ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced the release of the Master Plan Public Draft for the proposed Gateway Innovation District, now available for review and comment. The Draft is accessible on the County’s website now through July 8th, and community members are encouraged to share feedback that will help shape the final plan that will be presented to the Howard County Council in the fall.
The Gateway Master Plan Public Draft reflects not just a long-term goal, but a clear, actionable path forward for the future of our world-class innovation district. Our Gateway Master Plan reflects more than a year of community and stakeholder input, technical analysis, and thoughtful collaboration. As we look ahead, this plan gives us a blueprint to drive innovative business development and job growth while making Gateway more connected, inclusive, sustainable and inspiring. I invite our residents, businesses, and stakeholders to read the draft plan and weigh in with your thoughts and feedback as we chart the course for Gateway’s future.
The Gateway Master Plan Public Draft amplifies the bold vision set forth in the County’s recently adopted General Plan, HoCo By Design, delivering a groundbreaking strategy for redeveloping Gateway into a premier innovation district. This transformative initiative outlines a dynamic, action-driven approach that cultivates a vibrant, integrated hub that accelerates research, fuels entrepreneurship and champions inclusive economic growth. Spanning approximately 1,100 acres of commercial and industrial land and located within 15 miles of BWI Airport and Fort Meade, the district is poised to become a catalyst for next-generation innovation.
As an Innovation District, the Gateway of the future reimagines the traditional business park model moving beyond its roots in office buildings and surface parking lots to create a dynamic, mixed-use environment that encourages collaboration, innovation, and creative thinking. By integrating a combination of shared facilities, like an “Innovation Hub,” flexible office spaces and residential areas and creating opportunities to increase density and facilitate strategic employment growth, the new district will serve as a hub for diverse industries and a driver for bold new ideas.
An Innovation Hub is a dynamic space dedicated to cultivating partnerships and networks among researchers, businesses, entrepreneurs and creators. These active hubs combine cutting-edge research labs, coworking spaces and may even have recreational amenities to nurture an environment for innovation and growth. Typically anchored by an educational institution and situated in a vibrant area, they serve as magnets for new talent and catalysts for innovation. In Gateway, the Innovation Hub has the exciting potential to amplify the work of the Howard County Economic Development Authority’s Maryland Innovation Center (MIC) and help expand its network and partnerships around the nation and internationally.
Incorporating a range of building types with a variety of heights, from flexible workspaces to larger office developments, the envisioned Innovation District attracts businesses of all sizes in cutting-edge industries and enhances the area’s visibility. Diverse industries and entrepreneurial ventures cultivate a supportive ecosystem of the district and help drive long-term, sustainable job creation and economic vitality. Gateway is fortunate to have many tech-driven enterprises within it, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, defense/government contracting, software development and scientific research, which will also help position the Gateway Innovation District as a leader in the region.
Gateway also presents the opportunity to demonstrate climate-resilient design, in line with Howard County’s Climate Action and Resiliency Plan. The proposed transportation network welcomes people traveling by all modes, seamlessly connecting to existing paths and trails beyond Gateway, which will provide employees and residents with new ways to travel. This includes utilizing the CSX rail line – a 3.1-mile abandoned railroad spur as a unique connection to and from the Innovation District.
“Community participation has been instrumental throughout every phase of this process,” said Lynda Eisenberg, Director Department of Planning and Zoning. “Together, we’ve taken a bold idea and shaped it into a framework for Gateway – one that embraces creativity, connection, and innovation. This plan lays the foundation for a vibrant, mixed-use district that will evolve over the next 30 years, creating opportunity and driving innovation.”
The planning process has been a deeply collaborative effort shaped by an appointed Advisory Committee composed of local stakeholders and subject matter experts. This diverse group includes Gateway-area property and business owners, representatives from Columbia Association, and leaders in housing, sustainability, multi-modal transportation, and economic development. Their expertise and perspectives have played a critical role in ensuring the draft plan reflects the core elements of a successful innovation district – including transportation access and mobility affordable and multigenerational housing, resilient and sustainable infrastructure, and strategies for job creation and equitable economic growth.
“The Gateway Master Plan is a groundbreaking blueprint that positions Howard County as a leader in innovation and inclusive economic growth,” said Jennifer Jones, CEO, Howard County Economic Development Authority. “It sets the stage for a dynamic ecosystem where businesses and bold ideas can thrive.”
To review the Gateway Master Plan Public Draft and submit comments, please visit: https://www.howardcountymd.gov/gateway.