Regency Homes

Downtown study due in MarchA long-range study of Annapolis' historic downtown will be presented to the city Planning and Zoning Commission early next month.After nearly three years of wrangling over the future of downtown Annapolis, a committee of business leaders and residents reached a hard-fought consensus in January on a 300-page comprehensive plan.Even as the group approved the final document, however, members continued to voice conflicting interests that threatened to unravel the compromises worked out over many meetings.

The owner of a 103-acre wooded tract on the Marley Neck peninsula has gotten county rezoning approval for a 500-unit condominium and townhouse complex, despite school board opposition.The property, along Marley Neck Boulevard near Tanyard Cove, abuts a tract used by Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. for a fly ash landfill and was zoned for commercial, industrial and residential use.Land owner Jane Pumphrey Nes asked the Board of Appeals to rezone the entire tract for residential use to create a buffer between the Solley community and the landfill.

Three homebuilders in the Baltimore area have agreed to pay fines to settle violations of building codes and state registration regulations, officials in the Maryland attorney general's office said yesterday. Timonium builder Joseph D. Fluri agreed to pay a $1,000 fine for not registering with the attorney general's Home Builder Registration Unit, authorities said. The fine settles a civil case against Fluri alleging that he falsified a landowner's certificate saying that he was building a home in Carroll County to live in, Assistant Attorney General Jeston Hamer said.

The Ryland Group, the Columbia-based homebuilder, has fortified its position in the Tampa Bay, Fla., market by acquiring Regency Communities.The sale gives Ryland a presence in three counties north of Tampa Bay and a stronger presence in the Florida retirement market.`With the merger of our two organizations, the division will be one of Ryland's largest operations and, more importantly, one of the largest homebuilders in West Florida," said Bill Wright, division president of Ryland's West Florida operation.

Citing the potential for school overcrowding, the county administrative hearing officer yesterday denied a request by the owner of a large wooded tract on Marley Neck to rezone the parcel for a residential development.Jane Pumphrey Nes had envisioned putting townhouses, single-family dwellings and some back-to-back units on 112.57 acres along Marley Neck Boulevard near Tanyard Cove Road.Ms. Nes and her developer, Regency Homes Corp., had sought to change the zoning on the property from a mix of commercial, industrial and residential to residential R-10.

Luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers Inc., which last built in Baltimore and Howard counties five years ago, announced it will return to the area and has hired a former executive with Ryland Homes to head its expansion.John Flaherty will serve as regional manager. Flaherty worked the last three years with Regency Homes as its regional manager. Before that he spent six years with Ryland as division president for the Baltimore area. He also worked 12 years with Ryan Homes."This is somewhat of a return for us after establishing ourselves in the Washington area.

South River Colony"If you can dream it, we can build it," said Rachele Dannenberg, sales manager at South River Colony in Edgewater where Regency Homes has opened a model of the Augusta, one of five houses named after famous golf courses in Georgia.The Doral, Muirfield, Oakmont and Riviera are the other homes offered in the Anne Arundel County community that includes South River Golf Links, an 18-hole public golf course.All Regency homes at South River Colony will include full unfinished basement, insulated front door with brass kick plate, hardwood floor in foyer, six-panel Colonial doors, 9-foot ceilings on the first floor and two-zone gas heat.

BUSINESS PEOPLESchoberg promoted at Turf ValleyMary Schoberg of Turf Valley Hotel and Country Club has been promoted to Tycoon Club coordinator.She will work directly with company administrators making reservations for their out-of-town clients.The club is a merit program offering cash and travel incentives to companies that make reservations for overnight accommodations at the hotel.Paden appointed sales managerDonna Paden of Columbia has been appointed sales manager for Ellicott City-based Yorktown Homes custom home collection in the Turf Valley Overlook and College Farm developments in Howard County.

On the move* The New Home Marketing Group Inc., which provides "new homes only" sales and marketing consultation and management builders in the Baltimore-Washington area, announced that Bill Korvin will be leading the company's consulting and detailed market research and analysis activities. Mr. Korvin, formerly with Lovell Regency Homes, recently became a partner and shareholder in the company.Calendar* The Maryland/DC Chapter of the Certified Residential Specialist will sponsor a membership appreciation day Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Best Western Inn, 15101 Sweitzer Lane in Laurel.

NEW HOMES MONTHHomebuilders offering programs through JuneMaryland's homebuilders are offering public information programs and services throughout June, which Gov. William Donald Schaefer has proclaimed "New Homes Month."On Tuesday, June 25, the Home Builders Association of Maryland will hold its annual homebuyers seminar, "Meeting the New Home Challenge."The program, which features a panel of industry experts, will address such issues as choosing a builder, mortgage options and home warranties.