Patapsco Horse Center (MD) Potentially Threatened by Golf Course

[pluvinel]

The ELCR (Equine Land Conservation Resource) reports
https://elcr.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SPRING-2020-Newsletter.pdf

According to an article that appeared in the Baltimore Sun, the equine community in Baltimore County, Maryland, could have cause for concern. The Rolling Road Golf Club in Catonsville, Maryland, is proposing to move the facility from its 90-acre property on Hilltop Road to state-owned Oella parkland. This state-owned land is the site of the Patapsco Horse Center. The operator, Terry Fram, leases 201 acres there from the state, which she has done in 10-year incre-ments since 1988, and provides horse boarding.In her capacity as founder of the nonprofi t Maryland Coun-cil for Special Equestrians, which specializes in hippotherapy for kids and adults with disabilities, Fram leases another 5 acres for that group’s use.The farm also houses Plot Twist Horse Farm, which off e rs riding lessons and education programs at local schools. The relocation of the golf club could threaten the equestrian activities on this public land.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-county/catonsville/cng-co-ca-at-rolling-road-horse-farm-20191015-qk6atb25vbcolo2lcfh5jq57nm-story.html

[clanter]

given the state of the political shenanigans in Maryland (or really any state) when enough people get paid off or rewarded for their cooperation this will become a done deal even without the “members” approval since

Per the club’s charter, if its shareholding members opt to sell the land without the membership’s approval, each member would be entitled to receive $325,

the proprietor of the Patapsco Horse Center, Terry Fram,

currently holds a lease for the next 22 years but can “assign” it to someone else with the approval of Natural Resources,

so the lease is in effect for the next 22 years or until Rolling Road Golf Club can apply enough pressure to cause the lease transferred or to be declared none binding or broken siting some minor or non existent infraction such as environmental pollution by the stable/horse farm

[gottagrey]

If you read the article in the Baltimore Sun it looks like it might be dead on arrival. A private golf club isn’t going to be of any benefit to the public. But anyone leasing property from the state or county could be in jeopardy if the county decides to do something else with that facility. We have a similar issue with the Potomac Horse Center in Montgomery County. It probably needs hundreds of thousands in repair and maintenance - the county isn’t going to pay for it and does the lessee have the funds to do it? Is the facility generating income for the county/state? I’d hate to see an equestrian center close down but sometimes when you’re at the mercy of another owner it’s always a risk

https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-county/catonsville/cng-co-ca-at-golf-club-czmp-hearing-20200304-4s2gzhtwuvcb7gej32oiqulioe-story.html