A new housing development proposed for Maple Avenue has courted the attention of Catonsville residents, who recently attended a meeting to discuss the issue and ask questions, according to an article in the Baltimore Sun.
Approximately 100 people went to the Catonsville Library to ask about the development, which would place 19 homes on the Maple Avenue property, near where it intersects with Frederick Road.
One resident, Monica Simonsen, said she was concerned both for residents' safety, and for the impact the work would have on local property. Simonsen lives directly across from the site proposed for the development, and pointed out that the street is narrow, and went on to call the Maple Avenue/Frederick Road intersection the “most dangerous” in the city.
Along with other residents, she is concerned that it would be difficult for construction vehicles to get through on Maple Avenue if there were parked cars on the street. Many residents were worried that the heavy vehicles could cause damage to their property.
Residents also expressed fears that adding new homes would increase the number of students who would be attending local schools. The developer, known as Davis Farms, will consider this point when it does a “school impact analysis” later during the development process. Developers on projects like this can use flyer printing to keep residents informed.
Adding the houses would not require a zoning change, since the property is already zoned residential for up to 22 homes. The project overall would require an administrative law judge's approval.