Zoning Regulations

The state's highest court ruled yesterday that a Glen Arm man's snake-breeding business violates Baltimore County zoning regulations, ending a four-year legal battle between the breeder and his neighbors. In a 44-page opinion, the Maryland Court of Appeals sided with the county Board of Appeals, which found in 1998 that Peter Kahl Reptiles Inc. "does not satisfy the definition of `commercial agriculture,' because [Kahl] was not involved in the use of the land or in animal husbandry." The business is in an agricultural zone called RC4. A permit granted to Kahl's business by the county in 1997 did not comply with zoning regulations, the court wrote.

Board to consider country store's zoning petitionThe county Planning Board today will consider allowing a country store near West Friendship to continue operating and resume selling gasoline, as it reportedly has since before the county's first zoning regulations were created in 1948.The board will hear a petition to recognize a "non-conforming use" for Foster's, formerly Gearhart's, at the corner of Route 144 and Triadelphia Road. If granted, the petition would acknowledge that the store started before the enactment of zoning regulations that prohibit its operation.

Harbin Farms employees recently began stacking large pumpkins on display, in addition to their second most popular seasonal items — mums and a wide variety of apples. Kimberly Taylor, who runs the produce stand with her husband, Michael, and her uncle, had worried that a year and a half dispute over zoning might have prevented the fall display from going up. The stand has been at Route 99 and Old Mill Road in Ellicott City since 1958, when it was part of a larger family farm.

Oscar Evans, a Middle River auto mechanic, says he isn't against progress, but is wary of the mammoth Asian cultural theme park and trade center proposed near his eastern Baltimore County home."

Three of five County Council members say they will oppose County Councilwoman Shane Pendergrass' proposal to have a citizen committee study controversial mixed-use zoning regulations."

Efforts to block a zoning category for privately owned trash incinerators or composting facilities were narrowly defeated in a Zoning Board work session yesterday.County Council members, sitting as the Zoning Board, approved zoning regulations for a "solid waste district" that could be applied in existing heavy manufacturing zones.The 3-2 work session vote is not binding, but determines how county planners will write the final draft of the zoning regulations, which also will require final council approval.

A Howard County councilman threatened last night to withdraw a key Zoning Board vote if the board's chairman refused to consider his proposal to require developers to create moderate-income housing in proposed mixed-use areas.Councilman Paul Farragut, a West Columbia Democrat, made the threat during a work-session discussion of a proposed mixed-use zoning category.Part of the county's eastern comprehensive rezoning, the proposed category would allow a mix of houses, apartments, shops and businesses in six sites.

A Laurel company is working on plans to move its medical waste transfer station to the Mayfield Industrial Park in Odenton, said County Councilman David G. Boschert, D-Crownsville.Few details were available yesterday, including the name of the company and exactly what it proposes to do. Boschert said company officials agreed to have a public meeting about the project before the end of the month.The industrial park is located on Mayfield Road between Route 170 and the MARC commuter rail lines.

Carroll County's zoning administrator said he will soon begin issuing citations that carry fines starting at $100 to persistent violators of county zoning regulations. The fines, which would be levied daily until the violation stops, are intended to encourage violators to fix their infraction immediately rather than wait for a court order, a tedious and expensive process that often takes months, said zoning administrator Neil Ridgely. Approved unanimously by the commissioners Tuesday, the measure will likely take effect by the end of the month, after Ridgely determines exactly which violators should be eligible for the fines.

Members of the County Council shared their opinions on mixed-use development with members of the public who turned out last night for a hearing on the comprehensive rezoning of eastern Howard.The council members -- sitting as the Zoning Board -- normally question speakers about their testimony at such hearings, but last night's session at the George Howard county office building in Ellicott City became more of a "dialogue," as board Chairman C. Vernon Gray put it, between the officeholders and about 150 people in the audience.