Westminster Planning & Zoning Commission

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION June 14, 2012 The regular meeting of the Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission was held in Westminster City Hall on June 14, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. Chairperson Bair; Members Wack, Palmer, Graham and Beaver; John Maguire, esq.; Marty Hackett (CLSI); Mike Fitzgerald (Fitzgerald Dev.); Stephen Ness (Lennar); Martin Rickell (CLSI); Dixon Harvey (Black Oak Assoc.); County Planner Graf; and, Interim Director Horn were in attendance. On motion of Ms. Graham, second by Ms. Palmer, the minutes of the meeting of April 12, 2012, were approved. Roops Mill, Phase I The first item for consideration by the Commission was a request to grant final review and approval to ‘Roops Mill Phase I’, the initial section of a new community to be constructed on the south side of MD 140, west of the Meadow Branch Cemetery. Phase I is to include 84 of the total 193 dwellings originally approved by the Commission in June of 2008. Mr. Horn briefed the Commission on the facts as they relate to the status of the property and subdivision plan: annexed by the City in 2002; development plans originally submitted in 2003; Administrative Adjustment Hearing allowing narrower lot widths in 2006; Preliminary Plan approval in June of 2008; a second Administrative Adjustment Hearing conducted in February of 2010; and, a Revised Preliminary Plan approved in April of 2010. Mr. Horn noted that all necessary reviews by State, County and City agencies had been finalized, and the agencies recommended final approval for Phase I. Mr. Maguire introduced those in support of the project and noted their presence to answer questions related to the project. The Commission questioned the future prospects for the extension of Rockland Road, and Mr. Horn noted it was difficult to project if or when the extension may proceed due to environmental constraints. The Meadow Ridge Homeowners Association had previously noted concerns about future sections of the project accessing Wampler Lane. They also expressed concerns about notification for future sections of the project moving forward. On motion by Ms. Graham, second by Ms. Palmer, the Commission voted 4-0 to grant final approval to Phase I of the Roops Mill project. Ridge Terrace II The next item considered by the Commission was the Resubdivision of Lot 15 at Ridge Terrace. Ridge Terrace, a 15 lot subdivision located west of Ridge Avenue off Fitzhugh Avenue, was originally approved by the Commission in September of 2002. Mr. Horn reported that, at the time of approval, lot 15 was anticipated to be revisited for the purpose of resubdivision as part of estate planning. After a brief review, the Commission, on motion by Ms. Graham, second by Dr. Wack, voted 4-0 to approve the resubdivision of lot 15. Proposed Zoning Changes Mr. Horn reviewed the history of the proposed zoning changes, specifically the rezoning of the parcels where the College Square Shopping Center and the Best Western Hotel are located. He also reviewed the proposed text amendment which would facilitate the creation of a floating zone version of the City’s Mixed Use and Infill Zoning District. Mr. Horn noted that the proposed changes would allow mixed use development projects to proceed, after rigorous administrative reviews by the Commission and Mayor & Common Council, in the ‘B’ Business, ‘D-B’ Downtown Business, ‘C-B’ Central Business, and ‘N-C’ Neighborhood Commercial Zoning districts. Mr. Horn requested that the Commission vote to move forward with a Public Hearing on the changes. Due to their connections to McDaniel College, Chairman Bair and Ms. Palmer recused themselves from voting. The Commission, on motion by Dr. Wack, second by Ms. Graham, voted 3-0 (Wack, Graham, Beaver) in favor of the motion. Finally, the Commission, on motion by Ms. Graham, second by Mr. Beaver, voted 3-0 (Wack, Graham, Beaver) to authorize Mr. Beaver to sign letters of correspondence relating to these matters on behalf of the Commission, and in light of the Chairman’s employment with McDaniel College. Downtown Business Signage The final item considered by the Commission was a request from Tevis Oil to allow an electronic message sign to be placed at their Main Street station. The Commission considered the request but determined that the recent sign code change, including a prohibition on electronic message signs in the historic, downtown area, should apply in this case. There was no interest on the part of the Commission to revisit the sign code so soon after its amendment earlier this year. Prior to adjournment, the Commission sadly noted the passing of Mr. Stanley Ruchlewicz of the City’s Economic Development staff. His service to the residents and merchants of the City of Westminster will be sorely missed. There being no further business to discuss, by unanimous consent, the meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Steven C. Horn, Interim Director of Planning, Zoning & Development