Design Review Panel

The Design Review Panel (DRP) was established by Section 32-4-203 of the Baltimore County Code 2004, as amended. The goal of the DRP is to encourage design excellence through the application of design guidelines contained in the Master Plan, the Comprehensive Manual of Development Policies, adopted community plans / Section 260 of the Baltimore County Zoning Regulations, as applicable. The DRP’s general charge is to assess the overall quality of a project.

The DRP acts in a technical consulting capacity. Its recommendations are made a part of the record at the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) proceedings.

For a brief overview of the Design Review Panel, watch this video.

Design Review Areas

Bill 12-93 was enacted on January 19, 1993 to create the Baltimore County Design Review Areas. The development plans in these Design Review Areas are reviewed by the Design Review Panel, an advisory and consulting body to the County agencies involved in reviewing development plans. Design review is conducted for all projects located within designated Design Review Areas.

The Design Review Areas are designated areas that help ensure high design standards. There are two types of review areas—commercial (nonresidential) and residential.

Handbooks

The Department has prepared handbooks that describe the DRP review process and include an application for requesting a DRP review:

• DRP Commercial Review Handbook with Application
• DRP Residential Review Handbook with Application

Meetings

Projects that are referred to the DRP are discussed at their monthly meeting on the second Wednesday of every month except for August. All meetings are open to the public. Three members constitute a designated panel for the purpose of making recommendations on a particular project. Resubmittals of previously reviewed projects can be submitted within 10 business days of the meetings.

Cancellation of meetings held during normal working hours will be decided upon on a case-by-case basis. Unless otherwise noted, the meetings begin at 6 p.m. and are held virtually via Webex.

If, because of a disability, you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, call the Department of Planning at 410-887-3480 or via TTY, at 1-800-735-2258 or 711, at least two working days before the event.

Information For Presenters

It is advised that individuals giving presentations to the DRP present visual materials i.e. maps, plans, etc. using a digital format such as PowerPoint. Contact Jenifer Nugent in Development Review at 410-887-3480 at least 48 hours in advance. Rendered site plans must be mounted and GIS aerials must be mounted or easily visible on an overhead projector. 

How to Provide Comments

Staff will provide instructions at the beginning of the meeting on how to submit comments via Webex chat:

1. Select the chat feature to send your written comments to the meeting host (staff).
2. Include your name, address, relationship to the project and the item you would like to provide a written comment on. Indicate whether you would like your comments to be read aloud or if you would like to speak.
3. Written comments will be read aloud during the public comment period for that specific agenda item. If you chose to speak, you will be called upon during the public comment period. 

Mailed, written comments are also accepted by the Department at:

Department of Planning
105 West Chesapeake Avenue, Suite 101 
Towson, Maryland 21204

Please mail to the attention of the Design Review Panel.

Inclement Weather Policy

This policy will be implemented for the foreseeable future and will follow the actions of the County offices.

No meetings will be held when County offices are closed for the day, meetings will proceed as scheduled if County offices are under liberal leave status. For questions regarding the cancellation of a meeting, call the Department of Planning at 410-887-3480.

Upcoming

The attendance and recommendations of the DRP are recorded in the meeting minutes. The tentative agenda for each meeting is available approximately two weeks prior to the meeting.

To view upcoming meeting details, select from the list below.

Members

Contact Us

Contact the panel by calling 410-887-3480 or by emailing the following staff:

• Jenifer Nugent, jnugent@baltimorecountymd.gov
• Brett M. Williams, bmwilliams@baltimorecountymd.gov
• Marta Kulchytska, mkulchytska@baltimorecountymd.gov