Baltimore County Council approves TOD designation for Lutherville Station

"There is, with this resolution, one small step towards unlocking the potential of this site, which would bring not only services to the community, better usage of our light rail, but it would also improve the life of the communities that are directly adjacent through better placemaking, open space, the community benefits that will be negotiated."

September 22, 2026

The Baltimore County Council on Tuesday unanimously endorsed the transit-oriented development designation for Lutherville Station, marking a key step for the long-delayed project.

While the designation — a state classification that can be applied to denser, mixed-use housing developments within a certain distance of a transportation hub — could make the project eligible for additional state financing and other incentives, it does not greenlight construction. The project will still be required to go through Baltimore County’s development and zoning processes.

Councilman Nino Mangione, a Sparks Republican, said he is working on a planned unit development to protect the surrounding community and provide benefits for it.

“We’re working very closely with the Greater Timonium Community Council, other community stakeholders, the developer, and I’m hopeful that we can reach an agreement within hopefully several weeks, if not a month or so,” he said.

What’s proposed

The most recent plans for the Lutherville Station project call for 325 apartment units — a combination of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments — as well as 120,000 square feet of commercial and retail space.

For years, the proposed development has been heavily scrutinized by residents who live in the neighborhoods abutting the light rail and existing shopping center, many of whom have raised concerns about traffic, environmental impacts, school overcrowding and public safety.

But supporters of the TOD designation say the development could address multiple issues.

Klaus Philipsen, an architect and transportation planner who said he designed the Lutherville light rail station, said at a recent council work session that the development was an appropriate land use for the site. He found it “wasteful” that the county is not collecting taxes from a more lucrative land use, also pointing to the lack of affordable housing in Baltimore County.

“With all those three together, there is, with this resolution, one small step towards unlocking the potential of this site, which would bring not only services to the community, better usage of our light rail, but it would also improve the life of the communities that are directly adjacent through better placemaking, open space, the community benefits that will be negotiated,” he said. “There is a lot of potential in this site.”

What’s next?

Under the state’s TOD designation process, a completed development plan or traffic and school impact studies are not required for a local government to seek the designation.

But with the council endorsement in hand, Klausmeier’s administration will forward the TOD recommendation to the Maryland Department of Transportation for additional review before state officials make a final decision on whether to approve the designation.

Read the article on The Baltimore Sun.