-by Councilman David Marks-
Here are updates on issues I am frequently asked about.
Joppa Road – Resurfacing from Magledt Road to Belair Road will occur this summer. Curbs have been replaced in some areas. This is a two-mile project, the largest resurfacing initiative in Perry Hall in more than a decade. I get a lot of requests for other roads – and I know this post will prompt dozens of other inquiries – but this is an expensive and important project. The resurfacing will happen during the day; there is no perfect time to do it, but traffic is lighter in the summer. The resurfacing was prompted by the replacement of the water main, important if you have been following recent problems along York Road.
El Salto – The opening will occur once fire sprinklers are approved, likely in July. As I mentioned, the owner of Perry Hall Square initiated a renovation of the whole shopping center. This last happened in the early 1990s.
School Construction – School Board member Julie Henn and I will hold a town hall meeting on Tuesday, July 2 at 6 PM at the Perry Hall Family Worship Center. Due to the State Senate’s failure to pass school construction funding, the new elementary school and middle school are delayed, likely by a year. The School Board rejected plans for a boundary study, which means more trailers.
High School – It costs more than $100 million to build a new high school. I support a new high school, but three other communities need replacements. Perry Hall High School is big – thanks to a bad decision to add an addition in the 1990s, in my judgment – but enrollment has actually been lighter as students prefer to attend magnet schools.
Rezoning – 2020 is a rezoning year. In 2012 and 2016, I downzoned thousands of acres to lighten development – but many projects were already approved, such as the apartments on Cowenton Avenue built on land rezoned by my predecessor. Much of our overcrowding comes from demographic change as younger families buy from older homeowners.
Klausmier Road – in 2018, I formed a task force to recommend ways to improve mobility on this major corridor. Each of the recommendations has been adopted – the new county budget includes funding to expand the parking lot; speed bumps will be installed this fall (thanks to a local petition effort); and a light was recommended by the State Highway Administration.
Lidl – the Mars supermarket space will be filled by Lidl, a European-based supermarket with locations in Harford County. I don’t have an exact date for an opening.
Seven Courts Courts Citizens on Patrol – We have been assisting this effort. The COP will have its inaugural National Night Out in early August.
As always, you can contact me privately if you have any questions, but I try to respond here as much as I can. I will be away in late July and unavailable to reach by Internet.
