested to see if any Council member takes up this idea.

Results! And Monday preview

On Thursday night I received a call from an official from the county Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits about the Antwerpen signs that I saw up on July 4th.  They have been contacted and they've been advised to desist their practice.

I wasn't expecting a call but it was nice to see that my post generated some follow through by the county.  And it was good to be contacted.

Monday: should availability of health care services be added to the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance?  My thoughts tomorrow!

Freedom of annoyance

So I was driving around yesterday, and I noticed something new along the highways of Howard County.  Antwerpen motors apparently has had someone out putting up advertising banners on local overpasses.  There were two seen on MD 100, one at US 29 and Broken Land Parkway, and one on 95 at MD 32.  The banners are about 3 by 5 feet (at first when I saw them I thought someone had put up flags) and display the Antwerpen logo, slogan, and phone number.

I'm guessing that the intent of these signs is temporary advertising.  And in my view this is an extension of the code on temporary signage gone too far.

My understanding of this code is that it's to allow businesses to put up signs over the weekend, with the understanding that the signs have to come down by a particular time of the week.  Typically, these signs have been to promote businesses that typically transact on weekends-- yard sales, produce stands, open houses for realtors, etc.  This marketing method has been extended to promote businesses' sales, special events, etc.

I'll note that, as far as I could see, these banners were promoting no special event at Antwerpen.  So this seemed to be just general business advertising.

I'm bothered by this.  First off, the banners are pretty big.  Second, I would imagine these banners are protected per county code (although I thought it interesting I saw none in a county right of way), but as these appear to be general advertising, I am concerned about the precedent.  What if on the weekends, large signs just popped up along the road for Starbucks, Coca-Cola, McDonalds, whatever?  Do we really need more signs popping up along the sides of roads on the weekends?  Many of the ones that exist are eyesores-- I submit as evidence the area around Carmax on US1 (although Carmax itself is not an offender)

As a marketing measure, I hope this falls flat on its face.  Because that's the way to assure that other businesses don't follow suit.  And that's the only way to ensure against overly-legislating what should be a common-sense practice.

Another one gone...

...no, not another celebrity.  This week brought the news that the Safeway in Enchanted Forest Shopping Center is closing.  Some presume that the closing is in anticipation of the Harris Teeter that will soon be built in Turf Valley.

I would tend to disagree; there are other culprits (the Giant stores in River Hill, Dorsey's Search and Chatham Mall, Weis at Waverly Woods, etc.).  And of course there is the economy.  But this goes to demonstrate that the Columbia village centers are not alone when it comes to losing anchors.  Enchanted Forest boasts a prime location along a major highway, as well as a relatively dense, mature, well-heeled population base. 

That this long-standing store could not continue to exist here-- coupled with the fact that county unemployment is now at an all-time high-- empahasize the impact of the nationwide recession here at home. And unlike in the go-go 80s-- we can't grow our way out of this one-- this county done growed about all it's gonna to.  Besides, who's going to build and buy those houses?

Damn scary stuff.

Meet the new boss!

Great article in the Columbia Fishwrap...err...Flier here about some first impressions of CA President Phil Nelson, who has been on the job now a smidge over two months.

Although two months is WAY to short a time to evaluate anyone, much less make a judgment about their prospects for long-term success in ANY job, the article suggests two things.

First, it suggests that Phil Nelson is who he said he was.  Without giving away any state secrets (TOM!!!!), I served on the citizens committee that advised the CA Board on the Presidential search.  All of the candidates we interviewed were fantastic.  But what impressed most about Phil Nelson was his demeanor.  He didn't appear to be a cult of personality; his then-position in Troy, Michigan didn't seem to be "about him", as the saying goes.  Rather, he cared about learning about the community he served, and then figuring out how he could use his particular skill set to best serve it.  He didn't seem to presume to know all the answers, but he did seem pretty confident that he could figure them out.

Second, the article suggests that Phil Nelson does what he says he's going to do.  Many of the residents quoted for the article are residents who have current/past/ongoing complaints with CA.  All of the quotes were very complimentary of Phil's manner and listening abilities.  It is obviously good politics, and good service, to gain a 360-degree view of any situation.  Phil is obviously applying that principle to the civic dialogue in Columbia.

First impressions being what they are, I dare say that the first impressions and first reviews of this CA President are pretty positive.  Time will of course tell, and goodness knows there are a lot of challenges ahead.  But this President doesn't seem to be one to shy away from a challenge, and he seems to be able to be intellectually agile enough.  Here's hoping he succeeds.

Virgin Festival: can we use the woods, please?

