A controversial 6.8 acre wooded parcel near the intersection of Joppa and Magledt roads will remain untouched for now. Somerford Corporation, a Gaithersburg-based company that proposed to build a 64-bed, one-story Alzheimer's assisted living facility on the site, which members of the Carney Improvement Association adamantly opposed, has withdrawn the project.

"At the present time we are not proceeding," Don Feltman, senior vice-president for Somerford said Monday. "We are not under contract with the owner." Feltman said the company was formed three years ago and has built and currently operates six assisted living communities in the Maryland and Virginia. However, it has had trouble gaining financing for the Magledt Road project. The health care industry, including assisting living and retirement communities, has suffered "over the last several months," due to the slowing economy, Feltman said. He said the company is not presently looking at any other sites in Baltimore County and most likely would not revisit the Magledt Road site. "We have a good relationship with the property owner. They are looking at other options. We'll evaluate as we go along," Feltman said.

After a yearlong battle between developers and community association leaders, the Baltimore County Board of Appeals in January of 2001 approved a special exception to allow for the assisted living facility for the residentially zoned site. The ruling reversed Deputy Zoning Commissioner Timothy Kotroco's earlier denial of the special exception. Development plans called for a 28,272-square-foot facility. The board's ruling required developers to make improvements along the site's Magledt Road border, including widening the road and installing curbs, gutters and sidewalk. The board listened to five days of testimony regarding issues of the case.

People's Counsel for Baltimore County Peter M. Zimmerman, represented the public interest, presented arguments against the development's size and scale and its effect on the residential character of the surrounding single-family home community. Zimmerman said he also argued that the project was not consistent with Baltimore County Master Plan's community conservation area goals. Members of the Greater Parkville Community Council and Carney Improvement Association testified about similar concerns and added it would adversely affect traffic, neighboring property values, emergency systems, and schools in the surrounding area. Representatives from Somerford disagreed and said the facility would have much less impact on the neighborhood regarding traffic, height, and open space in comparison to single-family homes. They presented testimony to support the area's need for such a facility.

The Board ruled there was no evidence to support that the facility would be more detrimental to the surrounding neighborhood at its particular location than at any other property zoned DR. 5.5. Carney resident Donald Chapman, who owns the property with his wife, said he was still hopeful Somerford Corp. would proceed with the project. "It's still open for Somerford," he said of the land that's been in his wife's family for about 100 years. "We're still going to pursue every avenue we can." Mike Rupp, president of the Carney Improvement Association, which opposed the project from the start, said he was not disappointed with the decision. Community members "are relieved it's not going to be a commercial facility," he said.