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Politics & Government

New Senior Condos Passed Over in Rezoning Bill

No rezoning came through for a property on Jumpers Hole Road where senior condominiums have been proposed.

The prospect of new will have to wait, as the hour of opportunity passed before the Anne Arundel County Council on Monday night.

Severna Park resident Bob Blanchfield wanted to see his property, across from the Safeway, rezoned so he could build condos that will provide up to 68 units for senior citizens. To get the zoning he needed, Blanchfield and several supporters submitted a request to the council during its comprehensive rezoning procedure—a once-in-a-decade process.

But as the final amendments to the rezoning bill came before the council Monday night, Blanchfield’s rezoning request wasn’t among them. A final vote for the rezoning bill, including all amendments, is scheduled for Dec. 5.

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Blanchfield’s son Rob said he was disappointed that their request was not included despite support from many Severna Park seniors.

“If it winds up being that we can’t do the condos here then I’m a little upset, sure. I’m concerned that there’s a lack of interest in keeping seniors in the community,” Rob Blanchfield said.

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John Pantelides, who helped organize support for the Blanchfields, said the need for senior housing will continue to exist in Severna Park. But, for now, the Blanchfields will be have to reconsider their options for development.

“We’re just going to have to take a deep breath and reevaluate what our next step is,” Pantelides said.

Supporters for the condos were outspoken at all three public hearings before the council on the rezoning bill. But there were also some vocal detractors.

Albert Johnston of the Greater Severna Park Council said there were still vacancies in existing senior housing in the area, and that some supporters of Blanchfield’s proposal had exaggerated the need.

“The recent market does not appear to exist for ‘upscale senior condominiums,’” Johnston said in his written testimony to the council.

The Blanchfields’ proposed development—tentatively called Grandfields—would be built across the street from a facility being developed by The Shelter Group that is set to open in 2012. In addition to that, Johnston cited openings available at McKinsey Park and Gateway Village, which opened just three years ago.

“The question before the council is not, ‘Do we have senior housing?’ We have it,” Johnston said. “The question is, 'Where should we put it?'”

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