Jan 14, 2025
Howard County officials will present their preferred option for the Gateway Master Plan during an in-person public meeting later this month.The meeting will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the county’s Recreation and Parks headquarters. It will also be streamed virtually on Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.The Master Plan will provide a roadmap to the area’s transformation into what County Executive Calvin Ball’s office describes as a “premier innovation district.” Encompassing approximately 1,000 acres of business and industrial space, the plan envisions Columbia Gateway as “dynamic, mixed-use, connected, and creative.” The goal is to position the spot as a hub of research, testing of ideas, and entrepreneurship. “Columbia Gateway and the Gateway Master Plan represent an unparalleled opportunity to peer into the future of our region, a tomorrow brimming with audacious research, boundless experimentation and fearless entrepreneurship,” Ball said in a statement. “This innovation district will be a catalyst for fearless experimentation and dynamic partnerships, harnessing central Maryland’s strategic location and unique strengths to deliver a powerful hub for cutting-edge business growth and research breakthroughs.”Timeline from Howard County Gateway page.Introducing the Master Plan preferred option reflects movement into the next phase of the Gateway Master Plan initiative, launched in January 2024. One year ago, the Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) presented a range of master plan options to the public on how the area might be used and developed over the next 10 to 30 years. The public had opportunities to offer feedback on those options and ideas of their own.An appointed Advisory Committee guides the planning process made up of integral stakeholders and subject matter experts. The committee has made sure that plans for Columbia Gateway consider essential elements, like multi-modal transportation, affordable housing, sustainability and resiliency, and infrastructure.   At future meetings, including Jan. 21, community members will be able to voice their opinions on the concepts presented and ideas for improvement to the existing plan.Photo from Howard County Gateway page.“This illustrative concept lays the strategic framework for a destination that spurs novel research and generates new skilled jobs,” said Lynda Eisenberg, director of DPZ. “The Master Plan’s preferred option addresses the critical infrastructure needed to underpin a community of the future, including transportation, school facilities, housing, and business development resources.”“Gateway’s transformation into an innovation district represents a pivotal economic opportunity for Howard County,” said Jennifer Jones, CEO of Howard County Economic Development Authority. “By fostering collaboration between industries such as cybersecurity, defense, tech and academia, we are not only strengthening our competitive advantage but also driving sustainable job creation and long-term economic growth. Gateway’s evolution builds on our region’s strengths and positions the area as a hub of economic and cultural vitality.”Registration is preferred to attend the in-person meeting on Jan. 21 and required to attend the virtual meeting on Jan. 22. To register for the in-person meeting on Jan. 21, click this link. The meeting takes place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 7120 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD.To register for the virtual meeting on Jan. 22, click this link. The meeting takes place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. via WebEx.For more information about the Gateway Master Plan, click this link. ...read more read less
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