Business & Tech

New Colony Daycare Center Could Snarl Traffic, Say Residents

Community's entrance would be jammed with traffic if a daycare's plans go through, according to those who live in the gated development of New Colony Village.


Project managers presented plans this week for a daycare center near the entrance to New Colony Village in Elkridge, but residents said the parking provided is inadequate and they anticipated a rush-hour traffic jam.

The daycare center would be diagonally opposite the guard gate at the entrance to New Colony Village, in a building that planning/engineering firm Mildenberg, Boender & Associates owns. 

Maya Mildenberg, vice president of the company, said the daycare center at 7000 New Colony Blvd. would serve residents of the surrounding communities—including Howard Square and New Colony Village, among others. She was one of three project representatives, in addition to eight New Colony Village homeowners, who attended a meeting about the proposal on May 9 at the .

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As it is, the line at the guard gate for people waiting to get into New Colony Village can back up to the Port Capital Village apartment complex during rush hour, said residents.

"I've seen it go all the way back past the apartments, and I've seen people get out of their cars. People get violent," said one New Colony Village woman.

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“It’s a matter of time before someone's going to get plowed," said a fellow resident.

The daycare center on New Colony Boulevard would serve 75 children and include eight parking spots, said Mildenberg. Residents said the parking was inadequate and parents would be forced to wait in traffic lines to drop off children.

Mildenberg said she was "pretty sure" she could have a four-way stop put in at the intersection, which residents agreed would help with traffic flow.

The proposed business, leased and managed by Imagine Childcare Center, could be operational by the fall, according to Mildenberg, who said she planned to submit her proposal to the Department of Planning and Zoning as soon as possible.

According to Howard County regulations, developers must present their proposals to the community before submitting site development plans to the zoning department.


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