Community Planning
Master Plans: Downtown Columbia | Columbia Villages
Corridor Plans: Route 1 & Route 40
Downtown Columbia | Mark Thompson | 410-313-0573
Neighborhood Documents
Merriweather-Symphony Woods
FDP-DC-MSW-1: Final Development Plan (Includes Concept and Implementation Plan) | Design Guidelines
The Mall
FDP-DC-The Mall-1: Concept Plan | Final Development Plan | Design Guidelines | Implementation Plan
Warfield
FDP-DC-Warfield-1: Concept Plan | Final Development Plan | Design Guidelines | Implementation Plan
Downtown-Wide Documents
Downtown Columbia Plan: A General Plan Amendment
The Plan is an amendment to the Howard County General Plan and creates a 30-year master plan for the revitalization and redevelopment of Downtown Columbia. Specific land use, transportation, environmental, community conservation and housing policies are presented.
Downtown-Wide Design Guidelines
Includes guidelines for street, amenity space, architecture and sustainability.The Downtown-Wide Design Guidelines will be used as a measure against which specific Neighborhood Design Guidelines will be developed for each of Downtown's neighborhoods (Warfield, Symphony Overlook, The Lakefront and Lakefront Core, The Mall, Merriweather- Symphony Woods and The Crescent). The Neighborhood Design Guidelines will then be used to evaluate the design elements of specific projects downtown.
Best Management Practices for Symphony Stream and Lake Kittamaqundi Watersheds
Watershed assessments targeting stormwater retrofitting and riparian corridor restoration opportunities for the watersheds of the two streams that flow through Columbia Town Center. The watershed assessment consists of compilation and analyses of existing information as well as field reconnaissance to identify stormwater retrofit and riparian corridor restoration opportunities.
Merriweather and Crescent Environmental Study
This report describes the findings of a Natural Resource Assessment (NRA performed on a 150 acre portion of the Columbia Town Center Redevelopment area. The general extent of the NRA includes 150 acres within the “Merriweather”, “Crescent” and the “Little Patuxent River Corridor” areas.
Additional Downtown Regulations
Adequate Public Facilites Ordinance: Title 16 - Planning, Zoning and Subdivisions and Land Development Regulation, Subtitle 11 Adequate Public Facilities
Design Advisory Panel: Title 16 - Planning, Zoning and Subdivisions and Land Development Regulation, Subtitle 15 Design Advisory Panel
Green Building: Title 3 Buildings, Subtitle 10 Energy Efficiency and Environmental Design
Sign Code: Title 3 - Buildings, Subtitle 5 - Signs
Zoning Regulations: Section 125: NT (New Town) District
Community Enhancement, Programs and Public Amenities (CEPPAs)
Draft Feasibility Studies
The following initial draft reports have been presented to Howard County by the Howard Hughes Corporation. The County staff is in the process of reviewing these documents and have not yet accepted the reports. Any questions or concerns regarding these draft documents should be directed to the Howard Hughes Corporation.
Part 1: Downtown Transit Center and Circulator Shuttle (Part of CEPPA No. 5)
Part 2: Downtown Columbia to Oakland Mills Multimodoal Connection (Part of CEPPA No. 3)
Broken Land Parkway / US Route 29 North-South Connector Road
Little Patuxent Parkway / US 29 Interchange
Columbia Villages
Hickory Ridge
Village Center Community Plan
The plan articulates the community goals of promoting the health, attractiveness, viability and vibrancy of the Hickory Ridge Village Center as the focal point for the village while protecting and enhancing the viability of the current retail core.
Long Reach
Village Center Master Plan
The plan provides guidance from the Village of Long Reach to the County and developers on the vision and planning concepts that are desired by the Long Reach Community Association as the village area changes over time. It is anticipated that this plan will be referred to as property improvements and development proposals are considered and to help guide decision-making about appropriate uses and design issues in the village area.
Oakland Mills
Village Center Master Plan
Provides a community vision for the Oakland Mills Village Center as a true destination with a clear identity that is cohesive and well planned, supports thriving businesses, and serves as a real center of community life. Simple, moderate and significant improvements for achieving plan goals are presented.
Wilde Lake
Village Center Community Plan
The plan puts forward ideas for maintaining the “Village Center Concept” initiated by Wilde Lake as a place that meets the daily needs of residents, is sufficiently vibrant to attract consumers from across the region and functions as an exciting focal point for the community and a venue for both commercial and social activities throughout the day.
Route 1 Manual
Adopted in March 2004 and updated in July 2009, the manual articulates design requirements and recommendations for properties in the Route 1 corridor and for the Route 1 roadway. The Manual explains procedures for determining compliance with the zoning regulations, especially for the corridor-specific zoning districts.
Rt 1 Studies
Market Analysis: Route 1 Snowden-Dobbin Corridors - 2011
The analysis examines commercial (office, flex, retail) and industrial market opportunities in the County over the next 20 years focusing on the Route 1 corridor and existing commercial-industrial segments along the Snowden River Parkway/Dobbin Road corridor.
SHA Corridor Improvement Strategy - 2008
The strategy recommends a set of transportation improvements to accommodate new development and redevelopment in the corridor and improve the appearance and functioning of the US 1 road network. The strategy identifies needs and priorities for improvements to be made by developers, the County and the State.
Corridor Revitalization
Phase 1 Report - 2001
Phase 2 Report - 2002
Route 40 | Brad Killian | 410-313-4364
Route 40 Design Manual
This Manual outlines design guidelines that, when applied to new development or redevelopment within the Route 40 Corridor, will enhance the overall aesthetics and function of the corridor.
Streetscape Master Plan
The Route 40 Streetscape Master Plan (Master Plan) will identify opportunities for creating a more visually appealing and consistent corridor and will include recommendations for improving interconnectivity and pedestrian access to sites along the roadway. Recommended improvements in the Master Plan may include sidewalks, landscape buffers, street trees, and median plantings such as wildflowers.
Previous Studies
Enhancement Study
Addresses the economic development and community enhancement potential of the Route 40 Corridor. The Study provides recommendations for short term and long term priorities for the corridor.