ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today signed an Executive Order appointing the Gateway Advisory Committee, which will advise Howard County and its consultant team in the Gateway Master Plan process. Launched in January 2024, the Gateway Master Plan effort will provide a comprehensive, actionable roadmap to guide Columbia Gateway’s long-term transformation as the new innovation district in the region. Committee members represent key community stakeholders and subject matter experts, including Gateway property and business owners, representatives of Columbia Association, and other community members with an expertise in economic development, innovation, housing, sustainability, and critical planning areas.
“Gateway will be the regional destination for fresh research and ideas. It will stand out as the dynamic, mixed-use, connected, and modern spark of innovation in the heart of our State,” said Ball. “This Advisory Committee will embark on a robust effort to ensure that this plan is a comprehensive, actionable guide that will solidify Gateway as an exemplar innovation district.”
The Gateway area encompasses roughly 1,000 acres of business and industrial uses in Columbia. A key employment center located centrally between Baltimore and Washington, DC and convenient to Interstate 95, this office and industrial park is primed to see new development that will spearhead economic growth for the County. Redevelopment will transform this area into a major hub for employment, entertainment, and innovation, offering new housing and job opportunities, open space, and multi-modal transportation options. The Gateway Master Plan will envision a future for Gateway as a regional destination for new research and ideas within an area that is dynamic, mixed-use, connected, and creative.
“We greatly appreciate the newly appointed Advisory Committee members for their time and commitment to the future of the Gateway Innovation District,” said Lynda Eisenberg, Director of the Department of Planning & Zoning. “The Gateway Master Plan holds the potential to redefine the landscape and infrastructure of the region, and the role of the committee is pivotal in shaping the vision, strategies, and eventual execution of this redevelopment initiative.”
Beginning in March, the Gateway Advisory Committee will convene to make recommendations on key planning elements and the implementation of the Gateway Master Plan. While the County will also be seeking general public feedback about the plan through surveys, focus groups, and future public meetings, the Committee will take a deeper dive into the planning process, acting as a sounding board for ideas and providing feedback on data and analysis. The Committee’s input will help ensure that the future vision for Gateway considers all the essential components of an innovation district, such as multi-modal transportation, affordable housing, sustainability and resiliency, and infrastructure needs.
“Establishing the Gateway Advisory Committee marks a pivotal step in fostering inclusive stakeholder engagement for the Gateway Master Plan,” said Jennifer Jones, CEO of the Howard County Economic Development Authority. “This initiative underscores our commitment to shaping Gateway into a vibrant innovation district, fostering economic growth, sustainability, and community well-being.”
More information about the Gateway Master Plan is available at www.howardcountymd.gov/gateway.
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