about us


The Save Belmont Coalition is a group of more than 200 concerned individuals with the support of many conservation minded organizations.  The core mission of this coalition is to ensure that the scenic and historic easements on Belmont and its environs are upheld. To that end, we balance five goals:

Rockburn Land Trust’s Vision for Belmont

I. We support good land use planning and sensitive use of Patapsco State park inholding parcels that support the surrounding environmental area.

II. We support the use of Belmont as zoned, primarily as an overnight retreat facility with auxiliary activities and uses having clearly defined upper limits and consistent with surrounding parkland.

III. We support honoring the Bruce family and the Smithsonian's intentions for Belmont and upholding the perpetual historic and scenic easements that they placed on Belmont for the benefit of current and future generations of Howard County.

IV. We believe that government uses should, in general, be held to the same zoning standards as any business if the property is not performing an essential government function.

V. The Belmont property should not be used for future college building expansions as proposed in their master plan. Instead building expansions for classrooms should be in areas with access to public transportation.