Howard County Planning Board Recommends Approval of Long Reach Village Center Preliminary Development Plan

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced that the County’s Planning Board has unanimously recommended approval of the Preliminary Development Plan (PDP) amendment for the Long Reach Village Center, as proposed by developer Columbia Concepts, LLC. The vote occurred just nine days after Ball presented his comprehensive updated on the Long Reach Village Center project.

The Planning Board cast its vote during its Thursday, December 18th public meeting, during which it received the County’s Department of Planning and Zoning’s technical staff report of the project and regulatory requirements, Columbia Concept’s petitioner’s presentation, and public testimony. Following the presentations and testimony, the Planning Board deliberated on the merits of the proposal and asked questions of the petitioner, before its members cast their four to zero vote recommending approval of the petition as presented.

Columbia Concept’s vision for the Long Reach Village Center, known as “Destination Long Reach,” includes:

• Townhomes and senior housing for a wide range of incomes;
• A senior center and community gathering spaces;
• A grocery store and engaging retail;
• Safe pedestrian and bike connections;
• Sustainable green design; and
• Arts woven throughout the entire campus — honoring Long Reach’s creative soul

At the center of the project is a 100,000-plus square foot indoor athletic facility with volleyball, basketball, and pickleball courts and a rock-climbing wall. There will also be retail and commercial space spread out across multiple buildings, and improvements to the current site, that include the installation of ample parking, bike, and pedestrian facilities for safe multi-modal connections.

An earlier concept plan, known as the Urban Renewal Plan, was approved by the Howard County Council in February 2025. The Long Reach Village Association recently published its Community Response Statement to Columbia Concept’s PDP Amendment as part of the Major Village Center Redevelopment Process.

“As a longtime educator and founder of Columbia Community Care, I strongly support the redevelopment of the Long Reach Village Center by Columbia Concepts. For years, CCC has served thousands of families and welcomed hundreds of volunteers from the Village Center, and this project recognizes that investing in people through a resource-rich, family-centered community hub that includes organizations like Columbia Community Care and the Community Action Council is essential to community well-being,” said Erika Chavarria, Founder & Executive Director, Columbia Community Care. “Columbia Concepts’ vision restores pride, creates opportunity, and reestablishes the Village Center as the vibrant heart of Long Reach, making this the right project, led by the right team, at the right time.”

With the Planning Board’s recommendation, the next step in the process is for the petition to be heard by the Howard County Council’s Zoning Board for its consideration, review, and approval; stay tuned to the Zoning Board website for this hearing date. Upon authorization of the Zoning Board, negotiation with neighboring parcel owners, and subsequent site plan approvals, construction is expected to begin in approximately two years.

History of the Long Reach Village Center

Developed in the 1970’s, the Long Reach Village Center was once a hub for residents serving a variety of neighborhood needs. Various civic spaces were developed to support commercial uses and provide focal points for social interaction. However, with the growth of newer commercial centers nearby and changing market conditions, most of the Long Reach Village Center experienced disinvestment and high vacancy rates.

By 2014, the Long Reach Village Center faced decline due to increasing vacancies, poor maintenance, and security issues. In response, the County passed legislation designating the area as blighted, allowing the County to purchase approximately 7.7 acres within the complex for future redevelopment.

In February 2020, Ball presented his vision for Long Reach Rising to the Long Reach Community Association during its work session. Since then:

• The County’s award-winning Roving Radish program opened its first storefront in Long Reach Village Center. The Roving Radish Marketplace offers fresh and local produce, meats, and other goods from Howard County farms at affordable prices.
• The Community Action Council of Howard County moved one of its Head Start programs to the Village Center. The 5,332 square foot space allowed the Community Action Council to increase its Head Start capacity from 38 to 80 children.
• The African Art Museum of Maryland relocated to Long Reach Village Center.
• ManneqART, a nonprofit for Education in the Arts, opened DoodleHATCH, a new tourist and community destination offering interactive evolving art installations and experience to the public.
• Howard County Arts Council’s opened its artist studio spaces.
• Roll Up N Dye, an innovative and popular tie-dye studio that hosts parties and team-building events, moved to the first floor of Long Reach Village Center.
• Howard International Grocer, VM Services, and Blooming Hope Dominican Hair Salon opened storefronts in Long Reach Village Center.

To learn more about the County’s redevelopment of the Long Reach Village Center, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/planning-zoning/long-reach-rising.