The Hunt Valley/Timonium (HV/T) area has long been one of the key employment and commercial corridors in the Baltimore region.

The 4,000 acre area, as designated by the Baltimore County Office of Planning in the proposed HV/T Master Plan, contains some of the most valuable real estate in the County.

A Redevelopment Study was initially undertaken in 1990 and while the resulting plan was adopted by the Planning Board in 1993, that plan was never approved by the County Council.

County Council Resolution 22-98, approved in March, 1998, requested, that in conjunction with making recommendations for a community plan that would amend Master Plan 1989-2000, the Planning Board should also consider zoning map changes in the West Aylesbury Road area.

The HV/T Master Plan is similar to other community plans in calling for enhanced economic development, protection of residential areas, design guidelines on new construction, etc. However, this plan is worthy of particular note because the comprehensive review and approval of zoning issues outside of the County’s quadrennial process is a unique feature of this planning process.

The Planning Board is now considering the draft HV/T Master Plan. That draft contains a log of issues comprising a comprehensive zoning map review and recommendations to the County Council for zoning map changes to be approved later this year.

Accepting that zoning decisions are political, including the rezoning proposed by this plan, this process may present opportunities for rezoning by other property owners.