Since my election, one of my priorities has been to reduce school overcrowding throughout the Fifth District. We are making progress. The county has invested more than $110 million in school projects, mostly to build more classrooms. In 2012, I initiated a downzoning of more than 420 acres of land to lighten development while we built new classroom space from Towson to Perry Hall.
Where we have had development, I have done my best to steer it toward populations that are less likely to produce school-age children. As an example, the County Council advanced Planned Unit Development resolutions for two senior housing projects that will not impact schools. Another project, McDaniel Orchards, is under review. The developer has proposed luxury townhomes in lieu of traditional single-family homes. The argument is that the townhomes would be priced at a point likely to attract empty nesters and older residents.
I will continue to support strategies that reduce overcrowding in all our schools.