diff --git a/src/htm/algorithms/SpatialPooler.cpp b/src/htm/algorithms/SpatialPooler.cpp
index bd5b786f84..bad25cc34b 100644
--- a/src/htm/algorithms/SpatialPooler.cpp
+++ b/src/htm/algorithms/SpatialPooler.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ SpatialPooler::SpatialPooler() {
 }
 
 SpatialPooler::SpatialPooler(
-    const vector<UInt> inputDimensions, const vector<UInt> columnDimensions,
+    const vector<UInt>& inputDimensions, const vector<UInt>& columnDimensions,
     UInt potentialRadius, Real potentialPct, bool globalInhibition,
     Real localAreaDensity,
     UInt stimulusThreshold, Real synPermInactiveDec, Real synPermActiveInc,
@@ -401,7 +401,6 @@ void SpatialPooler::initialize(
   // 1D input produces 1D output; 2D => 2D, etc. //TODO allow nD -> mD conversion
   NTA_CHECK(inputDimensions_.size() == columnDimensions_.size()); 
 
-  NTA_CHECK(localAreaDensity > 0 && localAreaDensity <= MAX_LOCALAREADENSITY);
   setLocalAreaDensity(localAreaDensity); 
 
   rng_ = Random(seed);
diff --git a/src/htm/algorithms/SpatialPooler.hpp b/src/htm/algorithms/SpatialPooler.hpp
index 65f008a4db..bebebd0352 100644
--- a/src/htm/algorithms/SpatialPooler.hpp
+++ b/src/htm/algorithms/SpatialPooler.hpp
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ class SpatialPooler : public Serializable
   static const constexpr Real BOOSTING_EXP      = 1.0f * htm::Epsilon; //any value > BOOSTING_DISABLED enables the exponential boosting mode
 
   SpatialPooler();
-  SpatialPooler(const vector<UInt> inputDimensions, 
-		const vector<UInt> columnDimensions,
+  SpatialPooler(const vector<UInt>& inputDimensions, 
+		const vector<UInt>& columnDimensions,
                 UInt potentialRadius = 16u, 
 		Real potentialPct = 0.5f,
                 bool globalInhibition = true, 
@@ -212,8 +212,8 @@ class SpatialPooler : public Serializable
 
    */
   virtual void
-  initialize(const vector<UInt> inputDimensions, 
-	     const vector<UInt> columnDimensions,
+  initialize(const vector<UInt>& inputDimensions, 
+	     const vector<UInt>& columnDimensions,
              UInt potentialRadius = 16u, 
 	     Real potentialPct = 0.5f,
              bool globalInhibition = true,