WIA Letter to BMZA on the CMDS Project

To: Acting Director Byrne Re. BMZ2021-00011 6040 Harford Road, CMDS Fayette House Dear Acting Director Byrne and Members of the Board, WIA is in opposition to the application for conditional use as a residential care facility (17 or more residents) at this location. This decision has been made with careful consideration after addressing this request at several Waltherson Community Meetings. We join with other associations in the greater Hamilton area in having concerns of the proximity to schools and other youth and pedestrian traffic, based on the proposed patient volume and density, among other factors. Most of these do not pertain to this zoning hearing. Regarding the drawings submitted, we question the discrepancy of the number of beds (136) which are greater than the number (104) submitted with the permit request. Please be aware that we are not in opposition to a treatment facility in our community, but we do not feel that one at this location would be of benefit to either the patient base or the community at large. Thank you for considering our opinion, President WIA

Guest Student Column from Bryce Rouse

 

Waltherson Improvement Association will be hosting a monthly feature through the end of the school year with St. Francis of Assisi student and Waltherson resident Bryce Rouse. As part of a community project for his 8th-grade class, he will be writing a column for the WIA newsletter. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the policy or positions of the WIA. If you are a student interested in participating in the WIA please reach out to president@waltherson.org. 

Among the Skies with Bryce Rouse

Welcome back to Among the Skies, and I hope you have enjoyed your March! Baltimore City schools have, unfortunately, discovered that there are thirteen positive pooled COVID-19 test results out of 253 total pods, says district spokeswoman Gwendolyn Chambers. “Pooled tests are tests where students and staff who are together in a classroom each test themselves by swabbing the inside of their noses and then putting the swab together in a container. Chambers said the district tested a total of 3,290 people,” the Baltimore Sun says. Reportedly, that means there could be at least one COVID-19 case in each of those classrooms. This is a very sad, and rather disturbing, turn of events. We pray for all the families out there, and we pray that the City schools will be able to figure this out. To get off on a better note, a Southwest Baltimore church has teamed up with numerous partners to “restore an urban forest in West Baltimore.” The project is called Stillmeadow PeacePark, and it is currently a work in progress. The church’s parish leader, Pastor Micheal S. Martin saw something in that forest: a place to worship and make God’s creation more recognized by the public. “I don’t know how to change the country. I don’t know how to change the world. But I do know how to have an impact in my neighborhood where my parish is,” Michael told the Baltimore Sun. “Our Earth is a gift from God,” Tuck said, “and you’re supposed to take care of the gifts God gave you,” says Yorell Tuck, the director of operations for Stillmeadow Community Projects. Thank you for reading Among the Skies. I am Bryce Rouse, and have another lovely month. You can read these articles here: https://www.baltimoresun.com/features/bs-fe-stillmeadow-church-environment-20210315-zx3gj4bkjzcr5lat2dpqlcxnfa-story.html https://www.baltimoresun.com/education/bs-md-city-schools-covid-tests-20210315-6a3odxua5resrblnthskhm3wiu-story.html

Updates to the Community Review Panel

 What is the CRP (Harford Road Community Review Panel)?

• A committee made up of neighborhood and business association representatives 

• Reviews the development and re-development projects along the Harford Road Corridor as part of the Urban Renewal Plan (URP) - a City Ordinance.

• The ordinance requires CRP approval on all permits for the corridor,

• CRP decisions impact zoning & planning outcomes, though limited to providing review and guidance 

What is the URP (Urban Renewal Ordinance - Master Plan)?

• A Baltimore City ordinance  

• Defines each zoning area of the Harford Road Corridor from Argonne Drive to Echodale Avenue

• States the goals and preferences for the mix of businesses in the corridor 

• Lists the prohibited and conditional uses and design standards for the corridor, which are more specific than the overall zoning code

• Supersedes the zoning code and is adhered to by Zoning & Planning

• Any modifications have to be passed by City Council: introduced by Councilman Dorsey

• The process requires community review

Why the URP Update?

• In 2017 a new Zoning Code went into effect, 

• The ordinance needs to align with the new zoning code

• Items in the URP are outdated &/or duplicated in the new zoning code

Why the URP Update is Important? 

• Gives us the opportunity to better reflect the corridor moving forward through zoning criteria & design standards

• Allows us to 

• Keep elements of the existing URP that are not in the current zoning code

• Keep existing URP non-permitted uses that are allowed in the zoning code

• Add new zoning categories and fine-tune existing ones 

• Be more restrictive than the zoning code in certain circumstances

PLEASE LET US KNOW YOUR QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE UPDATE

PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU DO/DON’T WANT TO SEE IN THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR

contact Susan Kessel | skessel7@gmail.com

CMDS Fayette House - Outline for 2/9/21 Waltherson Improvement Association Public Meeting

 

CMDS Fayette House

Outline for 2/9/21 General Meeting

Topic:   CMDS Fayette House (an Addiction Treatment Facility)

6040 Harford Rd, just south of Christopher Ave

Research by our Zoning Committee from neighborhood meetings and communications with Zoning & other sources. 

·         CMDS = Client Management & Development Services

·         The property is a former nursing home. Current zoning for a Residential Care The facility only permits a maximum of 16 residents without zoning approval.   

·         CMDS is applying for a long term in-patient treatment program, (up to 90 days), with 8 patients per room & 104 beds. Walk-in clients will be accepted.

·         Zoning (BMZA) has currently suspended zoning hearings, due to employee limitations, but they could resume at any time. 

·         Funding will come primarily from State and Federal programs. This is not a not for profit. 

·         The location is nearby a school zone (Hamilton Elementary/Middle School).

·         Westfield Neighborhood Improvement Association is the impacted association however all neighborhoods are involved, staying informed of information given.

·         The community has been told this will not be a methadone clinic.

·         There is no ONE-specific treatment program and there is no “standardization program” like many other drug treatment facilities.

·         CMDS Fayette House & Turning Point (on North Ave):  Several references say these two entities are related yet CMDS administrator states they are not affiliated.

·         Westfield visited the facility with Fayette House administrator & has been in contact with them however no common grounds have been agreed.  An attorney has been secured by Westfield.

·         Westfield has asked for donations from the neighboring associations and/or general public to help pay for the attorney to represent this case.  Their attorney is the same attorney as the Royal Farms project that was originally slated for Harford Rd next to Harbel. 

·         Other neighborhood associations have written & submitted letters of opposition of this facility. Their concerns include inequity of treatment, inadequate facility staffing & equitable care & security concerns These letters of opposition were sent to the BMZA, Council Persons & other applicable parties.  Waltherson Improvement Association is taking a vote at the next public meeting for the same action.  

 

We at Waltherson Improvement Association are committed to serving all of our community and that includes those struggling with addiction. We want to ensure that all who need help have access to adequate, research-based, equitable care. We are proposing that we join with our fellow North East neighborhood associations and oppose this project & submit a letter to the BMZA (and our council people) to preemptively oppose the permitting of this project.