Welcome to the Bel Air Development Wiki

This wiki was started by Stacey Alatzas, publisher of the blog Bel Air News & Views. But unlike a blog, everyone can publish here. Please build on what you see here and edit any information you know is incorrect. If you have a photo, a map, a relevant document, please add that to this wiki or email your information to me at belairnews@comcast.com and I'll add it for you. And if you have questions about any developments, go ahead and ask them here. Perhaps another reader will know the answer and be able to help you out.

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Vale Road Elementary School

Click here to see a site plan for Graybeal Fields -- the rec fields that will accompany the new school on the site.

From Bel Air News & Views:

The new Vale Road Elementary School is scheduled to be open by 2010. At a Harford County Development Advisory Committee meeting on March 5, it was revealed that the land near the 100,773 square foot school would include playing fields. The recreation complex is to be named Graybeal Fields, after the land's former owners. The Aegis story said the 24-acre recreation area will be located on the west side of Red Pump Road, north of Vale Road. It is to include three full soccer fields, two playgrounds, two parking lots, a pavilion and a rest room. The plans were presented by G. W. Stephens & Associates, which also worked on the school district's administration building. About 45 community members attended the meeting, the story said, and expressed concerns about increased traffic. It's my guess that traffic lights might be needed to better control the four way stop intersections on either side of this portion of Vale Road, where it intersects with Red Pump Road to the east and Grafton Shop Road to the west.

From the agenda of the March 5th, 2008 Harford County Development Advisory Committee meeting:

VALE ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:

Located on the north side of Vale Road, west of Red Pump Road. Tax Map 48, Parcels 156; Third Election District. Council District C.

Status: Under Review

Plan No.:	S07-189-2	100,773 sf elementary school, 23.6 acres, R1
Received:	02-06-08	Harford County/George W. Stephens, Jr. & Associates, Inc.

GRAYBEAL FIELDS:

Located on the west side of Red Pump Road, north of Vale Road. Tax Map 40, Parcel 33; Third Election District. Council District C.

Status: Under Review

Plan No.:	P08-024	Subdivide into two lots, 24 acres, R1.
Received:	02-06-08	Raymond R. Graybeal/ Harford County/ G. W. Stephens Jr & Associates.

GRAYBEAL FIELDS:

Located on the west side of Red Pump Road, north of Vale Road. Tax Map 40, Parcels 33; Third Election District. Council District C.

Status: Under Review

Plan No.:	S08-025	Develop four recreational fields, playground & parking, 24 acres, R1.
Received:	02-06-08	Raymond R. Graybeal/Harford County/G. W. Stephens Jr. & Associates

From the Harford County School District's August 7, 2007

Construction Project Status Report

"Vale Road ES:

Project is currently in Design Development stage. DD submittal to HCPS on August 10, 2007 for review. Negotiations are continuing with MDE regarding the onsite septic system."

Click here to see the document.

Here's a link to a March 2007 Examiner.com article on the Vale Road Elementary School.

Click here to link to all Bel Air News & Views posts about the Vale Road Elementary School.

A recent Baltimore Sun story indicated the Harford County school district had identified a site for an additional elementary school to be built on 23 acres in Churchville the district purchased for $1.4 million. From the Sun's Aug. 26 story:

"Construction, on the property at the east side of Schucks Road near Churchville Road, will coincide with the Vale Road Elementary building project, north of the county seat.

Plans call for a two-story building, similar in design to the $26 million Vale Road School, that is expected to be under construction in 2009."

The story goes on to say:

"The Churchville property, purchased from Michael J. Lozniak, adjoins Schucks Road Sports Complex, a 71-acre site where the county is building five athletic fields, several walking trails and two playgrounds."

The story also says the district is looking for 50 acres in the Bel Air area on which to build another middle school.

Continue with categories/journalists as necessary