I am all for the fact that the Virgin Festival is coming to Merriwether-- goes to show that Merriwether is not the used-up, washed-out venue we have been made to understand from some that it is.  And I am very supportive of the County's plan to give volunteers tickets to this free festival.  It's a wonderful incentive to volunteer and as the County Executive said, if it makes people interested in volunteering, so be it.

I am confident that all of the tickets for volunteers will be used, so there'll be 35,000 tickets distributed in all, which will nicely pack the pavilion and the lawn of Merriwether.  Now we need to take it to the next level.  We need to open up the woods, indeed the entire property, for the festival, in order to give the entire community a chance to attend.

I can recall in the 80s going to many a concert at Merriwether without seeing the band, or without having a ticket.  Some of my best memories are of Jimmy Buffett, The Who, The Grateful Dead, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Moody Blues, and others playing Merriwether, and hanging out in the woods for the show.

Now, I know why the woods were closed-- drug and alcohol crimes, and noise issues spilling out into the mall area.  Also, I am sure that now with housing so close to Merriwether, that noise is even more of a concern.

I'm going to be hopeful here that now is a different time than the mid 80s, and that substance abuse issues can be better contained.  The woods were meant to be a place where the community could come together as a gathering place, enjoy performances, and achieve a better sense of identiy as a community.  And in the context of redeveloping downtown, wouldn't this be an interesting test case?  Could our infrastructure handle a crowd of say, 50,000-60,000 people at Merriwether?

I do think that ticketholders could have a preferred location on the property-- they should.  But I also think all the remaining Merriwether property should be made available for people to sit, bring a tent, bring a picnic, and enjoy the evening if they choose.  I'm sure the county would face logistical challenges in terms of public safety coverage, etc., but if a plan for coverage can be worked out-- why not?

The woods have been restricted grounds for concerts for a long time now.  If the Merriwether area is to one day become Howard County's "Central Park", it can't possibly remain closed on these occasions.  I'd be willing to try it and see how it works out.

After a brief interlude...

Not much going on over the past few weeks, and well, I'm a strong believer that one should only write something meaningful, or don't bother.  Just burning electrons to stay "current" is useless.

I'm going to write to give credit where credit is due, to a body I have certainly been critical of on these pages-- the CA Board of Directors!  Specifically, with respect to their suggested changes to the County Council on Council Bill 29, otherwise lovingly knows as the village center redevelopment bill.

Please don't get me wrong-- the speed at which the CA Board moves is sometimes glacial and their rationale for (or against) various topics remains dopey at times.  However, this is one on which they got it right:

-- removing GGP as the gatekeeper of Columbia, and suggesting another gatekeeper in the form of some local governmental body, is valid.  As I have written on these pages before, the ability to develop/redevelop Columbia should not be a commodity for the marketplace.  It should be in the hands of the residents and of local government and by establishing this new gatekeeper,  the future of Columbia would remain in the hands of people based here in Howard County, not in some corporate office.

-- supporting redevelopment of village centers only if in accordance with village master plans.  This of course means that several villages have to actually establish master plans, but that's what village boards and village activists should be doing.  It's a better use of their time than, say, deciding what weekends the dumpsters will come to the village!  Having participated on the Master Plan process in Oakland Mills, it's a great opportunity to be creative, indeed visionary.  Therefore, it only makes sense for redevelopment to take place in accordance with these plans. 

More on CB29 later!

Who watches the watchdogs?

I think at least some people know that I used to be the President of the Howard County Citizens Association (HCCA); specifically, from 2000-2003.  My successor as President did OK for about a year, then, for reasons it's not necessary to mention here, the organization lay fallow for a couple years, until the current President, Bridget Mugane, resuscitated it about four years ago.

I give Bridget a ton of credit for bringing vitality and energy back to the organization.  I certainly didn't like the work I and others put into the organization to go for naught, and she has certainly ensured that such will not be the case.  However, I have to say that I have serious questions about what HCCA has become.

What HCCA had been, at least in the several years I had been active with it, was an organization that looked at broad issues within Howard County.  The most specific issue we looked at was the establishment of the Maple Lawn development-- hardly a piecemeal issue.  But HCCA board members-- several, in fact-- advised the county on the 2000 General Plan.  We were a sounding board for the development of the senior housing legislation that currently exists in Howard County.  We supported mixed use development in Howard County.  We advocated for the establishment of a Hearing Examiner, as well as a People's Counsel, in Howard County.  And we advocated in general for greater public input and transparency in local government.

