Planners reject already-approved townhouse project in N. Baltimore

The city approved a 15-townhouse project in Medfield in 2007, but, given a second look, the Baltimore Planning Commission unanimously rejected approving it again.

The vote drew surprised applause from the handful of residents who attended Thursday’s meeting to oppose the plan, which would add homes to a grassy area at the edge of a steep hill on Redfern Avenue off 42nd Street in North Baltimore.

Residents had asked the commission to subject the plan to a new review in light of a surge of development proposals in the greater Hampden area, as well as an influx of new residents who were unaware of the dormant project. Anew developer, Emerald Properties Group, has taken up the idea since 2007 and has the site under contract.

Luke Yorke-Hart, 30, a member of the new development team, said he realized the demand for housing when he and his wife started looking for homes nearby about two years ago.

The Planning Commission’s vote hinged on what Al Barry, a veteran land use consultant arguing for the project, urged commissioners to think of as a technicality — the fact that a previous approval was only formally recorded this summer instead of within the far shorter timeframe required by city regulations.

But commissioners said they were worried about flouting the rules.

“I don’t think it’s a technicality. ... You’ve got a regulation that’s been violated,” said Commissioner Robert Hopkins.

The vote might delay — but is unlikely to stop — development of the site. Planning Department staffer Eric Tiso said he expects a new review to yield a recommendation to approve the proposal.