County clears way for expansion at mall

The county has approved plans for a 300,000-square-foot expansion of Westfield Annapolis, featuring two parking garages, a two-story Dick's Sporting Goods and possibly, the county's first Crate & Barrel.

The plan, slightly smaller than two previous submissions, would boost the Parole mall's size by 25 percent and reclaim its crown from Arundel Mills in Hanover as the county's biggest shopping center. It's expected to cost more than $100 million, said Tim Lowe, executive vice president of development.

The mall intends to start 15 months of construction in March, getting a leg up on nearby Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole, a...