Try to Keep Up

Alex Hekimian is “feeling rushed.” According to this story by Larry Carson in The Sun today, Alex and his Columbia Council buddies, Phil Kirsch and Cindy Coyle believe that the county is moving too quickly on ZRA 102. ZRA 102 would change the process for altering Columbia’s village centers by, among other things, removing General Growth Properties from the role of gatekeeper. As it now stands, if an owner of a village center wants to make any significant changes to the center they most first receive the blessing of GGP. This requirement is a holdover from the early days of the planned community and may no longer be relevant today. GGP does not own any of the Columbia village centers. Most of its land holdings are concentrated in Town Center and Gateway Corporate Park. 

Cindy, Phil and Alex need to try and keep up. This is hardly what I would call a rush job. ZRA 102 was originally introduced last August and has been the subject of several community meetings over the past year. Additional public hearings will begin to be held on June 15^th and, according to the sponsor of the legislation, Councilperson Mary Kay Sigaty, “the council will schedule as many public hearings as it takes to hear from everyone who wants to voice an opinion.” 

That seems pretty reasonable to me. A year worth of debate followed by a month or so of public hearings should be ample time to adequately address this issue. If this is not enough time for Phil, Cindy and Alex perhaps they need to rethink whether they have the time and energy for public service.