The Plan For The Downtown Plan

Talks about what to do about downtown Columbia are about to heat up again.

We are reposting this from a Town Center e-mail:

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I wanted to let you know that the Planning Board signed their recommendation on ZRA 113, which the Council received yesterday. Our staff has posted it on the website and it can be found on the ZRA page under ZRA 113(Part 2--ZRA Recommendation)...

In addition, I want to remind you about the upcoming County Council Briefings to be held at the Board of Education at 7 PM, which I hope you will be able to attend.

· October 13, 2009,—GGP will brief the Council on the Downtown Columbia Plan as it will be submitted to the Council

· October 14, 2009,--The Economic Development Authority will share its Downtown Economic Impact Study and the Columbia Association will share its plans for Symphony Woods

The October 13 and October 14 briefings will be televised live on GTv as well as being webcast through the County Council’s website using Granicus video streaming technology. The webcast can be viewed live or “on-demand”...

Because I know that this legislation is important to you and others in the community, please share this information with your friends and neighbors. I hope that the information contained in the briefings will be valuable to you as you contemplate the future of our Downtown and prepare to share with the Council your thoughts and suggestions.

In preparation for Tuesday’s briefing, it is my understanding that the finalized Downtown Columbia Plan(GPA) and Zoning Regulation Amendment(ZRA) will be available for posting to the Council’s ZRA web page on Tuesday morning(the Council office is closed on Monday for Columbus Day).

Because Howard County law requires that the Council introduce legislation that contains the ZRA request, I anticipate that the legislation will be filed on October 22nd for introduction on November 2, 2009. I know that there will be many people who will want to share their thoughts with the Council and although the briefings next week will not have time for public input, the Council will be establishing a public hearing schedule that will accommodate anyone who wishes to participate.

Thanks for your continued interest in Downtown Columbia. I look forward to seeing you this week…..MK

Mary Kay Sigaty

Howard County Council

District 4

410-313-2001

HoCo Schools Heart Cars

WaPo has a story today on how some students in Loudoun are up in arms about a decision to hike the cost of a campus parking permit from $25 to $200. An accompanying chart shows Howard and Anne Arundel charge some of the lowest fees, just $15.

Loudoun's decision apparently has little to do with carbon emissions or lifestyle choices.

School board members say they are trying to catch up to prices charged in nearby districts and need to make up for a $70 million budget shortfall largely created by cuts in county funding. Fairfax County also charges $200 for parking, but most schools in the Washington region charge less than $100.

As public policy, the higher fees do not seem to be accomplishing much, except to raise funds.

Despite months of protests on Facebook, no Loudoun high schools has reported significantly fewer parkers, although several carpool groups share passes. There also hasn't been a surge in upperclassmen riding the bus, schools spokesman Wayde B. Byard said. The district hopes to raise more than a half-million dollars through the permit sales and is on course to do so, he said.

Gov't On TV: The Good And The Fuzzy

We tuned in this week to HoCo's new streaming coverage of council and school board meetings and found the implementation very cool. It's like TiVo for Gov TV: You can skip ahead to an agenda item that looks interesting and skip all the boring stuff.

The council site even posts relevant documents beside the video, so you can read up on what people are talking about as they testify.

Still, it is not always clear what is going on. Take, for instance, this item:

Resolution No. 81 –2009

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION endorsing the provision of financing by the State Department of Business and Economic Development for an economic development project in Howard County; designating the Howard County Economic Development Authority as the agency to administer the project; and certifying that the project is consistent with the County’s plan for economic development.

We can report from watching the video that the council voted unanimously for the resolution with no discussion. Can anyone tell what we just endorsed financing for?

But then we watched video from an earlier public hearing where we learned that the county was kicking in $500,000 to be matched by $500,000 from the state to create a $1 million revolving loan fund to help start-up businesses. The tax-exempt financing generally would carry a five-year term, according to Dick Story, the chief executive of the county's Economic Development Authority.

So far, Story told the council, the county has "talked to companies but has not made a loan" and wanted to build up the kitty to $1 million so the program could be self-replenishing.

From this, we learned an important lesson: You can never watch enough TV.

Flu Worries

This is certainly no surprise. ExploreHoward reports that HoCo General is being overrun by families worried that their little ones may have swine flu. The clamor has become so bad that Dr. Walter Atha, the director of the hospital’s emergency department, had to hold a news conference pleading with people to show more restraint.

The hospital’s emergency department has seen days recently with close to 100 children coming in to get checked for the H1N1 virus, Atha said. On an average day, the hospital sees about 40 children in its emergency department, he said.

“They’re walking down the halls with masks on,” he said.

...Atha said the only time someone should go to the emergency room with the flu is if he or she is experiencing “severe” symptoms like severe shortness of breath or severe chest pain.

HoCo Exec Offers Help To Businesses

From HoCo gov:

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Ken Ulman announced today a series of legislative initiatives to help local businesses endure the current economic difficulties and take advantage of opportunities presented amidst the recovery.

