Thank you for the reply, Councilman. The Cinemark project and adjacent housing development are welcome improvements to the Core, in addition to some of the school projects you supported in the surrounding neighborhoods. The Towson Row project would certainly improve a deteriorating southern end of the Core and improve Towson’s safety, walkability, and tax base. The open space payment to the GTCCA ended the open complaints, but now the project is at a standstill. As a community, let’s push to get Towson Row and a viable Towson Triangle project back on track.

I, and many, would be interested to learn about how the funds paid to the GTCCA are being used to promote open space and what kind of oversight is administered. I fully support open space and local improvements, but think transparency is needed when a group receives a payment and drops its issue with a proposed development. It seems odd that community funds would not go to a county office responsible for open space projects and management, where Towson residents would see how the dedicated funds will improve the area. Let’s cross our fingers and hope that this was a wise precedent that will benefit Towson residents and taxpayers.

I understand the county funding mechanics and have also witnessed nearly a decade of obstructionism. At some point, which seems to be now, investment from any executive is going to be directed towards other parts of the county willing to embrace improvements. It will be a shame if we have to wait until another county executive term to start rebuilding Towson. That would reflect poorly on an executive, council member, and the community. Walkable streets, safety, and the local tax base all suffer as we continue see progress and investment pushed away for the sake of a mid 20th-century vision that is no longer attainable.

Do we really want to be known as community that is wasting its potential? I hope not, but things need to change. Should development be well-coordinated? Absolutely. Which is why those so opposed to change need to step up and work on a plan that requires compromise by all stakeholders. Otherwise Towson will continue to stare at the embarrassing Towson Triangle and stagnant Towson Row. Two areas that could breath much-needed life into Towson and improve walkability, safety, and long-term financial health.

Sure did.

Actually, Sam C, our office was the one that helped write the application that secured the funding for the bike lanes. And we secured the funding to plan the Towson Circulator.

We also stood with many Towson residents who thought it was unacceptable that developers paid virtually nothing in open space funding. Because of our efforts, and the work of others, park projects are advancing throughout Towson.

Two excellent new housing developments are under construction right now in Downtown Towson. I supported both.

The County Executive been a champion of redeveloping Towson. But he is the one who has the executive authority and the budgetary power to guarantee the infrastructure will be in place to support this growth.

For 6 years Marks has been talking about a bike plan. The city started later and has added some really nice bikeways, that were developed “right rather than fast.” Towson? Still talking about. No action. Nothing on the horizon. Feel good to be less efficient and more inactive than Baltimore city?

Towson Triangle? Walkable, mixed-use connection between Towson Core and the university, including road updates. Fought and killed by Marks and a few dozen residents. It was a walkable, green plan. The ever-so-loved Triangle is a pit of despair with zero environmental support from the fear mongers who care so deeply for it. I’m not sure if “disaster” or “complete embarrassment” better describes what’s happening on that stretch of state highway. It would be nice to see all those so opposed to change get off their couches and improve the embarrassment they so strongly adore. Most definitely won’t, but a call to action should at least cause some to look in the mirror.

Towson Row? Walkable, mixed-use space with green space and an additional $55,000 handout paid to the GTCCA (http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/north-baltimore/ph-tt-towson-row-agreement-0120-20160118-story.html). No action. Pile of rumble. Nothing on the horizon. Wonder what the GTCCA has done with that money to improve Towson over the past 10 months? Nothing of note despite the promises. Surprise, surprise. Maybe Towson property owners will a check at the end of the year.

Every plan has tradeoffs and stakeholders. It’s 2016, environmental impact assessments are completed and plans are modified to be responsibly. It’s absurd to consider the Towson Triangle, Towson Row, and the northern gateway as anything approaching preservation, or even sanity. This isn’t a progressive area. It’s a place stuck in 20th-century small-town politics that continues to cut off its nose to spite its face. Same names, same complaints, zero ideas. Rinse. Repeat.

Other parts of the county will receive interest and investment, and Towson will continue to miss the moving train. The area is lacking leadership and suffers from antiquated views of a rural town that hasn’t existed in generations.

Time for vocal minority to step up to the plate. A legacy of complaining, pleas for big government, and doing nothing to improve a deteriorating situation will continue to drive away investment and increase embarrassments (both gateways, Towson Row). Big talk, no action.

Show the 60,000 Towson residents that you have something to offer. Or step aside and let people with a vision improve the situation.

The development drought lasted a long time for our county seat and there was a lot of understandable angst about that and a hunger for the investment and improvement that was needed. But this administration refused to take the time to prepare or plan for it. Then BOOM. It feels good and it should have been a good thing were done well. But because it is not being done well there will be a price to pay when things calm down, as they surely will. The opportunity to have an attractive and functional suburban center such as those being created in progressive communities throughout the state and the country is being blown. Short term gain, long term pain.

The next administration can deal with all of that stuff.

The continuing abandonment and deterioration of commercial space along York Road, especially at the northern and southern gateways, should be addressed in part with road improvements. The good old days of 1940s curb cuts, lack of businesses and business access, and narrow lanes is off track in 2016. Just look at the total disaster occurring along York Road between Burke and Towsontown. Anytime proposals for state highway improvements, York Road, are introduced, fear mongering, anti-university folks, and pro-blight protesters get their way and shut down progress. Roads and development go hand in hand. The state and county promote Smart Growth, not regressive decline.

The vocal minority, supported by Marks, fights hard to eliminate the prospects of growth and development, without compromise. Marks recent roads proposal, that would allow only a few individuals to interfere with public right of ways and stop needed work, doesn’t seem to align with his pleas here to get work done in Towson.

You cannot shut down nearly every project and then wave your finger at the county commissioner for not concentrating the county’s resources on more developments that will ultimately be denied in a non-democratic manner.

Is there evidence of a scheme?

Our executive quotes the transportation 2016 basic services map says there is no traffic problem in Towson http://resources.baltimorecountymd.gov/Documents/Public_Works/basicservices/2016/transmap2016pdf.pdf

It’s probably as accurate as the sewer map that says Towson has development capacity to add more sewerage into the Jones Falls Sewershed http://resources.baltimorecountymd.gov/Documents/Public_Works/basicservices/2016/sewermap2016.pdf

At the Towson Row groundbreaking I heard our executive promise “lots more is coming folks”. I believe him.