Harford County developers will now have to seek public opinion on their projects before taking them to the county for approval as a result of a bill the County Council passed unanimously Tuesday.
Councilmen Dion Guthrie, of Edgewood/Joppatowne, and James McMahan, of Bel Air, sponsored the bill requiring developers to brief neighbors and community groups on their proposals. Amendments were made Tuesday to make the bill more palatable to the county?s planning department and some constituents, but it still lacked any provisions requiring the developers to heed the community?s suggestions.
“It has no teeth in it,” said Councilwoman Roni Chenowith, representing Fallston.
Guthrie said the new law was drafted because many residents felt they couldn?t weigh in on a project until it came before the county Development Advisory Committee, where developers have already spent time and money on detailed plans that are difficult to change.
The original bill was expanded from just covering residential construction to include senior housing projects and commercial development that generates a certain amount of traffic.
The developer is now required to post notice of the meeting at the proposed site; by mail to surrounding residents, the county government and relevant community councils; and in local newspapers. An earlier provision requiring signs at the site to have three-inch-tall lettering so people could read it from the road was cut out, Guthrie said, because county planners demonstrated such a sign would be huge.
Substantial changes to a plan between the original meeting and the county’s approval would require a second community presentation.
“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink,” said Councilwoman Mary-Ann Lisanti of Havre de Grace, who considered the discussion between developers and the community as a step in the right direction. “But if they stand there long enough and they’re thirsty enough, they’ll drink.”