“Although the national economy seems to be on the right track, local businesses still need help as this recovery takes hold,” said County Executive Ulman. “I believe this legislation offers both immediate and long-term help to Howard County’s business sector.”

These bills were introduced to the County Council Monday:

· A revision to the County’s commercial tax credit that expands eligibility beyond office and industrial operations to include retail, restaurants, hotels and motels, and recreational facilities. The tax credit acts as an incentive for businesses wishing to make substantial investments in their local operations.

· A provision allowing the Office of Workforce Development to use $153,000 in Maryland Business Works funds for grants to local businesses that invest in their employees by providing training and continuing education opportunities.

· Designating the Route 1 Corridor as a Recovery Zone under the guidelines of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This bill allows the County to offer $18,406,000 in Recovery Zone Facility Bonds as below-market financing for private businesses in the recovery zone. This designation also allows the County to use $12,270,000 in Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds which will provide a cost-effective source of funds for supporting and expanding economic activity in the recovery zone.

Ulman’s initiatives also include the following bills passed Monday by the County Council:

· A revised Settlement Downpayment Loan Assistance program meant to enhance and extend the federal first-time homebuyer tax credit. The new program regulations will expand homeownership opportunities for first-time buyers and workers employed with County businesses. The program also includes a provision for assistance to buyers of properties in foreclosure.

· A Catalyst Loan Fund managed by the Economic Development Authority and funded in part by State money to provide emerging local businesses with low-interest loans in an effort to expand employment opportunities.

Main St., In Climate Controlled Comfort

We were just perusing the Mall's events calendar and were struck at how the sprawling shopping emporium continues to serve as Columbia's town square, or at least a commercialized version of one.

First there is an Oct. 20 career event:

These challenging economic times have forced many people to re-think their career paths. The Mall in Columbia and BmoreJobs.com have partnered to host a Career Entrepreneur Expo, which will offer job seekers a relaxed environment to interact with more than 35 employers and the opportunity to become their own boss!

In a relaxed, but professional environment, BmoreJobs.com will bring together Baltimore’s best employers with qualified job applicants. Positions offered will include administrative, sales, customer service, healthcare, engineering, retail and more. Workforce Development Specialists from Baltimore County, Howard County, and the Mayor of Baltimore’s office will be in attendance – ready to assist job seekers with their employment search. In addition, participants can apply for open positions available with retailers located in The Mall in Columbia.

The Expo will introduce an array of products and specialized services to help entrepreneur’s control their own destiny by becoming owners of businesses that operate in shopping malls. Learn about dozens of small business opportunities – and become your own boss – with merchandise startup costs as low as $2,000. The Business Development team at General Growth Properties will be available to help entrepreneurs identify locations for their specialty retail businesses. In addition, there will be a representative from S.C.O.R.E. (a resource through the Small Business Administration Office) on site for free counseling.


Then there's Halloween (while supplies last!):

The Mall in Columbia will host a mall-wide* Trick-or-Treat event on Saturday, October 31st from 6pm-8pm while supplies last.

For Kids 12 and under

*Select retailers

TIME: 6pm-8pm (while supplies last)


There's a benefit to support nonprofits:

Lord & Taylor at the Mall in Columbia invites you to participate in their Fall 2009 Benefit Bash, which will take place on Tuesday, November 10, 2009.

Benefit Bash is a private day of shopping in support of not-for-profit organizations in the Columbia area. Each organization is asked to sell tickets at $5 each, and your organization will retain all proceeds from ticket sales. Participation is free.

Lord & Taylor will award two bonus donation checks of $1,000 each. In addition, two special shopping incentives are attached to each ticket: a 20% coupon that can be used on one item, and a 15% savings pass that can be used throughout the store on almost anything including Cosmetics and Fragrances only on the day of Benefit Bash. Buy four tickets, and receive the fifth ticket for FREE!

To receive an application, please visit Lord & Taylor’s website at www.lordandtaylor.com/benefit to download. You may also stop by the Executive Office at Lord & Taylor at the Mall in Columbia.

And finally, Santa's coming! An experience the mall likes to refer to as "Santastic." We love the over-the-top marketing.

The holiday experience unlike anything you’ve ever dreamed returns to The Mall in Columbia beginning November 13th!

Prepare To Be Astonished With:

* The Magical Mailbox – be sure to have your letter to Santa ready
* The Naughty or Nice Meter – you still have time to be good
* North Pole weather effects – the forecast calls for daily snow showers
* … and many more magical surprises!

Join us as we create a holiday experience that you and your family deserve!

Now All We Need Is A "Tour De OM"

Oakland Mills has finalized planning for a new "streetscape" in the village center, which we previously likened to our own little Champs de Elysees. Construction on Robert Oliver Place is supposed to begin around Oct. 13.

We tried to think of all the events this tiny main street might host. The start of the high school homecoming parade, perhaps? The finish for a Striders race? A promenade for the annual Crop Hunger Walk?

We wouldn't turn our nose at some chi-chi shopping, either!

See the design here.