Examiner

From his seat on a small bus, Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown saw run-down houses, an abandoned industrial complex and overflowing parking lot through the rain and fog.

And he liked it.

Brown was shuttled around Odenton by Anne Arundel officials in an attempt to win a special taxing designation for the area that could see expansive growth after 5,000 new jobs come to nearby Fort Meade.

“I’m really excited by what I saw,” Brown said following the 45-minute tour Friday. “At the end of the day, you’re going to see a lot of jobs coming to Odenton.”

Anne Arundel is hoping Odenton becomes a Base Realignment and Closure zone, a designation that will take most of the property tax collected within the zone and return it to local governments for infrastructure improvements.

“We’re a good host for all the various military agencies coming Fort Meade’s way,” said Bob Hannon, president of the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corp.

Brown was taken to the Odenton MARC train station, which had an overflowing parking lot. County officials said a planned parking garage would handle the 2,300 daily commuters and promote nearby higher-density growth.

But the state deferred the project because of budget woes.

Officials then took Brown to the site of the proposed, 24-acre Odenton Town Center development that would bring millions of square feet of residential, commercial and office space. Currently, abandoned houses and forests fill the lot.

But in order for the town center to be realized, water and sewer pipes and Odenton Town Center Boulevard need to be expanded.

The BRAC zone designation could provide millions of dollars to local governments as leverage to get capital projects bonds, said David Edgerley, secretary of the Department of Business and Economic Development.

Another stop was at the former Nevamar industrial complex, which county officials hope to redevelop.

[...]

Earlier this week, Brown toured the Westport area that Baltimore wants to designated as a BRAC zone.

[...]

Though only five governments filed for the six BRAC zone designations, Brown would not say Anne Arundel was a shoo-in.

Frederick and Laurel cities and Prince George’s County also are seeking BRAC zone designations. Awards will be announced Dec. 15.