[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6125544,"mediaKeyId","2676848-bcaf3a8809bdd98b06b409230d9b75cb","parentId",2676848,"title","Votes at a glance: Anne Arundel County Council actions, March 17, 2025","audioSeconds",4055,"startMs",1374000,"endMs",5429000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2676848-bcaf3a8809bdd98b06b409230d9b75cb&start=1374&end=5429","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2676848-bcaf3a8809bdd98b06b409230d9b75cb/thumbnail_1374000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6125544/Anne-Arundel-County/Maryland/Votes-at-a-glance-Anne-Arundel-County-Council-actions-March-17-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125544-52931b050f720fce031949eccdd3d07f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775195861&Signature=BLigGhVhtzgW8GpbiyIXwj6SAedN2z75EUqqU991QqOVI13YKBk66Zk9VVMtgcRXpREpqDCmUZC7hCDGCgjJ9Ee97xbEn3yxplp6SGoZDwyGMNfpDQpDahkzfLfvn58PKEVKbRcvIYindkrFny1Vqvtv59FOT70QzZbcY4cXUpQf~pvM~cmnHXKOojlecKm3WhLnQh0ch3224DqZObqd6pmtMv9ZtkKNv7X4ENXkw~b0ORWJkH1N0UuzpahcDuxCQTnkIHJqgqVOsI~yOFpFUvy0saeGIDnZa9TsYCc62M6nULd5ahktPwCtYBlOG6OmLDDwJfu6VF6or5A-DDLI5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Anne Arundel County, MD","date","2025-03-18T13:21:40Z","article","Here are the formal actions taken by the Anne Arundel County Council during its March 17, 2025 legislative session, with outcomes and vote tallies where recorded.

Budget and district measures

- Bill 19-25 — Current expense budget, second quarter transfer and supplementary appropriations. The council approved transfers and supplementary appropriations that included: $481,600 from the community development fund for emergency rental assistance; $598,500 for the Farmington Village Special Tax District Fund; $769,000 in the waste collection fund; $2,960,100 transferred from the CAO contingency fund to the Department of Public Works for snow removal; and $400,000 in library fund appropriations for turnover, host fee, labor attorney and branch expansion items. Vote: 7–0 to pass.

- Bill 17-25 — Snug Harbor Waterways Improvement District modification. The council adopted a technical amendment (removing an incorrect parcel reference) and voted to approve the ordinance, which adjusts district boundaries and allows for repair and maintenance of bulkheads, pilings, catwalks and dredging. Vote on amendment: 7–0; final vote on bill as amended: 7–0 to pass.

Zoning and regional planning items (amendments adopted; many bills to be heard again April 7)

Council members adopted multiple amendments affecting the Region 9 and other comprehensive plan bills. The amendments below were adopted as recorded and will be folded into consolidated bills the council will consider at future hearings:

- Amendments to Bill 3-25 and Bill 4-25 (Region 9 general development and comprehensive zoning): multiple parcel-level land-use and zoning adjustments (including changes to parcels at 25 Leland Road in Edgewater, Riverside Drive in Galesville, 5610 Shadyside Road in Churchton, and others). Most of the amendments were adopted unanimously (7–0). These bills will be heard again April 7, 2025.

- Amendments to Bill 9-25 and Bill 10-25 (Region 1 plan): parcel-level changes including a planned land-use and zoning adjustment near Fairfax Avenue and others. Amendments adopted (votes recorded as unanimous 7–0); consolidated bills scheduled for April 7, 2025.

Ordinances passed or adopted tonight

- Bill 20-25 — Zoning: conditional uses, townhouse dwellings and workforce housing. The council revised setback and height references so workforce housing townhomes use the article 18 townhome standards (maximum height 40 feet; setbacks as specified in 18-10-127 where applicable) and passed the ordinance. Vote: 7–0 to pass.

- Bill 21-25 (listed in the minutes as Bill 2,125) — Residential districts: merger and use of substandard unimproved lots. The council passed the ordinance addressing development on substandard lots under certain ownership and size conditions. Vote: 7–0 to pass.

Appointments and resolutions

- Resolution 9-25 — Appointments to the Public Campaign Financing System Commission. Vote: 7–0 to adopt.

- Resolution 10-25 — Appointment of Brenda I. Catrilla as acting County Auditor, effective March 13, 2025 through July 11, 2025. Vote: 7–0 to adopt.

Other recorded actions

- Bill 13-25 (zoning: animal hospitals and veterinary clinics) — The council adopted two amendments (adding a definition for enclosed pens/runs and clarifying that structures/runs must be set back at least 50 feet from residentially zoned property). Amendments adopted unanimously; the bill will be heard again April 7, 2025.

- Bill 16-25 (zoning: special exception uses — assisted living, community piers and launching ramps) — Two administrative/technical amendments were adopted and the bill will be heard again April 7, 2025.

What the tallies show: Several budget and ordinance votes were unanimous (7–0). A notable narrow vote was Amendment 16 to Bill 2-25 (redevelopment incentives), adopted 4–3; the underlying bill remains scheduled for April 7.

Where to find more detail: The council’s website posts full meeting minutes, the work-session recordings referenced during debate, and the signed petitions and amendment texts. Many parcel-level changes were procedural map corrections or consistency changes that require the consolidated bills to be posted before the final votes.

