Turf Valley, Maryland

Turf Valley is an unincorporated community in Ellicott City, Maryland, United States. The resort is situated in a wedge between Route 70 and U.S. Route 40, with the David Force Natural Resource Area along the Northern border.

Construction contractor Samuel M Pistorio (1902-1998) purchased 1000 acres of farmland West of Ellicott City.^[1] He introduced the $1 million Turf Valley Country Club in 1958. The 1500 person club featured two 18 hole golf courses designed by Ault and Jaminson.^[2] The Clubhouse opened in December 1959.^[3]

Turf Valley proposed falling under the "New Town" zoning proposed in 1965 or the creation of the Rouse Company development Columbia. Amendments were placed in the New Town Zoning increasing the minimum required acreage owned by a project from 750 to 2500 acres, effectively removing Turf Valley from immediate competition to the project.^[4]

The Resort later was purchased by Nicholas B. Magione of Magione Enterprises. In 1979, Magione in combination with the Gudelski family company Percontee, planner William P. Brendle and attorney Bernard F. Goldberg petitioned to rezone the 646 acre project from 3 acre lots to half acre lots claiming 50 acres would be open space.^[5] The property was redeveloped for housing units alongside the golf course with sewer service approved in 1989.^[6][7][8] In 1985, the Catholic Archdioceses sold Donald R. Reuwer Jr. the graveyard of St. Mary's Church for $10,000. In 1991, H. Allen Becker developed Turf Valley Overlook housing development on a 3.5 acre St. Mary's Church parcel that contained Doughoregan Manor worker graves.^[9] Protesters requested Charles I. Ecker purchase the land for open space, but the development and clearing were allowed to proceed.^[10][11]

References

1. Robert Hilson Jr (23 November 1998). "Samuel Pistorio, 96, builder who trained horses, built Turf Valley country club". The Baltimore Sun.
2. "Turf Valley Golf Course Will Be Ready in July". The Washington Post. 20 November 1958.
3. "Turf Valley Country Club Under Construction". The Washington Post. 15 August 1959.
4. "New Zoning Plans are offered for Columbia". The Times. 31 March 1965.
5. "Rezoning for smaller lots denied in Howard". The Baltimore Sun. 1 Nov 1979.
6. "Council Backs Turf Valley Club's Sewer Request". The Washington Post. 9 February 1989.
7. Fern Shen (8 November 1990). "Turf Valley Club In Eye of Storm: High School's Decision to Move Prom Dredges Up Bitter 1988 Racial Incident". The Washington Post.
8. "Turf Valley Developer Hit With Record Fine". 16 May 1991.
9. "Dispute Shatters Quiet of Cemetery: Ecker Won't Intervene in Development Flap". The Washington Post. 2 May 1991.
10. Graveyard Development Prompts Demonstration: Ecker Urged to Block Ellicott City Work. 30 July 1992. Missing or empty |title= (help)
11. "Construction Work Halted After Human Bones Found: Howard County Orders Search at Cemetery". The Washington Post. 22 June 1992.

Coordinates: 39°17′43″N 76°53′28″W / 39.29528°N 76.89111°W