Poll: Should CA's Board Approve Symphony Woods Plan?
Do you support the new plan for the park?
Photos
Pdfs
Columbia Association's new Inner Arbor Plan represents a dramatic shift from its original plan for Symphony Woods. Gone are the simple pathways and central fountain, replaced with a cluster of buildings coined the Arts Village, an "iconic" sculpture, an elevated tree walkway and a parking garage.
A change.org petition asking the Columbia Association Board of Directors to approve the new Inner Arbor Plan for Symphony Woods garnered more than 130 signatures in its first three days on the web.
The petition was started by Columbia resident Ian Kennedy, who is also the communications director at the Horizon Foundation. Ten years ago, Kennedy formed a group with a friend called "Save Merriweather" that lobbied General Growth Properties from downsizing the concert venue that sits in the middle of Symphony Woods.
In a letter attached to the petition, Kennedy wrote the Inner Arbor Plan "balances both natural beauty with artistic beauty. It includes iconic sculptures, performance spaces, tree houses, a canopy walk, plazas, and a connection to Merriweather Post Pavilion that could turn regular concerts into magical experiences."
Details about the plan that are still unknown include its total cost and how many trees will have to be cut down for construction, according to CA officials.
To pay for the park, CA officials said a 501(c)3 trust would be established that could accept gifts and grants, which CA couldn't legally accept as a 501(c)4.
Residents who expressed concern about the Inner Arbor Plan worried about the rush to have it approved by CA's Board and that the park may be overdeveloped.
In a letter to Explore Howard, Long Reach resident Russ Swatek wrote, "Many were concerned about the impact on the woods [in the original plan] by a few paths and a fountain and the number of mature trees to be removed was reduced. Now [CA] President [Phil] Nelson has announced that the CA Board may approve the new plan as early as Feb. 14. Where are the public presentations and opportunity for input?"
CA offered opportunities for the public to speak out on the plan at their meeting on Jan. 24 and another meeting at Slayton House in Wilde Lake to discuss the plan is scheduled for Thursday from 7:30 - 9 p.m.
CA's board indicated it may vote on the new plan as soon as Feb. 14, the board's next meeting.
What do you think, should CA's Board approve the plan? Tell us in comments or vote in our poll.
Robert Gorman
1:38 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
While it will get prople thinking more creatively about the larger opportunity presented by this valuable resource, no one should think that this plan as conceptualized will ever turn out quite like this drawing.
Once ownership, development cost of facilities and infrastructure, operations, maintenance and security are factored in...then some creative, rational and economically based thinking will have to take place to develop a long term plan that actually works and adds value to the community.
Bob Gorman RLA, FASLA
Columbia resident since 1973
Andrew Metcalf
1:53 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Yes, thank you Robert for the comment, the plan's designer Michael McCall said in a previous interview this is a concept plan, as the plans continue to be developed more information on cost, economic options, landscape possibilities and other details will be released.
Michaelwritescode
4:41 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
My guess for the first thing to be ditched due to budget? The "elevated tree walkway to nowhere".
Though I think the plan is great - I don't see why they'd invest in such a thing?
H.R. Pufnstuf
9:19 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
I could care less about the plan, so long as CA is paying for it. I would caution Howard County government against being duped to pay for any part of this. And I'd hardly cite 130 people signing an online petition out of a town of 100,000 to any sort of evidence at all in support of it. It's actually sort of solid evidence that few people care or are even paying attention. Not hating, just observing.
al romack
9:19 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
Yes yes yes. Let's not debate the details. The details guys have not even created them. Let's instead get excited about what could be done. We should shoot for the stars and be excited about the vision. Details, cost who pays for what will work itself out. If we approach the process with the old vision we will get a fountain in the middle of the woods and nothing else.
barry blyveis
10:01 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
Mr. Romack says it doesn't matter who pays for it and what it costs. Is he talking about my money? Talking about yours? His? Whose?
Mr. Romack, President Nelson wants charitable contributions to the project. How much have you pledged? Please, Mr. Romack, pledge enough so that my annual CPRA payment doesn't go up.
Barry Blyveis
al romack
3:25 pm on Thursday, January 31, 2013
Mr Blyveis,
I did not say I did not care about who pays for it or what it costs. I think that financing will come from those entities who have the most to gain for it. I will be pledging to the project once the trust is established, but it has to be established first. The point of my comments was that if we want Symphony woods to be something more than where "Wine in the Woods is held", we need to create a big enough project to draw people to the site. Afterall, as fellow CA CPRA payees, we should get something for our money. When was the last time you went to Symphony woods? Do you think you are getting a good return on your investment and yearly upkeep charges for Symphony Woods? I don't, I want more.
Do you like the fact that your CPRA money goes to CA to pay for a lease on the headquarters location, or would you rather own? This plan would have CA investing in itself. This is complex issue, with a good chance to end up with something real and vital. A lot of details need to be worked out. But if we fail to act, fail to dream, and fail to march forward, we will continue to be stuck in the past. And by past, the recent past, because "back in the day" Symphony woods had things to draw people to it like the children's petting zoo. Let's approve a vision, and see where it takes us. Without it we are were we are today.
barry blyveis
11:50 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
The plan looks fine. My comment is who will pay for it. For example, Toby's dinner theater will move there. Will Toby's pay for the new building, or will the residents have to pay? The project is grandiose and will be enjoyed by people all over the area. Isn't this the kind of project that the country or state should be paying for? CA could transfer title to one of those entities and we residents would be off the hook. Once the property is transferred to the trust as proposed, the residents will probably have no control over it but will have to foot the bill. Nelson said that he has received legal advice concerning the trust which will own it. We residents are entitled to see that legal opinion and to see the draft of the trust instrument. Is the CA board dumb enough to approve a plan which they have received insufficient information about. The history of CA boards says "YES."
Beverly S.
1:38 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Be suspicious of secret meetings and a rush to approve without due process! Why was the last plan ditched with no explanation?
JD Smith
1:38 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
I voted "other." While there are elements of the new plan that appeal to me, I think the plan needs to be discussed with and weighed in on by more than the County government, HHC and a few - unnamed - "community leaders." How about CA lien payers. There is more than a bit of paternalism, arrogance and dismisal of the needs of residents in this whole process to date. Slow it down, gather more input and develop something really wonderful.
Evelyn
1:38 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
When and how were the meetings regarding the new plan announced? Were they well advertised & well attended? Why does the decision regarding a plan of this magnitude, a plan that will impact the whole of Columbia, have to be made in the next two weeks? I would suggest most residents of Columbia aren't aware of this change.
Because I've been in Columbia for over 30 yrs., I remember a time when the residents were involved in decisions regarding major changes in the city.
Columbia has grown & as such I guess the days of residents weighing in on changes to their city are gone. I resent that.