Second Public Meeting on March 25 About Study Analyzing the Future of Columbia’s Village Centers

Members of the public are invited to the second of three public meetings regarding the “Columbia Market Analysis and Economic Development Services” study.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 25, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Slayton House, which is located at 10400 Cross Fox Lane in the Wilde Lake Village Center. Registration is encouraged but not required via columbiamarketstudy2.eventbrite.com.

The study is evaluating current and projected demand for development in Columbia’s village centers, as well as an interrelated analysis of the Dobbin Road/Snowden River Parkway/former General Electric manufacturing area. It is being conducted by Retail and Development Strategies LLC (RDS), and led by its managing principal, Tom Moriarity. The RDS consulting team includes WTL+a, Folan Consulting and Gibbs Planning Group.

At the March 25 meeting, the consultants will discuss some of their initial market findings.

The study began in late October 2013 and is anticipated to be completed by April 30. It is part of a continued focus on Columbia’s village centers. In 2009, the Howard County Council adopted new regulations to promote the revitalization of Columbia’s village centers. During the recent update of Howard County’s General Plan (PlanHoward 2030), Columbia Association (CA) worked with the county to include a recommendation in the plan for a village center market study.