Last year, the owners of 8400 Park Heights Avenue (in red on above map) requested a change to the properties water and sewer designations. Two of the three parcels that comprise the property lie outside the Urban-Rural Demarcation Line (shaded area on above map). The entire property is inside the Metropolitan District (yellow boundary on above map), the geographic boundary within which a property may be eligible to receive public water and sewer service.
The requested water designation would reflect that public water was extended to the property more than 25 years ago, correcting an apparent error. The requested sewer designation, on the other hand, would change the property from one where no public sewer service is planned to one where public service is required and possible within the framework of the six-year capital program, subject to annual budgeting, determination of health hazards and the negotiation of Public Works Agreements. The Baltimore County Planning Board recommended that the Baltimore County Water Supply and Sewerage Plan be amended to reflect the requests.
The property is currently served by a septic system. The application for the change to allow public sewer service stated that “the existing septic systems are functioning properly but will need to be replaced in the future….The septic system is being maintained by a licensed septic contractor and kitchen grease is separated and drains to a grease interceptor which is cleaned frequently. All that being said the septic system is 44 years old and is approaching the end of its useful life.”
The Executive Order that governs the Water and Sewerage Plan Amendment Process says that before any property is reclassified, the Planning Board must find that a substantial change in the character of the neighborhood where the property is located has occurred, or there is a danger to public health, or that the last classification of the property was established in error. The application to change the water designation points out that it is in error and should be amended, but no proof is offered that would justify amending the sewer designation.
Given the property’s location outside the URDL, VPC opposes the request to change the sewer designation. It does not comport with the Master Plan and does not abide by the requirements of the Executive Order that spells out why a property may be reclassified.
Resolution 8-26 would change the sewer designation of 8400 Park Heights Avenue. If you join VPC in opposing this change, please send an email to countycouncil@baltimorecountymd.gov before its work session scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, at 4 p.m. Please fill in your name and email below and click “SEND”.
If you would like to sign up to speak for 3 minutes in-person at the 4 p.m.work session March 10 in Towson, please visit https://countycouncil.baltimorecountymd.gov/virtual-meetings/ for details on how to register the day of the work session between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., no exceptions.
Email will be sent to the Baltimore County Council.
Subject line of email: Resolution 8-26 [your-name]
Text of email:
Dear Council Members,
I write in opposition to the request to change the sewer classification for 8400 Park Heights Avenue as described in Resolution 8-26 Item 25-03.
No claim has been made or proof provided that the Executive Order’s requirements for reclassification have been met. There has been no substantial change in the character of the neighborhood, there is no danger to public health, nor was the last classification of the property established in error.
The change in sewer designation is inconsistent with Master Plan 2030 because the property is outside the Urban-Rural Demarcation Line and in Growth Tier III.
In the application, the owner of the property said the septic system is functioning properly but will need to be replaced at some point. The owner also said that “the requested amendment is justified/warranted based upon the danger to public health of the near-term projected failure of the septic system on the site….”
It seems that the owner is requesting an expedient way to avoid the expense of replacing the septic system in the future. It is not failing now.
No valid reason to change the sewer designation has been given for this property outside the URDL. Please deny the request.
CC: Valleys Planning Council office