As the Baltimore County Board of Elections nears a decision on whether or not to bring recent zoning changes to referendum, Foundry Row developers are moving full steam ahead.
“We believe we have every legal right – the county also believes we have every legal right – to process this plan,” said David Gildea, attorney for Foundry Row developer Greenberg Gibbons.
Foundry Row officials updated the community on its plans for the $140 million center in a community input meeting at New Town High School Thursday night. The Wegmans-anchored development is set to contain 420,000 total square feet of retail, restaurants and office space at the site of the vacant Solo Cup plant on Reisterstown Road.
Two groups backed by opposing developers have asking to bring the county’s rezoning decisions to referendum, very little time was spent on the issue at Thursday’s meeting. Those groups aim to overturn two zoning decisions, one being the Baltimore County Council rezoning The Solo Cup site from manufacturing to retail in August, making way for Foundry Row.
Shirley Supik, leader of the Say No To Solo Coalition, said Foundry Row officials can do and say what they want, but she believes the people have spoken out against the project via those signatures.
“As long as the people are not happy with it, then it cannot go forward," she said.
While the referendum has been the subject of heated debate among the communuity, it was discussed minimally at Thursday's meeting.
“People were interested in the actual project,” said Ruth Goldstein, president of the Greater Midfield Association, which represents homes in the Greenspring Valley.
Questions from the crowd focused on traffic, the mix of retailers and road improvements.
Mickey Cornelius of Baltimore-based The Traffic Group reviewed the $7 to $10 million in road improvements Greenberg Gibbons plans to make, which his study says will improve traffic conditions in the corridor.
Mike Pieranunzi, a landscape architect with Century Engineering who gave the main presentation, said the project will have about 90 more parking spaces than the county’s required 2,150.
Greenberg Gibbons CEO Brian Gibbons, who wanted the aerial view of the project to be more symmetrical, made a small tweak to the plan. He added a fourth story to the Foundry Building, the focal point of the project’s Main Street, by taking 20,000 square feet off of a retail building.
The Foundry Building, which was originally going to house a bottom floor of retail and two upper floors of office space, will now house three upper floors of office space, giving the project 60,000 square feet of office space and 360,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.
In addition to Wegmans, Foundry Row will house a national fitness center, a national sporting good retailer and a national shoe retailer. Gibbons hopes to open the center by spring 2015.
As the referendum threatens to stop Foundry Row, Greenberg Gibbons has taken its own action with the county Board of Elections.
“We have filed an objection and I think it’s under consideration,” Gibbons said.
Cheryl Aaron, zoning committee chair at the Greater Greenspring Association, said the referendum going to ballot was set a “devastating” precedent for Baltimore County communities.
“There was nothing wrong with the [Comprehensive Zoning Map Process],” she said at Thursday’s meeting. “We’ve had more access than ever in this go-round.”
I am now excited to see the project get underway and hope I am around to enjoy it!
I am not overly impressed by Wegemans and we really are not desparate for another expensive grocery (we NEED a Shoppers) but this property MUST be redeveloped into something other than one of many abandoned eye sores along 140 between 695 and Reisterstown
Yes, this property needs to be redeveloped, but it should continue to be a manufacturing site, where citizens will have real jobs, making a decent wage with benefits. Owings Mills should be known for inovation by bringing in something Green or High Tech. We could be making windmill parts or highly needed medical machine parts, etc. We would be investing in the future to make a better world. Then the traffic would not be as much a problem, because like Solo Cup, they could work on off peak traffic shifts and delivery trucks could come in at night only. It is sad to think that the people would settle for something they don't even need over something that would benefit so many, including the area. There would be no competion to put existing businesses out. Everyone could co-exist together and those businesses who have been loyal to Owings Mills and held it together would be safe. Greed is a terrible thing and so is selfishness. As soon as Solo Closed their doors, It was sold. There is 54 acres there and it should be used for much more than 420,000 sq. ft. of retail. It should be used for something good. Are we going to keep building things that take money out of our pockets, rather than something that puts money in. Yes, Mr. Mooney, this property must be redeveloped, but we need to make sure we do the most good with it and if that takes time and effort, we should devote the time and effort into it, not take the first thing that comes along.
Do not worry. Those that need to be are engaged.
If you don't like the vacancies, call Economic Development and hastle them. If you don't like Frank's sitting vacant, Call Rite Aid. They are the ones who have a binding contract for that property that Kimco can't get out of. Find out who the developer is who was supposed to work a large project across from Franks and is now stalled. Don't just sit on Patch and conplain.