Letter to the Editor: Plea for Elkridge Met with Silence

The General Plan Task Force (GPTF) had its final meeting last week.

Thirty-six individuals [on the task force] plus Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) officials are all VERY AWARE of what Elkridge does not have...DPZ gave a road trip of the Route 1 corridor and pointed out all of the things that make Elkridge, Jessup and Laurel special in addition to the deficiencies (and opportunities)...

Funny thing, the GPTF could not have a meeting in Elkridge because we have no community center—unlike Glenwood and Laurel. We don't have a new, larger library/senior center like Ellicott City, no pool, no new high school, no new middle school, and no new elementary school at this point. We don't have a new yet either. Some of these items are in the works, but it amazes me that ten years ago we asked for these amenities because we saw the need, and yet, they are not built.

At a GPTF meeting, Howard County officials wondered if they can continue to meet the caviar tastes we have enjoyed in Howard County thus far...and I said emphatically, "How can we in good conscience give less in amenities to the taxpayers of the Route 1 corridor when they pay the same taxes and will continue to bear the brunt of the density in the East?"

No one said a word.

I won't even get into the traffic issue. All I can say is there are officials not doing their jobs and they should be held accountable. There is land to be bought right now for the school land bank. This must NEVER happen again. The county executive says he will provide the money to purchase the land for school sites. He will do so when the school administration asks for it in the budget. So maybe we all need to take a close look at the and see which ones are willing to fight for and vote for land bank money to help out the East. By God, it's time to show me the money!

Val McGuire is a member of the General Plan Task Force. She is also director-at-large for the Greater Elkridge Community Association.