Park Place

Ellicott City developer Michael L. Pfau withdrew last week his fourth set of house designs under review by Howard County's Historic District Commission, which must approve the plans before he can begin construction on a 15-home development in the town's historic district. At the developer's request, the commission scheduled an "advisory" meeting Jan. 28 to give Pfau -- president of Trinity Homes Inc. -- more direction on how he can modify the designs to meet the panel's guidelines. "I think it's been an incremental process," said Stephen Lafferty, deputy director of the county Department of Planning and Zoning.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - It's the perfect monopoly, the red properties halfway around the board - Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky avenues. And you own them all. The rents are high enough to bankrupt opponents, the costs for houses and hotels low enough to build. You decide to start small with a little green house on Indiana. Unfortunately someone is already building there. A row of townhouses is under construction. Andy Vera, a mason laying bricks, says it's part of a revitalization effort in this downtrodden neighborhood of Atlantic City.

The Howard County Planning Board unanimously approved developer Michael L. Pfau's hotly contested proposal for houses in historic Ellicott City yesterday, a week after his other project for the area got a thumbs up. The subdivision Woods of Park Place calls for 15 houses on 6 acres at Church Road and Park Drive, surrounded by 9 acres of woods. Zoning regulations permit up to 20 houses on the site. Residents oppose the development, arguing that it would be out of place in a neighborhood with an average lot size of more than 2.3 acres.

A group who live in Ellicott City's historic district are vowing to challenge in court a proposed subdivision near their home, despite a setback at the county Board of Appeals last week. A year-and-a-half-long battle over development rights and the sanctity of the historic district will head next to Circuit Court, said attorney Robert C. Brown, who represents opponents of the proposed development, called the Woods of Park Place. The Board of Appeals voted 4-0 Thursday night to deny the residents' appeal of the earlier decision to permit the 15-house development.

The green and white banners on Annapolis' inner West Street proclaim, "It's happening." Property owners and business persons along the stretch of road from Church Circle to Westgate Circle hope the message, part of a $25,000 marketing campaign by the city, is more than just civic optimism. Supporters point to encouraging signs: the issuance of building permits for the Park Place development yesterday, the city's plans to begin the second phase of improvements to the road, and other development in the works.

Evan Belaga keeps a watchful eye on Weems Creek from his living room window. Last week, he said, he observed "a huge plume of silt and sediment" in plain view of his and other homes built on the banks of the creek. He worries that several ongoing construction projects in Annapolis, coupled with recent heavy rains, are hurting the creeks that empty into the Chesapeake Bay. "These little streams can't carry all this storm water," said Belaga, president of the Weems Creek Conservancy, a group concerned about the waterway's health.

An Annapolis developer is planning to build a 225-room hotel, theater, office buildings and apartments along West Street -- an area that city officials and residents have long hoped would become an economically vibrant hub in the state capital.City officials say they are thrilled with the preliminary design plans for the $101 million project that developer Jerome J. Parks submitted last week to the Annapolis Department of Planning and Zoning.The project -- named Park Place -- includes the hotel, with a European-style facade; two buildings with retail space on the first floor and 232,000 square feet of office space; a 950-seat auditorium; 208 condominiums and apartments; and a 1,400-space garage.

The Historic District Commission of Howard County will hear testimony at the end of its meeting tomorrow on proposed revisions to operating procedures and the zoning code pertaining to the commission. Since Howard's first historic district was established in 1974, the commission has been charged with protecting the character of the historic districts in Ellicott City and Lawyers Hill in Elkridge. The commission must review and grant approvals before construction, demolition or alterations to the exteriors of properties in the district can take place.

Ad Council endorses public service spots by local company The Ad Council has endorsed a public service advertising campaign by Annapolis-based Crosby Marketing Communications, the company announced. The endorsement of "Poverty, USA," which was created for the nonprofit organization Catholic Campaign for Human Development, means that it meets the Ad Council's standards for public service campaigns, Crosby Marketing Communications said. The campaign was launched in January and includes television, radio and print public service announcements.

Barbara K. Williamson, a former Red Cross official, volunteer and gardener, died of respiratory failure Friday at Roland Park Place. She was 80. The former Cockeysville and Roland Park resident was born Barbara Klein in Washington. Her father, Julius Klein, was undersecretary of commerce during the Hoover administration. She was a boarding student at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Baltimore, and later attended Stanford University. In 1941, she married John S. Williamson, who later became president of Williamson Veneer Co., a family business.