Commercial Revitalization

Overview

The County’s General Development Plan identifies areas within the County that are targeted for revitalization. These areas include the Glen Burnie Town Center, Odenton Growth Management Area, Parole Growth Management Area, Brooklyn Park Corridor, Sun Valley/Jumper’s Hole Road Corridor, Mayo Road Corridor, Deale/Churchton Business Corridor, Shadyside Business Area, Veteran’s Highway Business Area, Wayson’s Corner Business Area, Severna Park Business Area, Riviera Beach Business Area, and Mountain Road Business Area.

Commercial revitalization improves communities, reduces blighted areas, increases property values and reduces sprawl. Anne Arundel County encourages revitalization of its older commercial and residential areas that serve communities and which may be in need of improvement. This can be accomplished through adaptive reuse of existing buildings or redevelopment.

Anne Arundel County adopted legislation in 2001 and 2002 to stimulate private investment and encourage revitalization in older commercial and industrial area located in sixteen Commercial Revitalization Areas. Bill 97-01 established the Commercial Revitalization Tax Credit, and Bill 69-02 established Commercial Revitalization Areas. This legislation addresses vacant, underutilized commercial properties in specially designated areas of the County. It provides greater redevelopment opportunities in older commercial areas by allowing expanded uses in certain zoning districts. Presently there are a substantial number of vacant buildings located on commercially zoned properties in the County that adversely affect surrounding properties and neighborhoods. In the past the challenge has been to find an appropriate use for an existing property. With greater flexibility as to use, a property owner/developer has new opportunities for redevelopment of the site. The legislation encourages revitalization and reuse of these vacant properties by providing greater flexibility of use and tax incentives to encourage redevelopment to qualifying properties. As a result, property owners could realize a better return from their properties with the expanded uses. The community will also benefit from a revitalized commercial area, new uses and better design. The legislation helps preserve green areas by discouraging sprawl and promotes growth in areas that have the infrastructure to support it.

Commercial Revitalization Tax Credit

Bill 97-01 established a commercial revitalization program that allows taxpayers who revitalize their commercially or industrially zoned properties to receive a property tax credit for up to five years equal to the incremental increase in their real property tax assessment for improvements of at least $50,000. Properties must be located in one of the sixteen designated districts and certified by the Office of Planning and Zoning as a qualified property. The owner must apply to the County Controller for the revitalization credit within 45 days after the notice of assessment from the State Department of Assessments and Taxation.

In addition to the County’s revitalization target areas there are a number of  State of Maryland programs for business development, community legacy, and heritage areas.

Neighborhood Business Development

There are four State designated Neighborhood Business Development Program areas: Brooklyn Park, Glen Burnie Town Center, Odenton Growth Management Area and Deale. These areas are eligible for low interest State loans or grants and receive special consideration under other State programs.

Community Legacy

There are three State designated Community Legacy Areas within the County: Brooklyn Park, Parole and Severn/Odenton. The Community Legacy program is designed to assist urban neighborhoods and suburban communities that are experiencing decline and disinvestment but have the potential to be vibrant places to live and work. The program provides resources to revitalize these older areas of the County through housing rehabilitation, redevelopment and planning.

Heritage Areas

The Annapolis, London Town and South County Heritage Area is a State certified Heritage Area that runs along MD Route 50 from Sandy Point State Park to Maryland 2 southward to the Anne Arundel County Line at Herrington Harbor. Within the certified area there are four Target Investment Zones: West Street, Eastport, Mayo Road/Edgewater, and Deale. These have been designated as priority areas for private investment in businesses that serve the tourist market to increase economic activity.

District G 

G - B&A Blvd. - Linthicum to Brooklyn Park

District CDEFK 

C - Crain Highway North - Glen Burnie
D - Ritchie Highway - Glen Burnie
E - Crain Highway South - Glen Burnie
F - Glen Burnie - Ferndale
K - Glen Burnie - Town Center

District AB 

A - Brooklyn Park
B - Brooklyn Park below Beltway

District LMNOP 

L - Sun Valley - Pasadena
M - Ft. Smallwood Road Riviera Beach - Pasadena
N - Ft. Smallwood Road Riviera Beach - Pasadena
O - Earleigh Heights - Ritchie Highway
P - Mountain Road - Pasadena

District I 

I - Route 198 Corridor - Laurel

District J 

J - MD 175 North Odenton

District H 

H - Route 50 - Jamal's Antique Mall

Contact Us

For more information on Anne Arundel County and State of Maryland revitalization programs contact Patricia Barland, Long Range Planning.

Telephone: (410) 222-7792
FAX: (410) 222-7487

E-mail: pbarland@aacounty.org
Office of Planning and Zoning
Long Range Planning
2664 Riva Road, MS 6403
Annapolis, MD 21401