August 15, 2019 – Council District 1
- EPS Variances
- Planning Board Meetings
- Gunpowder Valley Conservancy’s 30th Anniversary on the Water
- County Land Preservation Agricultural Easement Inspection
- Comprehensive Zoning Map Process 2020
- Beechfield Avenue and Maryland Place
- River Road Bridge Reconstruction
- Thistle Road Slope Repair and Road Reconstruction
- Louisiana Avenue
- New Water Line on Powers Lane
- Administrative Variances
- Development Meetings
- Zoning Hearings
EPS Variances
The Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability (EPS) publishes a list of the environmental administrative variance requests along with their status. The requests are listed by County Council District.
Information: EPS Variances for District 1
Planning Board Meetings
Baltimore County Planning Board meetings are scheduled as follows:
- No meetings scheduled for August.
Information: Contact Ngone Seye Diop by phone at 410-887-3482 or by email at nseyediop@baltimorecountymd.gov.
Gunpowder Valley Conservancy’s 30th Anniversary on the Water
Date: Saturday, September 14, 2019
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
Place: Conrad’s Ruth Villa, 3301 Edwards Lane, Middle River, Maryland 21220
The Gunpowder Valley Conservancy is celebrating their 30th anniversary working to protect the Gunpowder watershed and our drinking water. The evening will be filled with food, friends and fun.
To purchase tickets, or for any questions, visit the event page.
County Land Preservation Agricultural Easement Inspection
Baltimore County Land Preservation has completed the first round of its annual agricultural easement inspection cycle. In accordance with easement documents and their overseeing agencies, it’s required that a percentage of all easement inspections be completed each year. The County is responsible for inspecting federal (Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program), state (Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation Program) and local easements. Eighteen of 22 federal inspections, 23 of 23 state inspections and four of 19 local inspections have been completed. During an inspection, the County looks for issues such as dumping, major erosion, special uses guidelines and that no new dwellings have been constructed. The remaining inspections will be completed throughout the rest of 2019.
Comprehensive Zoning Map Process 2020
The Comprehensive Zoning Map Process (CZMP) takes place every four years on an exact schedule specified in the County Code. Any citizen may request a zoning change on any property in Baltimore County, although the usual participants in the process are individual landowners, contract purchasers, community organizations, County staff, the Planning Board and the County Council.
The CZMP covers a period of approximately 12 months, and results in zoning decisions that are reflected in a final log of issues. Ultimately, the County Council decides on each issue whether to retain the existing zoning or to enact a different zone(s) or district(s). Generally, each issue is a single property, but an issue might cover many adjoining properties and might even cover many hundreds of acres. The zoning on all properties which were not issues is reenacted without change.
CZMP 2020 starts with the public pre-filing period that begins on August 19. Filing fees and a timeline are posted online. Additional information about the process, including hearing schedules, will be posted when available.
For more information, please visit the CZMP page.
Beechfield Avenue and Maryland Place
The Department of Public Works and Transportation and Transportation and Transportation plans to remove some pavement and to narrow the intersection of Beechfield Avenue and Maryland Place in Arbutus this year. The project is currently on hold while County engineers and residents work through several issues.
Information: Email engineering@baltimorecountymd.gov or call the Division of Highway Design at 410-887-3739.
River Road Bridge Reconstruction
River Road Bridge (Bridge B-0184) was severely damaged during the May 2018 flood that hit both Baltimore and Howard counties. River Road was immediately closed to traffic and contractors then demolished the remaining structure in the weeks following the storm. The Department of Public Works and Transportation and Transportation and Transportation planned a replacement bridge; construction began in July and should be completed before the end of this year.
Information: Email engineering@baltimorecountymd.gov.
Thistle Road Slope Repair and Road Reconstruction
Thistle Road was also closed because of the 2018 flood, but residential access has remained open for the northern part of the road. Repairs began in March and a reopening is expected in August.
Information: Email engineering@baltimorecountymd.gov.
Louisiana Avenue
Baltimore County is adding curbs and gutters along both sides of Louisiana Avenue in English Consul from Washington Street to Baltimore Street. The work is expected to begin following water utility work.
Information: Email engineering@baltimorecountymd.gov.
New Water Line on Powers Lane
Baltimore County is investing $3.5 million to improve the water system in the Catonsville area. Three thousand feet of new water main is being constructed between the Catonsville pumping station and Nuwood Drive. The new main, which will be 36 inches in diameter, will improve the reliability of the system. The project is 99 percent complete.
Information: Email engineering@baltimorecountymd.gov.
Administrative Variances
Administrative Variances Pending include requests for Administrative Variances pending before the Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections. These variances are up-to-date as of the publication of this newsletter and subject to change.
There are no Administrative Variances pending at the time of publication of this newsletter. Please visit the Zoning calendar for changes in District 1.
Development Meetings
Development Meetings include Community Input, Concept Plan, County Review, Development Review Committee and Hearing Officers Hearings. These meetings are up-to-date as of the publication of this newsletter and subject to change.
Information: Call 410-887-3321.
Development Review Committee—Arbutus Station
Date and Time: Tuesday, August 20, 2 to 3 p.m.
Property Location: 1514 Sulphur Spring Road
Meeting Location: County Office Building, Room 123, 111 West Chesapeake Avenue, Towson, Maryland 21204
DRC Number: 082019A
Tracking Number: DRC-2019-00111
Request: The request is for a refined Development Plan.
Information: Contact Jan M. Cook at jmcook@baltimorecountymd.gov or 410-887-3321.
Development Review Committee—Maiden Choice Lane 601
Date and Time: Tuesday, August 27, 2 to 3 p.m.
Property Location: 601 Maiden Choice Lane
Meeting Location: County Office Building, Room 123, 111 West Chesapeake Avenue, Towson, Maryland 21204
DRC Number: 082719A
PAI Number: 01-0555
Tracking Number: DRC-2019-00113
Request: The request is to raze the current office building and construct a new, larger office building in its place.
Information: Contact Jan M. Cook at jmcook@baltimorecountymd.gov or 410-887-3321.
Zoning Hearings
Zoning Hearings include Special Exceptions, Variances and other issues before the Office of Administrative Hearings of Baltimore County. These hearings are up-to-date as of the publication of this newsletter and subject to change.
Information: Call the Office of Administrative Law Judges at 410-887-3868 or Zoning Review at 410-887-3391.
Zoning Hearings—3327 Hollins Ferry Road
Date and Time: Friday, August 16, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Case Number: 2019-0387-XA
Property Location: Northwest corner of Hollins Ferry Road and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Legal Owners: Merritt-017, LLC
Special Exception to allow the continued use of an outdoor advertising sign in the Business Major zone.
Variance:
- To allow the continued use of a freestanding outdoor advertising sign with a sign area or face of 768 square feet and a height of 50 feet in lieu of the permitted 300 square feet and height of 25 feet;
- To allow the continued use of a freestanding outdoor advertising sign a distance of 122 feet from a residential zone in lieu of the minimum required 200 feet;
- To allow the continued use of an outdoor advertising sign a distance of zero feet from the right of way of a controlled-access-type highway (the Baltimore-Washington Parkway) in lieu of the minimum required 250 feet;
- To allow the continued use of an outdoor adverting sign a distance of 776 feet from another outdoor advertising sign on the same side of a highway in lieu of the minimum required 1,000 feet, if necessary.
Hearing Location: Jefferson Building, 105 West Chesapeake Avenue, Room 205, Towson, Maryland 21204
Information: Contact the Zoning Office at 410-887-3391.