Tower legislation in the works

Mary Kay Sigaty has prefiled her Tower legislation. This legislation caps buildings to a certain height which is an attempt to block the Plaza Residences project that was approved and is currently under construction. Some might argue that it is not Tower legislation, it applies more broadly. But, it sunsets with a Master Plan and it is retroactive. So I guess you could say that it applies broadly to all red-headed Eskimos. It is Tower legislation.

I question how interested Mary Kay is in being a council member. I wonder if this issue has burnt out her interest in the political process. Here is an interesting tidbit from page two of a recent Sun Article:

The councilwoman [Sigaty] has been known to take two or three days to return phone calls, according to county officials who refused to be quoted, but who said it can be "frustrating" to attempt to contact her.

Even an issue of prime importance to her sometimes does not draw a return call. For example, Sigaty is preparing to introduce legislation next month to limit the height of buildings in Columbia -- an attempt to stop plans for a 23-story residential tower on the lakefront or any similar buildings.

Recently, a Sun reporter trying to speak to her about construction starting on the tower was not able to reach her despite sending two e-mails, leaving two messages at her council office and another message live with someone at Sigaty's home.

I would think if she believed in this legislation, she would be promoting it and talking to reporters. She probably hopes that it dies so she can look like she tried to do something for her constituents without doing any long-term harm to Howard County’s reputation as a good place to do business. Just my opinion, of course.

A clarification: Although the building height bill will sunset, the bill that subjects a project under judicial review to zoning changes that occur after the project’s approval will NOT sunset with the development of a Master Plan. This is completely insane, and will make a total mockery of the zoning approval process. What is Mary Kay thinking?