Westminster Planning & Zoning Commission

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING SUMMARY Thursday, September 9, 2021, at 7 PM Virtual Meeting via Zoom and broadcasted live on the City Facebook Page Westminster, Maryland 21157 A meeting of the Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission was held virtually via Zoom and broadcasted live on the City Facebook Page, on September 9, 2021, at 7 PM. Chair Ross Albers, Vice-Chair Kevin Beaver, Commissioner Lyndi McNulty, Commissioner Tiombe Paige, and Councilmember Dan Hoff were present. City staff members Mark Depo, Andrea Gerhard, Andrew Gray, and Samantha Schlitzer were also present. County Planning Technician Abigail Rogers and Hannah Weber were also in attendance. The following members of the public were present: Kristen Gedeon, John Pickett, Adam MacDonald, Ray Prokop, Bill Caine, Jim Marks, Steve McCalmont, and Miguel Ugarte. Chair Albers opened the meeting at 7:00 PM. Chair Albers requested a motion to approve the meeting summary from August 12, 2021. Commissioner McNulty motioned, seconded by Chair Albers. The motion passed 5-0. Chair Albers opened New Business Item A Proposed Site Development Plan S-20-0023, East Middle School Redevelopment Project. Ms. Gerhard provided background information on the item, stating that the Applicant is requesting approval of Site Development Plan S-20-0023, which proposes to raze the current East Middle School and redevelop the property with a new 84,991 square foot middle school. The Zoning Administrator had previously approved the requested landscaping modifications. Three outstanding issues include off-site roadway improvements to North Street, a Consolidation plat, and redesign of architectural elevations. Ray Prokop, Carroll County Public Schools Director of Facilities Management, stated that the Carroll County Board of Education (BoE) approved the site redevelopment plan as presented, but the received bids exceeded the approved budget. Adding the requested canopies would be difficult to complete due to the overall costs involved, most notably for steel. Councilmember Hoff raised a concern that the Commission should not approve something different from what was approved by the BoE and the community. PZC Meeting Summary of September 9, 2021 Page 1 of 2 Ms. Gerhard clarified that this item was being treated in the same manner as any other site plan. However, it had been discussed within a larger group and the intention of bringing it before Commission was not to delay the project, just address any outstanding issues as it would any other site plan. Ms. Gerhard suggested that City staff could work with the architect to develop a solution that meets the Development Design Preferences Manual without having to come back to the Commission. Councilmember Hoff moved to approve East Middle School Redevelopment Plan with the conditions that the applicant include off-site roadway improvements to North Street, a Consolidation plat, and redesign of architectural elevations. In addition, staff and the school board should discuss site elevation and canopy requests and report back to the Commission in three months. Chair Albers seconded; the motion passed 5-0. Chair Albers opened New Business Item B – County Liaison Report. Ms. Weber reported that Residential text amendments are still underway. After County Planning Commission approval, it will go to the County Commissioners for review and approval. Additionally, Water/Sewer Master Plan amendments and a triennial update would be forthcoming from Price Wagoner in October. Chair Albers opened Planning Commission and Public Comments. Mr. Gray asked if any Commission member would be interested in serving on the City’s Green Team as part of the Sustainable Maryland Certification initiatives, he will send information to the Commission members via email. Chair Albers motioned, seconded by Commissioner McNulty to adjourn the meeting. The Commission adjourned at 7:45 PM. PZC Meeting Summary of September 9, 2021 Page 2 of 2