New Development

Howard County General Plan Update

Once each decade, Howard County updates its General Plan, a long-range, visionary document that guides land use, growth, and development decisions. Howard County’s Department of Planning and Zoning is leading a community outreach effort to create a new General Plan, called HoCo By Design. County officials want to hear from every voice as we create one vision for the County’s future. Check out the website.

Other Development Projects

Cedar Overlook (A on map below)

Near Clemens Crossing on the east side of Cedar Lane at 6547 Cedar Lane, Columbia, MD 21044 and the adjacent lot to the northeast, there is a petition up for review for age-restricted adult housing. The proposed project consists of 35 residential units. The subject property is currently zoned R-20 (Residential: Single) and consists of approximately 8.916 acres.

The pre-submission community meeting was held on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 and the draft plan and meeting minutes are here. More information available here. (updated 6/2022)

Patuxent Commons (B on map below)

A new apartment building serving those with disabilities, income-qualified singles and families, and market-rate units is proposed to be built on Cedar Lane between Freetown Road and Owen Brown Road.  The 76-unit, 3 story project would be developed for the Howard County Autism Society and the Howard County Housing Commission.  This project has been approved. For more information, visit the Patuxent Commons info site. (updated 4/2022)

HCC Mathematics and Athletic Complex (C on map below)

Construction has begun on Howard Community College’s Mathematics and Athletics Complex located at 5500 Dragon Place, Columbia MD 21044 . The project includes the replacement of the existing athletic complex with a 168,309 square foot building on a footprint of 63,000 square feet to house the Athletics and Mathematics Departments. The completion date is fall 2024. (updated 4/2022)

Cedar Lane Pumping Station (D on map below)

A Howard County project to construct a water pumping station at 10793 Hilltop Lane (intersection of Cedar and Hilltop Lane) near the Village of Hickory Ridge in Columbia is complete. The station will provide a backup water supply to increase reliability in zone. The building is designed to look like a residential property. (updated 4/2022)

Locust United Methodist Church (E on map below)

The church located at the corner of Martin Road and Freetown Road has submitted a Site Development Plan to expand the church and add parking. (SDP-18-047)

Zubairi Property (near E on map below)

A lot on Martin Road near the Locust United Methodist Church is proposed for subdivision into three single family lots and an open space lot.  The open space lot will abut three homes on Pyramid Way.  Project is in site development review. (SDP 20-071)

Pope Property (F on map below)

The 1.81-acre property at 10446 Owen Brown Road (where the horse pasture is located) has submitted an environmental concept plan to create three lots.  The existing house would stay.  Two more lots would be created, one in front of the existing home and one behind the existing home.  The subdivision plan is a mirror image of the existing subdivision into three lots to the east of the property. 

Downtown Columbia Master Plan 

Multiple projects related to the development of downtown are in the works.  In the Merriweather District, the Juniper apartment building has been completed. Restaurants in the building are occupied. Busboys and Poets is complete and open.  The half-acre Color Burst Park is completed. An additional hotel in the Merriweather District as well as a second apartment building have been approved and construction has begun. All of these projects are part of the 30-year Master Plan for Downtown.

Beth Shalom Congregation – Proposed school (G on map below)

A non-public school is proposed for Beth Shalom at 8070 Harriet Tubman Lane.

Southlake at 10285 Little Patuxent Parkway (location not on map)

(Lower parking lot to the right of the Whole Foods building) The site is zoned New Town and the proposed site development includes one non-residential parcel and 86,000 square feet of office development. More information is available on the county website.