Community Impact Bill Needs our Support--Jean Ottey Testifying Today for Rodgers Forge

Jean Ottey will be testifying today in Annapolis in support of the Community Impact Bill--House Bill 693, sponsored by Delegate Steve Lafferty. Delegates Frank and Aumann are co-sponsors. This bill will require Towson to make an impact statement each year the full time student population increases or there is a change to the Master Plan. This Bill will ensure communication so that the surrounding communities will not be blind-sided, or surprised as Rodgers Forge was with the Arena location. It is unfortunate to have to mandate cooperation, but given what Rodgers Forge has seen in recent weeks, it would be foolish for the surrounding neighborhoods to count on Dr. Caret's magnanimity. The community needs to support this bill to require Towson's cooperation. Below is some of the testimony that will be given today:
In support of House Bill 693—USM Designated Growth Institutions—Community Impact Statement
Let me say that Rodgers Forge was very pleased with the outcome of the negotiations to relocate the arena. We were pleased that Towson/Dr. Caret were willing to work with us to come to a mutually agreeable compromise that worked for everyone. Good outcome.

However, the community had to expend a tremendous effort to this end, because Towson had changed their plans without telling anyone. We were blind-sided by the change in the location of the Arena. It is this kind of action without attention to correct process or with any thought to the community that we as a community worry about in the future. Towson can talk about all the community meetings they attend, but this was a big change that went under the radar. We as a community are worried about the next thing that might slip under the radar if we are not standing at attention.

We believe this required impact statement would keep this from happening. We are happy to be vigilant as a community, but we shouldn’t have to stay up nights wondering about the next shoe that is going to drop because Towson University is now a designated growth university—we need this bill so that we know we have a process we can depend on.