Westminster Planning & Zoning Commission

CITY OF WESTMINSTER ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUSTMENT #18-01 MEETING SUMMARY Thursday, October 11, 2018, at 6 PM City Hall, 1838 Emerald Hill Lane An Administrative Adjustment meeting for case AA 18-01 was held at City Hall, 1838 Emerald Hill Lane in Westminster, Maryland 21157, on October 11, 2018, at 6 PM. City staff members William Mackey, Andrew Gray, and Samantha Schlitzer were present. The following were present and signed in: Dr. Neil Borrelli, Mr. Domenico Capuano, Dr. Robin Armstrong, and Ms. Melissa Clark. Mr. Mackey opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m. He stated that an application was submitted by the property owner of record, Love & Whiskey Boutique, LLC, for an Administrative Adjustment to the provisions of §164- 111 C. to allow five parking spaces where six are required; §164-112 G. to allow for increased maneuvering area; and, to the dimensional chart in §164-115 D. (3) to adjust the area of parking spaces and a drive aisle, related to proposed Site Plan S-18-0016, for property located at 118 West Main Street, Westminster MD 21157 in the D-B Downtown Business zone, and 0.140 acres in area. Mr. Randy Petkus of BPR Professional Land Surveying & Civil Engineering, representing the applicant, reviewed his proposed site plan for five parking spaces at the location. He stated that his proposal reduced the likelihood of imposing on pedestrians due to the location of the proposed handicapped parking space. Mr. Gray provided background information and summarized the staff report. Mr. Mackey opened the public hearing at 6:11 p.m. Dr. Borelli, representing Mr. Capuano and Mediterraneo Ristorante at 132 West Main Street, voiced his concern that his client not lose any parking spaces to visitors of the proposed site at 118 West Main Street. He had no concerns with the proposed site plan. Dr. Armstrong, resident at 111 West Main Street, stated her concern with the overall lack of available parking for City residents in that area. By allowing one less parking space at the proposed site, it might cause visitors to the site to park in available resident parking spots along West Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Mr. Mackey closed the public hearing. Mr. Mackey referenced the hearing exhibits:  Exhibit 1 – Application  Exhibit 2 – Proofs of notice to adjacent property owners  Exhibit 3 – Set of site plans provided by BPR at the meeting  Exhibit 4 – Staff report, dated October 10, 2018 Mr. Gray presented proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law as provided in the staff report on record. Staff recommended approval of the proposed Administrative Adjustment, per §164-158.1 of the City Code. Mr. Mackey explained that the City’s Administrative Adjustment process was closely modeled on the BZA variance process, and the adjustment process used the standards for granting a variance in the City Code. Mr. Mackey reviewed the proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law proposed in the staff report. Mr. Mackey stated that as part of the process, conditions could be included. He said that he would be considering adding a condition to require the relocation of landscape planters at the outside edges of the proposed curb cuts to allow extra room for vehicles backing out of the parking spaces. Also, Mr. Mackey reiterated that allowing one less parking space would allow the parking area to be a feasible project and to move forward. Mr. Mackey will deliberate and provide a written decision at a later date. Copies of the meeting summary and the written decision would be provided electronically to anyone who signed in at the meeting. Mr. Mackey closed the Administrative Adjustment meeting at 6:27pm. Administrative Adjustment AA 18-01 Page 2 of 2