Divided Council Approves Builders’ Apartment Complex in North Laurel

Howard County Council members voted 3-2 in favor of a change to the zoning code, allowing builders to create a purely residential building adjacent to Ashbury Courts, in the median of Route 1 in North Laurel.

Patriot Realty, which built the complex,  and wishes to make the second building all apartments. Prior to the change, the “Corridor Activity Center” zone, in which Ashbury Courts exists, required developments to have a certain percentage of retail space.

Greg Fox, R-District 5, and Courtney Watson, D-District 1, both opposed the change, saying they are concerned that it could set a precedent for future development along the Route 1 corridor.

“I think this is something that should be addressed during the general plan and comprehensive rezoning,” said Fox.

Watson, casting the last vote, mirrored Fox’s concern, saying, “I understand the problem, but I’m not comfortable with this solution.”

Councilwoman Jen Terrasa, D-District 3, cast the deciding vote on the issue, which falls in her district. Terrasa acknowledged less-than-stellar results from the original commercial spots, most of which are unoccupied, but said allowing the property to fail could dissuade potential investors from North Laurel in the future.

“North Laurel is the southern entrance of Howard County… From my perspective, this really has the potential to be a really great gateway,” Terrasa said. "The success or failure of this project sends a strong message to anyone considering investing in Route 1.”

Patch acquired letters Patriot Realty developer Leith Wain and Councilwoman Terrasa exchanged prior to Monday’s vote, where Wain offered several property features in efforts to gain support from the North Laurel Civic Association.

Among the promised features was access to sidewalks to northern properties, improvements to surrounding intersections and $50,000 toward creating a sidewalk from the complex to the county line (see PDF of letter above).

Also, at a  last month, Sang Oh, an attorney for the developer, told North Laurel residents that the new building would give the company more money to enhance the commercial spaces that already exist. Oh said the developer “ran out of money” when the original building went up in 2007, which kept them from enhancing the aesthetic appearance of the property.

“This plan is the attempt to make it successful,” Oh said at the meeting.