MIDDLE RIVER, MD—Baltimore County Councilman David Marks on Tuesday announced that he will support rezoning changes that will preserve about 47 acres of land as open space in the communities centered around Orems Elementary School.

He will supporting changing about 19 acres of land to DR 1, or one house per acre, the lowest level allowed by zoning.

The zoning issues are 5-067, 5-068, 5-071, 5-148, 5-151, 5-155.

For Issue 5-081, Councilman Marks will recommend nine acres as DR 3.5 and one acre of BR to accommodate a commercial business. This will be a slight increase in business zoning, as Councilman Marks received letters of support from nearby neighbors.

“This is the largest downzoning of land in the history of the neighborhoods that surround Orems Elementary School,” said Councilman Marks. “It will help preserve green space in a heavily-developed area, one where neighbors have repeatedly told me they want their remaining forest cover protected.”