Earlier today, Susan Garber, of the Savage Community Association, sent a letter to local residents informing them that the pending land swap deal in Savage, Maryland between Bozzuto Homes and Howard County was voided by County Executive Allan Kittleman who is running for a second term this fall.
In a letter to Garber, Kittleman said, “Although I have struggled with how to move forward and to be fair to all parties, I have come to the conclusion that the land swap option is not in the best interest of the community. Therefore, I have decided to remove the land swap from the equation.”
According to information on the “Stop the Swap” website, the county was engaged in negotiations with developer Bozzuto Homes to trade land currently owned by Bozzuto for county park land situated in Savage, Maryland. The county land, Savage Park, is a wooded recreation area connected to the other parts of the county by a trail commonly used by bicyclists, walkers and other outdoors enthusiasts in the area.
The VisitHowardCounty.com website describes the park this way: “Savage Park offers many opportunities for discovering wildlife, wildflowers and natural history along 2.8 miles of interconnecting trails, including links to Patuxent Branch Trail and Lake Elkhorn. The Savage Loop Trail offer different lengths and terrains for hikers and bikers of various skill levels. The park environment offers an abundance of recreational areas such as 5 ball diamonds (permit use only); 2 basketball courts; 2 horseshoe pits; a picnic pavilion available on a first-come-first-served basis, unless reserved; 4 lighted tennis courts, 2 volleyball courts, a playground and restroom facilities.”
Garber, who writes a blog about local environmental issues and manages both a website and a Facebook group dedicated to halting the swap deal, wrote in her letter to supporters that while she will cease her petition drive for now, she will continue to keep the issue before state and county decision makers.
“I want to thank each of you who has assisted in some way to keep the pressure up on this issue,” Garber said.
The development plan calls for 35 residential housing units in Savage. The swap would have allowed Bozzuto to build on flat land rather than on steep slopes. Although Kittleman is not moving forward with the swap, the construction project could still move forward.
Kittleman said, “Of course, Bozzuto could still develop this property under the original subdivision design approved as ECP-14-029 and submit a new Preliminary Equivalent Sketch Plan. We will have to wait and see what they decide to do.”
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