Development

Two major developments unfolded on Monday's episode of WWE RAW. The first was a big one in many ways - Paul Heyman revealed a new client, Michael McGillicutty, now known as Curtis Axel (Curtis after his father "Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig, Axel after his grandfather Larry "The Axe" Hennig). Though many fans complained about it not being a bigger name (RVD was speculated throughout the day), this is a great move and an even greater opportunity for a superstar to not only have instant credibility being aligned with Paul Heyman (arguably the greatest mouthpiece in pro wrestling history)

Baltimore Gas & Electric certainly isn't likely to win any popularity contests. It secured a rate increase from the Public Service Commission in February - its second in the last three years - and turned around and filed a request for another one on Friday. And at the same time, the utility is asking the PSC for what may be unprecedented in Maryland: a surcharge on customers' monthly bills to pay for improvements to the electrical grid in advance. But as little as we may like it, the truth is that failing to make investments in maintaining the grid and improving its reliability is costing us dearly, too. It's just a harder cost to figure than the one that shows up at the bottom of our electric bills every month.

Always, there were those lovely old country estates and gracious manor taverns with roaring fireplaces, but in the old days fine dining was associated with the city. Not so anymore. Now, there are more compelling reasons than ever for diners to cross county lines for a good meal. The 50 best county restaurants in Howard County, Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County is a mix of the old and the new, destinations for special occasions and joints for Monday night suppers, the chef-driven and crowd-pleasing.

Meeting behind closed doors, the city's Board of Finance on Monday approved more than $100 million in taxpayer assistance to help fund a massive, waterfront development project that will host energy giant Exelon Corp.'s regional headquarters. After barring the public from the 90-minute meeting, board members voted 4-0 to approve a developer's request for $107 million in tax increment financing to pay for roads, utilities and parks for the $1 billion Harbor Point mixed-use development on the waterfront between Harbor East and Fells Point, according to Stephen M. Kraus, the city's chief of treasury management.

Over 90 percent of the proposed housing developments in Maryland have gone bankrupt over the last five years; now you can add Thistle Landing to the list ("More of the same," June 12). It's a shame you have once again attacked a proposed housing development. And how dare you imply that owners and elected officials are unethical and trying to sneak around the rules. Remember, you cannot sell a home for what it costs to build anywhere in Maryland. With newspapers like yours who would want to?

It's disappointing to hear so much rhetoric coming from members of the development community and some local politicians over new storm water rules in Maryland ("A threat to Smart Growth" Feb. 2). The plain truth is that developers appreciate a clean and healthy Chesapeake Bay when they can build waterfront homes or other development projects with real estate values boosted by water views. But when saving the bay requires them (and everyone else, by the way) to do more to protect it, they threaten to retreat to the sprawling suburbs again.

Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette has added another longtime confidant to join the organization's front office On Friday afternoon, the Orioles announced the hiring of Kent Qualls to become the organization's director of minor league operations. Qualls has been the director of player development in Boston from 1998-2001 when Duquette was Red Sox GM, and he also worked under Duquette as director of minor league operations for the Expos from 1987-2004.

The Baltimore County Council is poised make it easier to get information about plans filed under a real estate development method that has been criticized as too easy on builders and too hard on residents trying to keep track of what's going on in their neighborhoods. A bill before the council would reform the planned unit development (PUD) process, which allows developers to depart from underlying zoning by providing a community benefit to go along with their projects. Members are expected to vote Tuesday to require that preliminary plans be posted on the county website before developers meet with community members and before agencies have begun their first review of the project.

A battle over the future of the closed Chestnut Ridge golf course in Lutherville is continuing, with the company that bought the property now suing the Baltimore County Council over its decision to limit the land's development potential. In a lawsuit filed last month in Baltimore County Circuit, CR Golf Club LLC, which has ties to Timonium developer Cignal Corp., claims council members made an unfair land-use decision this summer that limited the number of homes that can be built on the approximately 230-acre property off Falls Road.

Maryland is on the verge of missing a golden opportunity this year to promote transit-oriented development and pedestrian-friendly communities. By seeking to establish State Rail Station Overlay Districts, House Bill 948 would have been in keeping with the state's traditions of progressive government and bold experimentation in civic improvement. Although the bill was defeated in the Environmental Matters Committee this year — and there is little hope for its revival — the ideas it contains are worthy of continued discussion and debate.

