The Baltimore County Council on Monday night unanimously approved a bill introduced by Councilman David Marks that amends some of the standards for the Downtown Towson Overlay District, a zoning designation the council approved in August that places controls on development in downtown Towson.
Marks, who represents Towson, said he amended the original bill, which he also crafted, at the request of Virginia-based developer AvalonBay Communities, which is redeveloping Towson Circle with a plan to add 371 apartments and retail space. The amendments will allow AvalonBay to agree to let the Towson Circle project — which lies within the overlay district but was proposed before the district was approved — to be subject to the rules that govern the new district, Marks said.
Marks said he also amended the bill so that the $350 million Towson Row development — which also predates passage of the overlay district — can continue under the old zoning code. That project, which broke ground in October of 2015 and would include 1 million square feet of developed space, has been stalled thanks to the discovery of rock beneath its surface that will make building a planned underground parking garage too expensive, according to Arthur Adler, principal of developer Caves Valley Partners.
Source: County Council approves changes to downtown Towson zoning district – Baltimore Sun
