January 30, 2008

2008 CZMP

For those of you that may be interested, here is some information From The Baltimore County Web Site explaining the Comprehensive Zoning Process. I have also included my explanation about our request for a Zoning Change for the properties at 9& 11 Newburg Ave.

The CZMP takes place every four years on a schedule specified in the County Code. Any citizen or organization may request a zoning change on any property in the County. The permitted use for a property is determined by its zoning classification. Changing the zoning classification on a property may change the permitted uses and the intensity of those uses. The potential for land use changes makes it important to be an active participant in the 2008 CZMP.
The 2008 CZMP covers a period of approximately 12 months and concludes with the County Council making the final decisions on all the rezoning requests. A descriptive narrative of the 2008 CZMP indicating the key decision makers and the relevant milestones can be accessed at the 2008 CZMP timeline. A graphic timeline (PDF) is also available.
One of the key decision makers in the 2008 CZMP is the Planning Board. Before the Planning Board makes its recommendations to the County Council, the Planning Board conducts a hearing in each councilmanic district. At the Planning Board’s hearings, the Planning Board will hear testimony on the rezoning requests for the specific councilmanic district. The Planning Board’s 2008 CZMP hearings have already been scheduled. For the dates, times, and locations of the hearings, please see 2008 CZMP Planning Board hearings. The County Council has scheduled their 2008 CZMP hearings, please see 2008 CZMP County Council hearings.
Rezoning requests made during the 2008 CZMP are given an Issue Number. The Issue Number is the unique identifier that will allow you to track the progress of the Issue as it moves through the relevant milestones. The Log of Issues is a compilation of all the rezoning requests made during the 2008 CZMP in summary format reflecting the decision at key points. It also will be updated at the end of the 2008 CZMP to reflect the County Council’s final decision. Zoning on all properties which were not included in a rezoning request during the 2008 CZMP is re-enacted without a change. You can access the Log of Issues and Issue Maps from prior CZMP processes and the most current Log of Issues at 2008 CZMP Log of Issues.
The Office of Planning has a Community Planner assigned to each County Council district. You can determine the appropriate Community Planner by viewing the Planners by District map. The Community Planner is most knowledgeable about his or her Council District and is the usual point of contact concerning the 2008 CZMP and rezoning requests filed through the 2008 CZMP.
The first step of filing for a rezoning request must be filled out on-line. The final review and the filing fee must be paid in person at the Office of Planning in order for the rezoning request to be given an Issue Number and be considered complete. There is a filing fee associated with each zoning request. See the appropriate link for more information on the Fee Schedule and Fee Determination Guidelines.
The petitioner is also responsible for assuring that a sign(s) is/are posted on the property that is within the Map Issue, that is subject to the rezoning request. This public notice is required by Section 32-3-215 of the Baltimore County Code. It must occur a minimum of 15 days prior to the Planning Board Public Hearing for each respective Councilmanic district. For detailed sign posting procedures, please review 2008 Sign Posting procedures. For a list of approved sign posters, please review 2008 Baltimore County Approved Sign Posters (PDF).
Rezoning request made by the Office of Planning, the Planning Board and the County Council are considered publicly filed issues. Publicly filed issues may have an impact on properties that have filed a concept plan, a development plan or a limited exemption plan. For further information on this topic, please review the information on publicly filed issues.

As you may be aware, we have applied to have the zoning changed on the properties at
9 & 11 Newburg Ave. They are currently zoned and occupied as RO or Residential/Office. With an approved variance allowing the rear of the properties to be used to provide parking for the business located at 821-829 Frederick Road as well as 9&11 Newburg Ave. We have carefully selected tenants whom we have felt will be unobtrusive, and good neighbors, to occupy these two properties.
We have requested a zoning change to BL or Business local. Our main reason for requesting this change has to do with our ability refinace the properties. The lender will not refinance or allow us to negotiate better terms with the "split zoning" which is currently on the property. We would like to be able to do this so that we may finish the whole project this year.
I have stated publicly ever since we bought these properties, that we have no intention of tearing down any of the buildings on the properties. Had that been our intention, we would not have invested so much in them. I would like to assure you that we are not just trying to make a "fast buck" we are looking at this as a 50 year project. That is, as someone that was born, raised and still lives in Catonsville, we are working to create something that the residents of Catonsville will be proud of 50 years from now!
If anyone has any concerns or questions about this zoning request. Or you would like to help. Please feel free to call me at 443.830.0310. We are eager to work out an agreement that will protect the neighbors best interests.
Thank you for all of your support. Craig















2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Craig, Thank you! I live on Newburg Avenue and am so glad that someone who cares is cleaning up the area. What you are doing is a great improvement.

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On the Lighter Side!