By Shane Jacobus

Arnold Preservation Council (APC) and the Broadneck Council of Communities (BCC) held their first meeting of the year on Feb. 2. The meeting featured Councilman Dick Ladd, who spoke about some of the major issues impacting the local area.

Throughout the evening, the two groups voiced their concerns about a wide range of items for 2012 as outlined in The Broadneck Bulletin put out by the BCC: commercial development in the Broadneck area, transportation, Bay Bridge safety and planning, water quality and storm water management, septic and sewage treatment upgrades, school population, zoning enforcement and compliance with Critical Areas laws, rewriting the zoning code, and congressional redistricting and representation.

The meeting began with BCC President Pat Lynch introducing some of the other speakers including APC President Elizabeth Rosborg and Edie Segree, Constituent Affairs Assistant to Maryland House Speaker Mike Busch. Rosborg said she “stepped into the fire” upon her election to the APC Board of Directors in January 2011. She was referring to the rezoning changes that were under review by the Anne Arundel County Council that year.

Rosborg feels there has been some progress with regards to raising public awareness of rezoning applications and encouraging residents to voice any concerns they might have. Still, she says this was the most important topic at this meeting, which was the third they have had with Councilman Ladd at the Cape St. Claire clubhouse within the last 12 months.

“The Arnold Preservation Council is strongly encouraging the County Council to listen to the recommendation from the Comprehensive Rezoning Charter Review Committee,” she says. “We feel now is the time to improve the process.”

For example, Rosborg adds, the APC believes it is imperative that property owners are made aware when a rezoning application has been filed for their property and that they have adequate time to respond. She also says that the APC supports the Master Transportation Plan and encourages the public to voice their opinion at the upcoming hearing on Feb. 15 as they are very pleased that the state is looking at the larger picture.

“Councilman Ladd listens to his constituents as he did again at this meeting,” Rosborg reflects. “He is trying very hard to find solutions for the problems his constituents have, but, as he has often said, ‘I can’t please everyone.’ Community involvement is key to our long-term success and Councilman Ladd can only do so much without the help from the entire community. During rezoning, our Town Hall meetings were overflowing, now that it is over, attendance has dropped. This I only one issue and we can’t wait another 10 years to preserve Arnold.”

The APC has several goals set for 2012, including working with author Alberta Stornetta on a book titled Arnold, MD: The Little Post Office That Grew. Soon the APC will post a form for residents to submit should they wish to share any stories, pictures, or memories for this project. The APC is also planning to revamp their website in order to make themselves more visible to the community while affording better and more up-to-date communication to its members.

For more information about joining the Arnold Preservation Council and to obtain a form for the book project, resident can visit their website at www.preservearnold.org.

APC members Elizabeth Rosborg and Edie Segree present the congressional redistricting map at the latest town meeting. Councilman Dick Ladd was in attendance to answer questions relating to the hot topic. Photo by Shane Jacobus