HCCA does still look at some of these "big picture" land use issues-- involvement in the Turf Valley referendum effort and the downtown Columbia Master Plan makes sense-- but what doesn't make sense is some of the more piecemeal activities of the organization.  Such as involvement in the downtown Columbia tower.  Such as whether or not to allow a deceleration lane on Thunder Hill Rd. to facilitate the development of a Walgreen's at 175 and Thunder Hill.  Such as opposing Howard Community College's purchase of Belmont conference center.  While these issues are certainly pet projects (or pet peeves) of members of the HCCA board, are they really issues that require their input "to voice the needs and concerns of County residents"?  Does someone in Glenwood really care about Belmont?  Would North Laurel in any way be aggrieved if the deceleration lane on Thunder Hill Rd. is approved?  The answer to both questions is "highly doubtful"; however, the HCCA board would like to impose their  solutions on these very localized issues, under the aegis of being the voice of Howard County residents.  This is at its most charitable, an overstepping of mission.

Moreover, all too often I see HCCA's role in the public arena as not being one that offers solutions; however, but as one that offers plenty of criticism.  With the experience and savvy of the people on the HCCA board-- many of whom I like and consider allies-- this is unfortunate.  As anyone knows, it is easy to criticize.  It is much harder to think creatively and advocate viable alternatives.  I would submit that if HCCA is ever to reach its full potential, it needs to do more to develop and to advocate these viable solutions, and less attending public meetings and showing "great concern" on this or that topic.

An informed citizenry is the bedrock of democracy; HCCA and groups like it perform a valuable service in that regard.  However, there exists a fine line between advocacy and education, and presuming onto the populace that they know best for the community.  For HCCA to maintain credibility in the community at large, and withstand becoming marginalized as a shrill voice of negativity in the wilderness, it needs to develop a better understanding of where this line resides.

And then you SLIIIIDE to the right...

(song lyric post title in honor of Ian Kennedy, his lovely wife Lena, and their new baby!)

For all you trash and recycling mavens out there (and you know who you are!) be informed that starting Memorial Day, if your trash or recycling day falls on a holiday (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas) your day slides one day later.  So if your day is Tuesday, it goes to Wednesday; if Friday, Saturday.  Saturday service does not slide anywhere.

This is a cost-cutting measure; a smart one, one that probably should've been in place years ago. 

CA Board out of OM... and I mean O-U-T OUT!!

So it seems that some CA Board members, including the board member from Town Center (I guess there aren't enough things going on in Town Center, so she needs to involve herself in Oakland Mills) are concerned about the possible placement of a Walgreen's at the corner of MD 175 and Thunder Hill Rd.  Apparently the concern is based in the notion that the Walgreen's should be located at the village center, out of the interest of continuing the revitalization of Oakland Mills.

Well, thanks for the thoughts, guys and gals, but the Walgreen's at the Oakland Mills Village Center simply won't work, for two huge reasons:

1. There isn't enough available space in the village center to support it-- there would have to be new construction, which isn't possible without major reconfiguration of the property.  And I am going to guess that Cedar Properties(aka Slumlords to well-meaning villages everywhere) isn't going to absorb that costs.  Hell, Cedar won't pay the money for a sober security guard to walk up and down the village center once every six hours.

2. There simply is not enough traffic around the village center.  Walgreen's isn't following a "build it and they will come" model; they want it built so they can come.  Which is why this location is so ideal for them.

My understanding is that the proposed developer, Bavar Properties, has made some serious concessions already regarding the property.  For example, the Walgreen's will be stand-alone, without any other businesses (including those like a pizza place or dry cleaner, which would compete with the village center) co-located with it.  There are some valid reasons to be concerned with the development, but the concerns expressed by the CA Board isn't one of them.

It's also known to me that CA has stopped funding the community organizer position for Oakland Mills.  (Apparently the staff are saving up for their next trip to the subcontinent.)  Seriously, this is OK, but members of the CA board, if you want to do something to help Oakland Mills, I have several suggestions:

1. Work to facilitate the Walgreen's coming to the MD 175/ Thunder Hill intersection, rather than taking sides one way or the other;

2. Fund comprehensive re-lighting and improved signage at and around the village center, as has been proposed for several years now (dating back to the time some irreverent fool was village board chair)

3. Fund improvements to the Columbia ice rink so we stop losing business to Laurel and Piney Orchard;

4. Help find us a new tenant for the former Exxon/Metroventures lot;

5. Come to the village center!  Go to the best Thai restaurant in the metroplex, do happy hour at Second Chance, shop the farmer's market, offer the security guard a cup of coffee and some B vitamins;

6. Please stop telling OM, or any village, what's best for it.  Your track record of doing so, honestly, isn't that spiffy.