Ending: The council adjourned after completing the evening’s business and set multiple follow-up hearings for April 7, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","County Council Meeting | March 17th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A summary of formal votes and adopted amendments from the March 17, 2025 Anne Arundel County Council legislative session, including budget transfers, district modifications and appointments.","taxTitle","Anne Arundel County, Maryland","taxId",3779,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6125549,"Council adopts amendments to redevelopment incentive bill, schedules final hearing for April 7",1759,1559000,3318000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2676848-bcaf3a8809bdd98b06b409230d9b75cb&start=1559&end=3318","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2676848-bcaf3a8809bdd98b06b409230d9b75cb/thumbnail_1559000.jpg","/articles/6125549/Anne-Arundel-County/Maryland/Council-adopts-amendments-to-redevelopment-incentive-bill-schedules-final-hearing-for-April-7","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125549-1eb3bfb5276807ba400efd64dd17751b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775195861&Signature=AcLt1iRVBIQfMDuWZQxWNYGZHpspz82W5~nHMXS-sWwn-lN1MuXWzbL28LoSrSqsaqnYi5Vtcy-jv3HRQCa5x~Nk37BYCuJETm9EanazezeZG6YD2gpG8F-Adc~QKuyxu8f4SUJu0TpB2-RfH2Mg~w4Q7VQub2PMca7xryHOHOVm2AmzkdDgDvOoTFazZySmmWE8kouGHyTpu6Ybg4GQsDxO84jRH0vV0iWDIryjyg5BfLo1gWxRA0lqq0Rl7oWvAC2qCHFrwsE-~9eypLm2vePOjpYaZsAAx1o3jVdXwqBvs3La7Ydc7EMMPwQCqpnE77DyWbyQuBSpdqgDf5ytUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Anne Arundel County Council on March 17 adopted multiple amendments to Bill 2-25, a measure aimed at simplifying and incentivizing redevelopment of existing commercial sites, and set the ordinance for further consideration on April 7, 2025.

The bill’s supporters said the legislation creates a streamlined, countywide path for commercial-to-commercial redevelopment and for some limited residential conversions in targeted corridors. “This just expands the bill as far as incentivizing redevelopment,” Ethan Hunt, an administration representative, told the council as staff explained the amendments and how they align with previous redevelopment efforts.

Why it matters: The ordinance is intended to encourage investment in underused parcels and reduce pressure on greenfield sites. Council members pressed on safeguards — including limits on where multifamily conversion is allowed, required developer responses to community feedback and an annual reporting requirement — to make sure the incentives actually produce redevelopment.

Council action and amendments: The council adopted five numbered amendments to Bill 2-25 during the session. Most were adopted unanimously; one was adopted over a 4–3 split.

- Amendment 13: Modified the bill’s applicability to the Glen Burnie sustainable community overlay area. Vote: 7–0 to adopt.
- Amendment 14: Aligned the definition of “substantial improvement” with Article 16 so the county maintains consistent definitions across code sections. Vote: 7–0 to adopt.
- Amendment 15: Required redevelopment applicants to “respond to” (not merely “acknowledge”) community meeting comments when resubmitting plans. Vote: 7–0 to adopt.
- Amendment 16: Broadened eligibility so commercial-to-commercial conversions countywide may use the expanded redevelopment review process while reserving broader multifamily allowances for specified corridors. Vote: 4–3 to adopt.
- Amendment 17 (technical): Added legislative intent language for the bill’s reporting requirement. Vote: 7–0 to adopt.

Supporters and process: Councilmember Allison Pickard said the amendments — including an annual reporting mechanism — will let the council measure whether the incentives are attracting investment: “We may be back here in 18 months … saying … if these aren’t the right ingredients,” Pickard said, urging colleagues to adopt the reforms and monitor results.

Several council members and administration staff framed the changes as a compromise reached after multiple work sessions. “OPZ [Office of Planning and Zoning] staff … supported this amendment from day one,” Hunt said referring to the county planning staff’s role in shaping the changes.

Community concerns: Residents from Severna Park and nearby neighborhoods testified at the public hearing, asking that the bill not be applied to healthy, walkable local commercial centers. Ed Morris, president of the Old Severna Park Improvement Association, said the community’s retail districts are “vibrant” and warned that enabling high-density residential conversion could reduce walkability and add traffic. Maureen Carr York, president of the Greater Severna Park Council, told the council she supports redevelopment incentives in other parts of the district — “the Veterans Highway end of our district is where … we do not oppose the application of this bill there” — but asked that core pedestrian-friendly commercial centers be protected.

Next steps and scope: Councilmembers adopted the amendments and directed that Bill 2-25 as amended be heard again on April 7, 2025, to allow final review and a vote on the ordinance itself. The adopted language expands the expedited review process countywide for commercial-to-commercial redevelopments but keeps the larger multifamily zoning allowances limited to the policy areas the council previously identified.

Council direction: The session included repeated references to monitoring outcomes. Pickard said the annual reporting will let the council determine whether the package of incentives is effective or needs further changes. Administration staff said they did not oppose the amendments and that planning staff would track the bill’s effects.

Ending: With amendments adopted but the ordinance still not finalized, the council left the central policy question open to a final vote April 7. If approved then, the bill would roll out a countywide incentive structure intended to make it easier for property owners to redevelop underused commercial parcels while preserving specific multifamily limits for targeted corridors.","The Anne Arundel County Council adopted a series of technical and policy amendments to Bill 2-25, legislation designed to speed redevelopment of underused commercial sites. Councilmembers debated geographic limits, reporting requirements and an expedited review process; the bill as amended will return for final action April 7.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Anne Arundel County Council actions, March 17, 2025

Council adopts amendments to redevelopment incentive bill, schedules final hearing for April 7