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The intent of the pilot program is to facilitate redevelopment projects on carefully selected sites in Renaissance Opportunity Areas (floating zones located inside the URDL that consist of more than one property and are at least five acres) designated by the County Council with input from the community residents. The mix of uses may be different than the underlying zoning. A Renaissance Pilot Project must be within a Renaissance Opportunity Area and there can be more than one project in an opportunity area.
The developer initiates the process by applying through the County government. If approved, the developer must conduct a public collaborative design process known as a "charrette." The charrette is intended to result in a buildable plan reached through a consensus of the community participants, which is 80% or more of those who attend two or more meetings and attend the last meeting in person. While anyone interested is welcome to participate in the charrette, only community participants (those living, owning property, or operating a business within 5 miles of the project) can vote on the final charrette plan. Also present throughout the charrette (which lasts no less than 7 days) are County government directors and staff including the County Council representative or a designee, and the developer’s design team. The design team is a multi-disciplinary team including architects, landscape architects, code writers, engineers, etc. An independent, skilled professional facilitator with no personal stake in the outcome works with everyone to create a plan that satisfies the charrette participants.
After the charrette, the Planning Board determines that the charrette resulted in a consensus based on a report from the facilitator and testimony at the board’s hearing. If approved, the developer prepares a pattern book that includes a regulating plan, form-based codes and other design specifications. The pattern book is reviewed and approved by the Planning Board if they find that the book is consistent with the final charrette plan and compatible with the standards set forth in the legislation. The Planning Board must then adopt the pattern book as a regulation.
The final redevelopment plan is prepared by the developer and is based on the pattern book and must include all applicable requirements of the Baltimore County development plan. That final plan is reviewed by County agencies that normally review development projects. Then, the Director of Permits and Development Management approves the plan if it is consistent with the pattern book and other applicable requirements. The final development plan may be appealed to the Board of Appeals.
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Revised July 22, 2005
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