COURTNEY WATSON COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 Phone: 410-313-2001 Fax:410-313-3297 cwatson@howardcountymd.gov

Council District One News and Information

Welcome to the District 1 News and Information page. As your representative on the County Council for areas of Ellicott City, Elkridge, and Hanover, I encourage you to bookmark this page. This web site is a great tool for citizens interested in taking an active role in their community and county.

I am available to meet with community organizations and residents to address specific issues. It's one of my favorite ways of learning what your concerns are and how we can attempt to resolve them.

If I can be of assistance, please contact my assistant, Terry Chaconas or me at 410-313-3110. We can often help facilitate having your questions or concerns answered by the appropriate government officials.

I am collecting names to add to my E-mail database in order to distribute valuable information to constituents and communities. If you would like to be included in this database, please send your E-mail address along with your name, home address and phone number to cwatson@howardcountymd.gov.

Attention: HOME OWNER ASSOCIATION LEADERS -- I want to have the most recent information on file regarding contact information for those who hold leadership positions in your HOA. Please contact me via email or phone to update our database when changes occur. Thank you.

From the desk of Courtney Watson: Three Year Report to District 1 Constituents

ENJOY OUR LOCAL AMENITIES - Link to events information

BUY LOCAL AND EAT FRESH - Link to 2010 Howard County Farmers' Markets

NEW WEB-BASED DEVELOPMENT TRACKING TOOL - Visit the Department of Planning and Zoning’s homepage at DPZ Home Page and click on “Search Development Plans & Public Meetings” under the “What’s New” section. For questions or additional information, contact the Department at 410-313-2350.

PRE-SUBMISSION COMMUNITY MEETINGS are required prior to the initial submittal of plans for any new residential development (Section 16.128 of the Subdivision & Land Development Regulations).

I introduced legislation to ensure that these meetings are held in a public or institutional building as some developers were holding them outdoors in the winter. Meetings must be held between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on a weekday evening or between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on a Saturday. Meetings shall be held within 5 miles of the proposed development site.

MARYLANDERS PLANT TREES -- An initiative is under way with the goal of having Marylanders plant 50,000 new trees by 2010 and one million by 2011. The Marylanders Plant Trees program offers discounts on the purchase of trees. This link provides coupons and helpful information including lists of beneficial trees and names of participating vendors.

MEALS ON WHEELS OF CENTRAL MARYLAND supports independent living and quality of life for the homebound. For more information, please call 410-730-9476 or email info@mowcm.org or visit their web site www.mealsonwheelsmd.org

GIVE THE GIFT OF INDEPENDENCE -- You can give seniors the gift of independence by volunteering as a NEIGHBOR RIDE driver. Flexible and rewarding daytime, evening and weekend opportunities are available. Drivers may choose to provide rides that fit their schedules and are convenient to their homes and daily routines. Parent volunteers are welcome and encouraged to bring their children along for a wonderful intergenerational experience. Please contact Rosemary Noble at 410-884-RIDE (7433) or at volunteer@neighborride.org for more information or to volunteer.