Fort Howard Deal Could Be Signed in 3 Weeks

The Maryland developers the Veterans Administration approved to overhaul the historic VA Fort Howard property into a veteran and senior residential community have told residents that they expect to sign a lease for the land near the end of June.

Developers Tim Munshell and Carl Williams, and Dusky Holman, a real estate attorney for the project from the firm Smith, Gildea & Schmidt, laid out the plans at a town hall meeting earlier this month at Edgemere Elementary School.

Work on the first phase of the $500 million project, the renovation of some of the former officer cottages, is expected to begin in mid-October, Munshell said. The development will be financed through private investments, loans and tax credits for renovation of historic buildings and the construction of low-income housing.

The 95-acre Fort Howard campus will include 1,300 to 1,500 residential units, with priority given to veterans and/or their spouses. The residential community will be a 55-and-older community with a mix of affordable units, Williams said, noting that preference for veterans is part of the proposed deal with the VA.

Also included are assisted living, skilled nursing, clinical rehabilitation and major health care facilities. In addition, the development will include a town center with restaurants and retail, educational facilities, museum space, a community meeting area, a wellness center, professional office buildings and green spaces with walking trails along the shoreline.

Edgemere and Fort Howard residents not living on the VA property will be allowed to use the retail and medical clinic there.

Baltimore County Councilman John Olszewski Sr. attended the June 2 meeting and supports the project.

“Fort Howard will be a transformative project for our area,” Olszewski said in an earlier press release from the developers. “It will not only create a projected 3,900 jobs, but will be a sustainable community providing for our veterans for years to come. Fort Howard will bring well-deserved national attention to our wonderful area, and hopefully attract similar green businesses, furthering economic development in the area.”

County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Del. John Olszewski Jr. were represented by aides. Maryland State Sen. Norman R. Stone Jr.  was also in attendance.

Several of the couple dozen residents at the Edgemere Elementary School meeting raised concerns about the size of the development and the number of employees to run the community. Currently, the area is zoned for 550 residential units, and residents voiced worries over the impact on traffic, sewage and water infrastructure, as well as additional police, fire and EMS burdens.

Residents also expressed concern over the impact on local wildlife and Fort Howard’s rural feeling.

The most pressing concern appeared to be the additional traffic on narrow North Point Road, the only way in and out of Fort Howard. Munshell and an engineer present did little to alleviate the traffic concerns at the meeting, telling residents that a traffic study is underway. Munshell added, however, they’ll do whatever is required, in terms of infrastructure improvements by the county.

“The traffic study will be done soon and we should have this meeting again,” Munshell said, adding that opening Hall Road to address traffic concerns has already been dismissed.

Most likely, an engineer with Sparks-based KCI said, traffic improvements will be limited to intersections. For example, adding right or left-hand turn lanes.

Munshell said Baltimore City will build new, larger sewers where necessary, which will be maintained by Baltimore County. A 16-inch water main, which currently ends at Fort Howard, will be extended into Fort Howard.

Munshell, Williams and Holman promised further dialogue with residents and a transparent process with Baltimore County on planning issues.

Carolyn Mroz, president of Bay-Vanguard Federal Savings Bank on North Point Road, said she was concerned about a potential increase in traffic on North Point Road.

“It’s a peninsula—if there’s an accident it can tie things up for a long time,” Mroz said.

She also expressed concern about the effect of potential severe weather, such as Hurricane Isabel eight years ago, on the proposed elderly population at Fort Howard, located at the end of North Point Peninsula.

Olszewski Sr. said once Munshell and Williams present him with a final Planned Urban Development document, he’ll write a resolution in favor of the proposal and bring the measure before the Baltimore County Council. Munshell said plans are expected to be finalized and in Olszewski's hands near the end of June.

Olszewski Sr. said the resolution doesn’t guarantee the PUD will be approved as is.

“Before it can go forward it has to go through the planning office and be reviewed by an administrative law judge,” Olszewski Sr. said.

Steve Takos, who’s lived at Fort Howard for 35 years and worked for the Veterans Administration for 35 years, said he believes the project is too big. He also believes, for better or worse, it’s a fait accompli.

“It’s a done deal,” Takos said.