Business & Tech
Opposition to Route 543 Development Proposal Continues
Citizens living in surrounding neighborhoods turned out in droves to discuss the retirement community proposed off North Fountain Green Road.
Hundreds reportedly turned out for a meeting this week where most gave negative feedback about a retirement community proposed off MD Route 543—after the developers made changes to plans that they said were in response to community concerns.
At Monday's meeting, which lasted more than three hours, approximately 300 people attended and their top concerns were traffic and aesthetics, according to The Aegis.
The retirement community is being planned for a parcel on Route 543 that was previously known as the "Eva-Mar" farm.
At a previous community input meeting, citizens testified about the traffic "nightmare" on Route 543/North Fountain Green Road, worried that it could not handle more volume. They also had reservations about their homes backing up to a retirement community on property that had previously been zoned for single-family homes.
In response to community feedback at the Jan. 6 meeting, the developers made the following changes to their original plans, The Aegis reported:
- Reduced the number of units at the retirement community to 514 (previous plans called for up to 700)
- Switched the retirement community's location from the north to the south side of the property
- Added three more intersections to the required traffic study (Route 22/Thomas Run Road, Route 22 /Andreas Drive and Prospect Mill Road/Wagner Farm Court)
"There will be improvements at several of them—typically a center turning lane and a deceleration lane," a project representative said at the Jan. 6 community input meeting.
After Monday's meeting, one area resident posted on the "543 Concerned Citizens" page, which was created in response to the Eva Mar project, "...we need tremendous widening" and there are overhead power lines which may need to be rerouted on Route 543.
"If there are not turning lanes ... not only will it be frustrating, dangerous, but that would also cause people to opt for traveling through the adjoining minor neighborhood roads of Tudor Manor and FoxChase/Wagner/Amyclae," the citizen said.
Another concern of residents was the height of the retirement community's buildings in relation to their homes, with building heights up to 50 feet in comparison to the residences that topped out at 30 feet, The Aegis reported.
Next up for the project is an appearance before Harford County's Development Advisory Committee, which reviews site plans but does not have any decision-making authority. That is scheduled for 9 a.m. on April 2 at Harford County Government, 220 S. Main St., Bel Air.
Those with questions about the project are encouraged to contact Presbyterian Home CEO Sue Shea at sdshea@presbyterianhomeofmd.org. Presbyterian Home is the nonprofit organization, based in Towson, which is planning the retirement community. In addition, the development proposal includes 140 single-family homes to be built by developer Elm Street.
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