Update on Loch Raven Village Zip Code Reunification Efforts

I've been asked to talk about the requested Zip Code change for the east side of Loch Raven Village. When the neighborhood was built, all of Loch Raven Village was Towson (21204). Later, Towson was split into 21204 and 21286. It was decided that Loch Raven Boulevard would be the dividing line between 21286 and 21234. This threw the east side of Loch Raven Village into 21234. Some original residents still remember being 21204; one resident even said she was born on Clyde Bank and her birth certificate says "Towson". Another neighbor says her front yard is in 21234 and her back yard is in 21286.That gave us a chuckle. In mapping the boundary line along Loch Raven Blvd, we noticed that the line wavers back and forth and turns the corner onto Taylor Avenue. The East Side of LRV is surrounded on three sides by 21286!!

Some years ago we attempted to have the Zip Code change but were denied. Recently we came across a report to Congress regarding Zip Code changes and we used that as a guide for this current attempt. We began a signature campaign by distributing flyers with return petition tear-offs. A resident created an online petition drive. My husband created a chart for each street to make sure there were no duplicate signatures. We also had two signing drives in front of the Old Loch Raven Elementary School. The USPS requires a simple majority of 51% of affected residents to agree to a change, but we had 63%.

We put together our request in a sectioned notebook (thank you Edie for that suggestion!). Our request letter, support letters from U.S. Representative Dutch Ruppersburger, State Senator Kathy Klausmeyer, State Delegate John Cluster, County Councilman David Marks and Associates of Loch Raven Village President Jason Garber. We also included maps as well as copies of the original petition signatures. We sent this packet of information to the Area Vice President of Operations for our national USPS region. We are in the Capitol Metro region which includes Baltimore, Washington DC, Richmond and Greensboro. The request was then forwarded onto our Baltimore Post Office. The person there is a very nice woman who is familiar with our neighborhood. In talking to her we found out that she never received the full notebook so we were able to recreate it and hand delivered it to the Baltimore USPS. Right now USPS is doing a feasibility and budget study. When a Zip Code change is requested, one of the USPS procedures is to survey all those affected by the change; however, since we submitted our petition signatures, they may not need to do a survey. Should they decline to change the zip code, then we have the right to a formal appeal to the Postmaster General in Washington DC. So far it all looks good.

Having one Zip Code is so important to LRV because for too many years there has been a divide between the East and West. We were built by and for returning WWII veterans in hopes that this would be a strong and pleasant community for everyone. As a community we have been called so many names that it is confusing to potential buyers. We even have two different voting districts now. As a family we moved here three days before Christmas with a kindergartner and 14 month old with tonsillitis to make a better life for them. I also brought along three at home day care children. We rented for 11 years waiting for a fixer upper and we finally got one four rows up on the same side of the street. One daycare family actually moved into the Loch Raven Apartments so her daughter could come to us and Loch Raven Elementary School! We LOVE this neighborhood and our neighbors and can’t think of a better place to live. It is so encouraging to see all the young families moving in. Each new family breathes more life into Loch Raven Village. One year after our daughter was transferred to Arizona she asked if we could send her a photo of our street. She said she told her friends in Arizona that we had the prettiest street in the spring and she said they OOO’d and AHH’d when they saw the photo.

PS. When we bought our house my sister who had a farm in Northern Baltimore County said "Why would you live there!? It’s the city and there is no wild life like up here. All you’ll see is other houses and people’s back yards. ICK!! Well, for years now I’ve been photographing all the things you can see so here’s a couple of LRV views...

- Bitten Norman