With a new county administration at the helm, activists are hoping the future of Belmont will soon be settled.
“I would hope to see some open and honest information coming from the county on what exactly is the plan,” said Meg Schumacher, a member of the Save Belmont Coalition, a group of residents who wants to see the historic building and surrounding land preserved.
Belmont, an estate built in 1738 within Patapsco State Park, is owned by the Howard Community College Educational Foundation and managed by the college.
The fate of the land has been the center of a contentious battle between the college and residents who said the college?s plans to develop the land are inconsistent with the historic property and easements that restrict the land use.
Earlier this year, the college outlined plans for preserving existing buildings and adding some 100,000 square feet of new structures.
Last spring, then-County Executive Jim Robey pledged to purchase the land with state Program Open Space money, and the county?s Department of Parks and Recreation would take over the land.
But so far ? more than 250 days later ? that hasn?t happened, Schumacher said. There is also talk that the college plans to acquire the land, she said.
“We don?t really know what the situation is now, which is one of the things that?s troubling,” she said.
John Slater, vice president of the Friends of the Patapsco Valley and Heritage Greenway, said the county?s Department of Recreation and Parks is better suited to manage the land, because “that is their business in terms of handling historic properties.”
Though Belmont?s fate appears unclear now, representatives from Save Belmont hope County Executive Ken Ulman will revisit the discussion.
“We would love to see everyone sit down in one room and work it out,” said Cathy Hudson, chair of the Save Belmont Coalition.
County spokeswoman Victoria Goodman said Ulman hasn?t made any decisions on the land yet.
“Executive Ulman is evaluating it and in the process of engaging all parties involved for a discussion about it,” she said.
Representatives from the college could not be reached for comment.
