The Issue:

Proposed development of 46 townhome units in groups of 3-5 units, each 3 story (above grade) with attached 2 car garages.

Available at:  https://hcgweb01.harfordcountymd.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=9206519&dbid=0&repo=HarfordCounty8

Details:

A proposal for Red Pump Crescent site plan is being pursued to build the above subject homes off Red Pump Road sandwiched between Blake’s Legacy Drive, Honeysuckle Drive and Forest View Drive, a mile east of Red Pump Elementary School in Bel Air North.  

The development will be on a narrow 10 acre parcel with a single entrance created from Red Pump Rd to the townhouse development.  This is a natural resource and watershed area.  County emergency planners inquired regarding access from Forest View Drive for emergency vehicles back in 2014; this does not reflect in the current plan.

Development of these townhomes was first presented in 2012 and then again in 2014.  Neighbors from the affected communities raised their concerns vehemently and the project was stalled until now.  A new potential developer, Texas based developer D. R. Horton, is considering purchase of the 10 acre land parcel from Red Pump Crescent LLC and to proceed with building of the 46 unit townhomes.  The townhomes will be 3 story above grade containing 2 car garages and will be offered in the $600k price range.  They will tower over the existing 2 story homes in the area and will remove the privacies of over 50 homes affecting Red Pump Rd., Blakes Legacy Drive, Honeysuckle Drive, Forest Valley Drive, Bernadette Drive and Forest View Drive.

A meeting was held on June 25th, 2026 at the Bel Air library, a large attendance of neighbors and county council Jessica Ryley Hammond and Tony Giangiordano were present.  Many concerns and questions were discussed but not well answered by the engineers sponsoring the meeting.  

The main concerns raised by the community are:

·       Will add at minimum 100+ vehicles traveling on Red Pump Road and surrounding side streets.  This does not include service and emergency vehicles, school buses and delivery trucks.  Traffic in this area is already heavily congested.

·       Stormwater management and runoff including sediment control

·       Strain of existing electrical grid

·       Sewer capacity and other infrastructure concerns from the impact of additional impervious surfaces.

·       Damage to existing homeowners home due to blasting during the development.  The developer says no blasting will be needed?

·       Existing wetlands, streams, wildlife and runoff will be either eliminated or severely impacted.  The runoff in bear Cabin Branch flows in Bynum Run and ultimately into the Chesapeake Bay.   Many species of wildlife reside in this wooded area including protected species.

·       Children living in the townhomes will have to be bused out for elementary school as Red Pump Elementary is at limit.  Planned are to assign them to Forest Lakes Elementary, but probably has not been examined.  Parents raised a huge concern there are not enough resources available.

·       How will this affect property values, property taxes and the resale potentials for the existing homes in the community?

This list represents the primary concerns but certainly there are many others.

We are asking for your help and support in opposing this townhouse development project.  

Because this project is still pending and not officially approved, now is the time for our community to speak up. Add your name to the petition, spread the word to neighbors who may be unaware, and contact your councilmen/women to ensure they hear your concerns.  Help us to stop this overdevelopment to our community!

Please note that contributions on this site will go to change.org to promote the petition on all social venues, it does not go directly to this petition and continuing efforts by the organizer(s).  We are in the process of making signs and t-shirts, so if you prefer to donate to this effort, more information will be forthcoming to do so.