Marks, Bevins Meet With Parkville Organization

The Greater Parkville Community Council has asked their County Council members to try to stop the sale of a parking lot they believe is essential for the revitalization of the commercial corridor along Harford Road. 

At the association's meeting this week, council members David Marks and Cathy Bevins spoke with community members about several concerns. But the topic that attracted the most attention was the Lavender Avenue parking lot.

The community organization is concerned that the Baltimore County Revenue Authority may sell the parking lot, which is located in the sixth council district, to a developer—a possibility they said could harm the business district's revitalization.

Councilwoman Bevins heard the concerns and responded. "My priorities are your priorities—that's why I'm here tonight," she said.

"I don't even think I was off the stage at my inauguration before Ruth [Baisden] grabbed me and said, 'I need to talk to you about the Lavender lot,'" Bevins said.

Bevins said she has met with the Baltimore County Revenue Authority and the county executive several times. As of her most recent conversation with the authority, no decision had been made regarding the lot, but Bevins pointed out that it was on April's agenda.

Steve Hobbs, a Parkville resident, was concerned about why the council could not step in and prevent the lot's sale.

"We are advocating for you—I've whispered in their ears, and yelled in their ears. I could jump up and down on the table, but we do not oversee the Revenue Authority," Bevins said.

Councilman Marks explained to the group that the Baltimore County Revenue Authority was created by the state legislature, despite the fact that they are a county-based organization.

"They're a county organization that derives their power from the state," Marks said.

"This has been a very frustrating issue for me," added Marks, a former community leader in Perry Hall. "I could show you copies of letters I sent back in February [about the parking lot].  Regardless of the outcome [of the lot sale], we should ask state government to reform the Revenue Authority."

Marks also pointed out that talking to state legislators may be the best way to approach changing another hotly contested issue that was echoed at the Thursday night gathering: the enforcement of the Board of Education's Rule 1300. 

Rule 1300, the subject of a recent council meeting, has prohibited community groups and PTAs from using school facilities for meetings and fundraisers. The official reasons given range from wear and tear on the facilities to legal and safety issues.

Like the Revenue Authority, the Board of Education is a county-based organization that derives its power from the state. 

"We want to do what we can to help on the facilities use issue, but ultimately we don't control the Board of Education," Marks said. "What we can do is try to use persuasion."

Win Boyer, a Parkville resident and president of the Parkville High School Athletic Boosters club, was present at the meeting and spoke about Rule 1300.

"There wasn't a good reason [the Board of Education] could give that we couldn't give a good answer to," Boyer said of a recent meeting between community members and the board. 

"It comes down to a few headstrong people not wanting to change," he said.

Both council members pledged to help resolve the facilities-use issue, despite not having control over decisions made by the Board of Education.

"We'll take as much backing as we can," said Boyer.

Community members also said they want the council members to address traffic at the intersection of Harford and Joppa Roads, to include their view on council redistricting, and to consider Carney, Cub Hill and Parkville Community Plans in the comprehensive zoning process.