Go visit Baugher's Fruits and Vegetables while you can still see the big, beautiful sunflowers like the ones above! You can find them and local-grown produce at 4775 Baugher Farm Road, pop-ups at Myrtle Woods Farm (6089 Lawyers Hill Road in Elkridge), and Breezy Willow Country Market (9090 Frederick Road in Ellicott City)!


In this newsletter, you'll find links to our latest bills, updates on development projects that have been in the news, and how to provide your input as the Board of Education considers next year's budget for school construction.


Any questions about things going on at the Council level or in your community? Don't hesitate to reach out via email to CouncilDistrict1@HowardCountyMD.gov or phone at (410) 313-2001

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The bills below will be introduced at the Council's next legislative session to be considered throughout the month of September.


CB54 is D1's latest bill to protect old Ellicott City. This time, we want to prohibit waivers specific to trees in the watershed. The bill would also prevent developers from "banking" trees outside of the actual development.


CB56 is all about transparency in government. It's an extension of CB24-2021, D1's bill that updated our County ethics laws to comply with the Maryland Public Ethics Law. This new bill clarifies that those with a financial interest in land impacted by changes to zoning laws must disclose campaign donations.


CB58 ensures that residents constructing additions onto their already-existing homes pay a lower School Facility Surcharge than those building entirely new homes. We introduced this bill in response to a constituent's concern that the law as is was being unfairly applied.


Interested in testifying in support of these bills? You can sign up for the September public hearing on Monday, September 19th by clicking here or just email CouncilMail@HowardCountyMD.gov at any time before the vote.

Council Calendar

Tuesday, September 6th at 7 PM -- Legislative Session to consider appointments and introduce September legislation


Wednesday, September 14th at 1 PM -- Monthly Meeting


Monday, September 19th at 9:30 AM -- Joint Meeting with Council and Board of Education


Monday, September 19th at 7 PM -- Public Hearing for September legislation


Friday, September 23rd at 1 PM -- Work Session for September legislation


Monday, October 3rd at 7 PM -- Legislative Session for September legislation

Taylor Highlands Update

Earlier this month, our D1 office sent out a call to action about this developer attempting to build in the hills above old Ellicott City. This development was originally scheduled to go in front of the Planning Board this monthThat meeting was postponed and is currently unscheduled. If the developer still wants to pursue their plans, they'll need to schedule another date with the Planning Board and re-advertise before that meeting. We'll keep you posted.


Our office is continuing to meet with the Department of Planning & Zoning, Office of Transportation, and others to advocate against vast increases in impervious surface. That could include dedicating the wooded portion of the land as a public park. As you'll see below, Liz recently testified in front of the Board of Education asking them to officially reserve the land slated for this development as a future school site, something the Board has the power to do under current County code.


We appreciate the time so many of our constituents have taken to write into our office and share their concerns about this development. We will be sharing that testimony and any other messages from the public that we receive with the Planning Board. For more information, click here to listen to WMAR's story about what's at stake.

Upcoming D1 Pre-Submission Community Meetings

Tuesday, August 30th at 6 PM -- "Browns Begone" (120 age-restricted units at 8074 Baltimore National Pike -- the site of the former Brown's Motel)

The meeting will be held at the Miller Branch at 6 PM. This development already went before the Hearing Examiner in July in an attempt to secure a waiver for setback regulations and failed. You can read the Hearing Examiner's Decision & Order about that case here.


Tuesday, September 6th at 6 PM -- "Pleasants Development" (up to 71 age-restricted units at 2605 and 2609 N Rogers Ave.)

This meeting will be held at the Miller Branch at 6 PM. This same firm held a pre-submission community meeting for 61 age-restricted units on parcels adjacent to this one in March of this year.

Food Truck Fridays are still going strong in Elkridge! Every Friday from 4:30-7:30, the Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department hosts food trucks and fun for the community. For more details on which trucks are available for food (it changes weekly), visit this link!

Be a Bike Valet at Main Street Music Fest!

Bike HoCo creates bike corrals for County events to encourage cycling around the County! Bike HoCo charges nothing to park your bike for the duration of the event, but they request voluntary donations to help continue their work and hopefully expand!


Their next corral will be at the Lot E parking lot in old Ellicott City at 8390 Court Avenue for EC Music Fest on September 17th from 12-8 PM! They're looking for "valets" to help staff it! If you're interested, sign up here.

Send in Your FY2024 HCPSS Capital Budget Testimony!

This past week, Liz testified in front of the Board of Education at their first public hearing to consider what should be part of next year's Capital Budget for school construction. You can see Liz's letter to the Board below and watch a recording of her testimony here.


If you have a D1 school of choice that you want to make sure Board members hear about before the budget process begins, join us please by submitting written testimony to BOE@HCPSS.org!

Thank You, Public Safety Dispatchers!

Last month, our D1 office toured the County's Emergency Dispatch Center. Thank you to those dispatchers who showed us just a small glimpse of how much we task them with doing on a minute-by-minute basis. These very first responders play a critical role in keeping us all safe, all the time. We must better recognize, compensate and staff them for what they truly are — a wholly committed part of our public safety team.

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