Opposition to Proposed Amendment (Council Bill 08-0117) to Key Highway Urban Renewal Ordinance (#622)

To:  Mayor and Baltimore City Council

The UNDERSIGNED TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY OF BALTIMORE emphatically urge City Council to vote to oppose Bill 08-0117 (proposed Amendment to the Key Highway Urban Renewal Ordinance #622 – March 12, 1986) on the following grounds:

I. Among the stated objectives of the Key Highway Urban Renewal Ordinance (“KHURO”) “as determined by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore….are” the following:

1) To provide a plan for new uses that are compatible with the existing neighboring environment and the City’s redevelopment objectives in the Project Area and to establish a plan review process to assure orderly and harmonious development therein.

2) To provide for new development which respects the adjacent community and provides a transition to the existing neighborhood.

3) To provide for the completion of the public shoreline uses around the Inner Harbor and to provide for a transition between the Inner Harbor and adjacent development.

4) To provide public pedestrian access to the waterfront by means of open space and pedestrian walkways along the waterfront and through private development areas.

5) To protect and enhance views of the Harbor from South Baltimore east-west streets, Federal Hill Park and Key Highway.

II. Over the years there have been a series of individual interpretations of the KHURO Development Area Controls that have been favorable to this developer (HarborView Properties) and others. At first blush considered on an indivdiual basis these interpretations have been seemingly “benign” in nature.

III. In the aggregate these favorable interpretations have resulted in a fortress-like wall of construction along the Harbor side of Key Highway from the Rusty Scupper to Jackson Street, which severs the centuries-long bond (since 1608) between the waterfront and the neighborhoods adjacent thereto.

IV. As drafted, this Amendment does noting in furtherance of the stated Objectives of the KHURO (Bill #622). In fact, if approved this Amendment would further undermine critical elements of Council’s intent in passing the original KHURO legislation.

V. By right Harborview can build the one additional tower – the 17 story Pinnacle I or the 27 story Pinnacle II, but NOT both without seeking an Amendment to the KHURO.

VI. No further development on Development Area A (including Lot #6) is permissible absent Council’s approval of this proposed Amendment.

VII. In seeking approval for this Amendment HarborView Properties simply seeks to establish new development rights in order to exceed limits imposed by existing development area controls.

VIII. The Federal Hill Neighborhood Association, Inc., the Federal Hill South Neighborhood Association, the Riverside Community Association, and the Locust Point Civic Association have filed formal statements of Opposition to this proposed Amendment. Building density in HarborView Development Area A is already unacceptably high.

IX. The proposed Amendment (08-0117) would not have received three affirmative votes of support in Committee were it not for a swing vote by a member residing at HarborView.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Opposition to Proposed Amendment (Council Bill 08-0117) to Key Highway Urban Renewal Ordinance (#622) Petition to Mayor and Baltimore City Council was created by South Baltimore Community Leadership Council and written by Paul W Robinson (probinson@ecrp.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.