Leopold Plans to Veto 16 Items in Rezoning Bill

The County Executive’s line-item veto package for the most recent round of comprehensive rezoning has been unveiled, and most of the 16 vetoes will take aim at District 7’s proposed changes in south county.

County Executive John Leopold wrote County Council members this week addressing his thoughts on the much-debated District 6-7 comprehensive rezoning legislation, Bill 44-11. The bill contained 46 amendments, each dealing with a specific property, most of the changes were considered "upzoning," which allows denser commercial development.

Leopold previously had said he intended to veto any item that did not align with the county plans. On Tuesday, Leopold made good on that with a package of 16 vetoes, most dealing with south county zoning changes brought forward by Councilman Jerry Walker.

In his message to the council, Leopold said that during his term of office, he has used his veto power sparingly and only when he believed it was in the best interest of the people.

“However, after careful review and after considering the comments of literally hundreds of county residents, I find it necessary and appropriate to exercise that power,” the executive said.

Leopold noted that his administration’s goal was to support zoning that aligned with the county’s General Development Plan and the associated Small Area Plans. He also noted that some of the items could be considered spot-zoning, which could become a liability for the county and could create precedent for a domino effect of zoning in surrounding areas.

Among the proposed vetoes are the former police station at the entrance to Edgewater Beach that would be upzoned from C2 to C4 so that a Fiat car dealership can be built. Property owner George Criswell has said the business deal hinges on the rezoning of the property. Without the rezoning, he has said the property would instead become the home to a 24-hour fast food restaurant.

Leopold noted that parcel in particular, saying that the former administration had agreed that C2 was an appropriate zoning during talks on relinquishing surplus properties, and to change now that would call into question the county’s relationship with its constituents.

Once Leopold issues his veto, the County Council will take up the issue at their next meeting. They will have an opportunity to override his veto with a majority vote, of four of the seven members of the council.

Councilman Chris Trumbauer said Leopold could count on his support of most of the vetos.

“I opposed the vast majority of the amendments that were vetoed by the County Exec, and I plan to generally vote to uphold those vetoes,” Trumbauer said. “I am hopeful that now that the Council has had some time to reflect on the implications of all the zoning changes in Bill 44-11, we will have support to strike most of the controversial South County amendments from the Bill.”

The council’s next scheduled meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6.

The list of veto items includes Bill 44-11 amendments:

• 9 – RA-R1, 1308-1313 Defense Highway, Gambrills (spot zoning)
• 18 – R2-W2, 1861 Crownsville Road, Annapolis
• 22 – RA-SB, 544 Central Ave., Davidsonville (spot zoning)
• 25 – RA-R1, 3336, 3340, Solomon’s Island Rd., Edgewater
• 26 – RA-R5, 1027, 1081, 1085, 1131, 1133, Mt. Zion-Marlboro Rd., Lothian
• 27 – RA-RLD, 1685 Underwood Rd., Gambrills
• 28 – C1-C3, 158-164 W. Central Ave, Edgewater
• 30 – RLD-W2, 733 Crandall Road, West River
• 34 – RA-R1, 2256, Cox Road, Gambrills (spot zoning)
• 36 – C3-W2, 5517 Muddy Creek Road, Churchton
• 37 – RA-C4, 1300 Defense Highway, Gambrills
• 41 –C1-C3, 1581 Defense Highway, Gambrills
• 43 – RA-SB, 1541 Defense Highway, Gambrills (spot zoning)
• 44 – RA-C2, Central Avenue, Edgewater
• 45 – RA-C1, Lothian Circle, Lothian
• 46 – C2-C4, 2974 Solomon’s Island Road, Edgewater

More detail on each amendment is available at the County Council’s Web site at http://www.aacounty.org/CountyCouncil/approvedLegis.cfm/.