As he traveled through Baltimore to promote his jobs agenda on Friday, President Barack Obama found himself sitting near a 29-year-old man who was uncertain how to reset his life after being released from prison two years ago. In one of the few spontaneous moments of the president's visit, Marcus Dixon - father of two boys - told Obama how he connected in 2011 with a workforce development group called the Center for Urban Families, put his life...

Construction has begun on more than 100 housing units for senior citizens in Dundalk. Baltimore County officials gathered this week for a ground breaking for the Greens at Logan Field, a 102-unit development being built on the site of Baltimore's first municipal airfield after World War I. The Enterprise Homes development, scheduled for completion in 2014, is for senior citizens who earn 60 percent or less of the area median income. The $15.2 million project is set to include mostly one-bedroom apartments, plus 18 two-bedroom units.

The Baltimore County Council could vote next week to reduce fees that developers pay to help the county build parks and buy recreational land. A council resolution would lower — in some cases by nearly 90 percent — so-called open-space waiver fees. A vote is set for May 23. Under county law, developers must set aside land for recreation or open space when they build housing developments. But since 2000, the county has allowed developers to pay cash into a fund instead of preserving land, if approved by the county's director of parks and recreation.

Senior defenseman Parker Bratton is fully expected to make his customary start when No. 4 Stevenson welcomes No. 13 Lynchburg to Mustang Stadium in Owings Mills for Wednesday night's NCAA tournament quarterfinal. Whether the Baltimore native and McDonogh graduate plays the entire 60 minutes is a different matter. Bratton, who is tied for fourth on the team in caused turnovers with 17 and ranks seventh in ground balls with 47, has been bothered by a turned ankle suffered about two weeks ago. Coach Paul Cantabene said he is not too worried about Bratton, who has missed two games this season.

Government leaders are asking us to out-innovate, out-export and out-work our competitors in order for the United States to turn this economy around. But what if our own government was instituting policies that proved to be some of the biggest obstacles in achieving those goals? For more than four decades, I have dedicated my life to developing novel medical technologies, such as implantable insulin pumps, rechargeable implantable pacemakers, heart stents and more. These therapies have improved the health and saved the lives of millions of patients in America and throughout the world, and spurred the creation of tens of thousands of jobs.

I was very happy to see that additional development was barred at Green Spring Station and that common sense prevailed in our county's decision making. Anyone who travels through this intersection during the week days, especially rush hours, can tell you this is a failing intersection that it fully deserves its "F" rating. To those legislators who upgraded it as a "D" rating, I would suggest that without major improvements in place beforehand, any further development at Green Spring Station would overnight decrease its rating to a "F". For this reason, I believe the restriction that prohibits development only near "F" rated intersections should be expanded to include "D" rated roadways and intersections; this is only common sense, guys.

Baltimore County leaders hailed the official opening Wednesday of a 356-unit luxury apartment building on Route 43 in White Marsh as a magnet for businesses. About 83 units are ready for occupancy in the multi-story building, with a six-level garage, known as Arbors at Baltimore Crossroads, and 72 have been leased as of Wednesday, officials said. "This is a tremendous development that will attract other businesses and make White Marsh and Middle River destinations," said Councilwoman Cathy Bevins, a Democrat who represents the area.

Benson East Location: Waterloo and Lark Brown roads, off Route 175 in Columbia. Developer: Howard Research Development Corp., an arm of General Growth Properties Inc., which acquired the Rouse Co. Description: The development will be on 123 acres and include residential, commercial and retail. Zoning regulations restrict the residential component to a maximum of 66 townhouses.

County Executive Kevin Kamenetz deserves thanks for his leadership on the new school in Mays Chapel. It's disheartening to see baby boomers, most of whom benefited from public education (and a boom in school construction), refuse to support the needs of today's children. As the county grows, officials must choose between "infill" - building densely in existing neighborhoods and filling in greenspace within developed neighborhoods - or expanding into the outer suburbs. Infill is almost always the right choice, leading to stronger communities, reduced traffic congestion and preservation of greenspace farther out in the county.

John Paterakis Sr. didn't believe it when Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke told him nearly two decades ago that Harbor East's Marriott Waterfront Hotel would spur revitalization from the Inner Harbor to Canton. The city had picked Paterakis' H&S Properties Development Corp. to build the hotel, launching a parallel career for the baker and developer. Today, Paterakis marvels at the upscale shops, luxurious living spaces and top-flight office space set to line the southeastern Baltimore waterfront - and already booming along it. "You have to give a lot of credit that he was right," said Paterakis, president of H&S Bakery Inc., which grew from a two-man operation that opened in 1943 to a baking empire spanning more than two dozen states.