Many of you have shared your concerns about the proposed development at Spring Grove.

You can see a list of concerns in the comments provided in the online petition.

Here is a summary of the primary concerns we've heard from many of our neighbors (you!). Choose the one(s) most important to you to address with your elected officials. This page will be updated occasionally.

Concern for Spring Grove!

Did you know that Spring Grove Hospital is a functioning, successful hospital and is operating at capacity? It is! And that it is only ONE of several institutions operating on the Hospital Center campus? The campus also includes several professional offices and research labs, such as the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, the Department of Health Care Quality, and many others.  If land there is declared surplus, any future thoughtful development should be compatible with the existing infrastructure and historic buildings. 

CHECK OUT INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY OF SPRING GROVE AT  www.springgrove.com

Loss of Green space/open space

Just see the photos on this website!

 The 2001 Master Site Plan for Spring Grove addressed that the "environmental areas must be protocted and restored, and historic structures must be retained."

Size of Proposed Development for 29 acres of Spring Grove

Very high density - this is proposed to be a 1.4 million square foot vertically integrate MULTI use development. That is the size of Arundel Mills Mall (it would not be as spread out as Arundel Mills, but it is that much square footage of commercial and office space)

Plans includes one or two 12 to 13 story buildings

Plans include restaurant, shops, large anchor stores like (potentially) Target; hotel, 250+ condos, office buildings, movie theatre, restaurants, sports facilities, etc.

City skyline will be tall and one mile long (replacing beltway frontage trees with city scape)

The Developer says this will bring an "urban feel" to Catonsville

4,500 parking spaces – about as many as at the Towson Center

IF WE NEED THESE TYPES OF STORES ETC., LET'S PUT THEM WHERE HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT EXISTS, AND HELP REVITALIZE AREAS THAT ARE LOSING BUSINESS - ROUTE 40, ETC.

Negative Impact on Our Main Streets (Catonsville, Arbutus) and Other Local Businesses

Instead, let's continue to support and focus on our improving main streets!

Increase in Traffic on All Roads Surrounding the Development and Throughout Catonsville

SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN COMMUTING TIME COMING TO, LEAVING, AND DRIVING THROUGH CATONSVILLE

Six lanes on Frederick across the beltway which would be similar to Reisterstown Road's exit

Frederick Road would be widened from Beltway to Delreay

Major entrances at Frederick Rd and Wilkens Ave, at the beltway - this means additional and longer lights at Wilkens, and new lights at Kenwood, etc.

Additional entrances at Bloomsbury and Valley Road

Cut through traffic through residential streets as Frederick and Edmondsun become more congested

Circle at Hilltop is not designed for substantial increases in traffic – may have to be widened -

Widening Wilkens and the increase in traffic will impact the golf course or the back yards of homes along Wilkens

Viability of the “up scale” plans for the development – what if it becomes another not-so-upscale

development of which we already have plenty?

For example, Owings Mills was designed to be an upscale shopping area. The plans then had to change when it's upscale status could not be sustained.

Types of Jobs Created

Many will be service jobs at hotels, restaurants, and shops.

Impact on Schools

Lesser Quality of Life

 Loss of Property Value

Cost to State of Maryland