memo.

“Therefore, your request to schedule prior tothe seating of the new Council/ Zoning Board isdenied.”

The earliest Long Reach could go before the Zoning Board for approval would be December 2018, when a new County Council takesoffice.Four ofthe fivecurrent council members are not running for re-election.

Amy Gowan, deputy director of the Department of Planning and Zoning, said that it is likely the case will not be heard until early 2019,consideringthe time it will take the new council members to“get up to speed” on planning and zoning matters.

The board also recently chose not to hear the redevelopment plans for Hickory Ridge Village Center in Columbia, due to concern that the case could not be heard inone night because of the significant community interest in the project.

Plans to revamp the ailing Long Reach center have been underway since 2014.

Earlier this month the county’s Planning Board unanimously approved plans for the Long Reach project,the final step before it could head tothe Zoning Board.

Plans for the revamped village center include a mixed-use center with more than 400 residential units and a village green.

The developers initially proposed to have the first buildings open in 2020, but Armiger said that’s now not likely to happen until2021.

Orchard’s purchase of the county’s portion of the property, 7.7 acres, isnow also on hold for ayear,asthe sale is contingent on the Zoning Board’s approval.

“We were very disappointed. We had worked so hard and so diligently to make that April date,” Armiger said.

“I don’t know what more wecan do to have it heard.

“I thought we did everything we were supposed to do, we know how important this is to the county and to the community,” he said.

“It’s ashame it’s going to sit for ayear with no activity.” kmagill@baltsun.com