Gerst Farm Proposal Not Accepted: Councilman Asks For Better Plan

PERRY HALL, MD — The day after developers presented Perry Hall residents with their plans for a 317-home community on the Gerst farm property, Councilman David Marks has rejected the proposal in its current form. He issued a statement saying that he had heard from the community about the development and was also concerned.

Elm Street proposed building 138 villas, 64 luxury townhouses and 115 townhouses on the 48-acre property. While the developers said they planned to market the property to those 55 and up, there were no restrictions in place that would ensure the homes would be for older adults who would not necessarily bring more children to already overcrowded schools.

"I share the community's concerns about school overcrowding and the overall density of this development," Marks said in a statement.

The current zoning allows for one home per acre. To proceed with its proposal, Elm Street would need the support of Marks, who would have to ask the council to vote on whether to allow for a change in zoning. Marks said Friday he was not going to do that with the plan in its current form.

Related:

• Gerst Farm Development Proposal: Schools, Traffic, Zoning
• 317-Home Development Proposed For Gerst Farm Property

Marks said he has asked the developer to provide a "better plan for the property" that "reflects the concerns" residents raised at Thursday night's community input meeting in White Marsh.

Specifically, the councilman said he is asking the developers to do the following:

• Reduce the proposed number of homes to include "far fewer units"
• Add deed restrictions so housing marketed as 55-plus may only be owned by older adults
• Dedicate a large section of the property near the Honeygo Village Center to public parkland to be given to Baltimore County

"In 2016, I downzoned this property to allow for more time for Honeygo Elementary School and the new northeastern middle school to be built," Marks said.

At the community meeting Thursday, the PTO president of Honeygo Elementary said that the new school was nearing capacity, and the feeder for the proposed development was Chapel Hill Elementary, which was over capacity.

"I would like to thank the residents of Perry Hall who passionately voiced their perspective on this development," Marks said. "I will continue to look out for their interests."