By Tim Klapac
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Despite concerns with the outbreak of coronavirus, residents of Baltimore County’s 4th District crowded into Owings Mills High School Wednesday for a Town Hall meeting to ask for improvements at outdated fire stations and a more equitable distribution of affordable housing projects.
Michael Day Sr., president of the Baltimore County Professional Firefighters Association, requested that improvements be made to the outdated firehouses in the district, as well as the entire county.
“You don’t need a DeLorean to go back in time,” Day said. “If you walk into our firehouses, you go back 30 years.”
Councilman Julian Jones agreed with Day, saying that, while the county does have some nice stations, he recalled one visit to the Loch Raven Station that wasn’t the case.
“I was taken back with the condition of the station,” Jones said, specifically noting metal-barred windows in the station. “We’re spending more money heating and cooling this place than to replace the windows.”
Jones, a Woodstock resident who represents District 4, and County Executive Johnny Olszewski hosted the Town Hall meeting to discuss the new budget for the district.
“This is about hearing from you, engaging with you,” Olszewski said. “When I ran for office, I wanted to be connected with you.”
In his presentation, Olszewski highlighted the progress made by the county over the last year, including improvements in gun safety, creation of a task force to improve sexual assault investigations and establishing an Opioid Response Working Group. The county also was able to trim $35 million last year in unnecessary spending, he said.
Olszewski stressed that progress is being made to improve facilities.
“This is year two of trying to right the ship,” he said in response to Day. “We are in a much better place, but we’re still striving to get where we need to be.”
Many residents complained about construction projects that block neighborhood traffic, tax infrastructure and cause other problems. A project called the “Enclave at Lyons Mill” received the most objections. While Baltimore County did not financially support the 54-unit project proposed by Conifer Realty and Episcopal Housing Corp. on Lyons Mill Road just east of Owings Mills Boulevard, the decision is being appealed.
Jones quelled the concerns by predicting the appeal would not succeed. He explained that the appeal can only focus on “whether or not the administrative judge was legal in his findings.”
“Part of [the judge’s] findings cited the school being overcrowded,” Jones explained. “There has also been legislation that was passed that would make it difficult for that project to move forward. I don’t think that project will move forward.”
The Enclave project, described as “mixed-income, affordable” housing, did not get financial support from the county but the state awarded it $1.5 million in tax credits. Neighbors have complained in the past that their predominantly black community already has more affordable housing projects than other parts of the county.
When asked whether the county would directly assist with the appeal, Olszewski referred residents to the Office of People’s Counsel, which does pro-bono work for similar cases.
Jones stressed the importance of community members putting in the necessary work to maintain the neighborhoods.
“I see some community leaders in the audience, and I know the type of work and dedication you put in to keep to community safe and build a community we’re proud of,” he said. “You can’t plant all the flowers, but if you don’t pull the weeds and put the time in, it will look a hot mess.”
Olszewski said the county will make decisions on rescheduling town hall meetings on a case-by-case basis because of the threat from coronavirus. The next town hall meeting is scheduled for March 18 at 6 p.m. in the county’s 6th District. That meeting is set for the CCBC Essex Administration Building Room 110.