[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-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",6588031,"mediaKeyId","5491302-e5fcc36f9b4cce0a5733fc14730db26b","parentId",5491302,"title","Council hears public testimony on zoning text amendment to define automobile uses; commerce center seeks changes to PI zone rules","audioSeconds",1577,"startMs",4913000,"endMs",6490000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5491302-e5fcc36f9b4cce0a5733fc14730db26b&start=4913&end=6490","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5491302-e5fcc36f9b4cce0a5733fc14730db26b/thumbnail_4913000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6588031/Westminster/Carroll-County/Maryland/Council-hears-public-testimony-on-zoning-text-amendment-to-define-automobile-uses-commerce-center-seeks-changes-to-PI-zone-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588031-047da3b3d68d526fd7c1cb4e755ef0d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151761&Signature=gnwfiZ3PujL6PZsqEbfiHJSFVnWnUfKx2aCMC7wX4aQnFYs5mbcemVNnD1BUJV6VRdDMc6NBqf6d8jYT78W41SeM4afvBtIGb5d0i2TX37eCr~7aAJkvqiuODcloUoB95O7jb03PhvwCOb9RAJnpO-UqR46SsThDV13Ma7GZfXeecHtlPiE9PpbTtXHBO8IZGOWFo6LSG-KivjOkpEPgijZ-sjpTPqBTKCgqZ5h8r-tl6PqWqQXKnLaXaTW09U5Kt1oHDZi937ov8Tsc8dDJhupMjzzilqa4TYJ7QSsqinT22HCXeT6RD5hPMSpm3KxIN9EldYItfvczJg5oNjBFQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Westminster, Maryland","date","2025-07-28T21:47:01Z","article","The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster on July 28, 2025, held a public hearing on Ordinance 2025‑0101, a proposed text amendment to Chapter 164 of the city zoning code that would add definitions and adjust where automobile-related uses are permitted.

City planning staff described the amendment as an effort to modernize the zoning ordinance so it clearly defines automobile detailing shops, automobile repair and service shops (major and minor), and automobile sales, and to replace the term \"service station\" with \"automobile service station.\" The amendment would update permitted and special-exception uses across multiple zones, including the PI (Planned Industrial) zone. Planning staff said the ordinance was introduced to the council on June 9, 2025, and referred to the Planning and Zoning Commission, which held a public hearing on July 17 and forwarded a set of recommendations to the council.

Representatives of the Carroll County Commerce Center — Kelly Schafer Miller and Brian Ditto — testified in favor of moving two low-intensity automobile uses (automobile detailing shops and automobile repair and service shops, minor) into the list of permitted uses for the PI zone so they would not count against the PI zone’s 15% retail-area threshold. \"We are requesting that those be moved to uses that are permitted in the PI zone because we do not think that those are appropriate to be counted against our more general retail uses,\" Kelly Schafer Miller said, describing prospective tenants such as Safelite (auto glass replacement), a van-to-food-truck retrofit operator, and a car-audio installer as examples.

The Commerce Center representatives said the PI zone was designed as a cohesive, park-like industrial setting and that the two auto uses under discussion are lower-intensity and compatible with existing industrial tenants. They said treating those auto uses as permitted in the PI zone would avoid forcing property owners to amend an existing development plan (and potentially trigger the 15% retail cap) when a compatible tenant seeks space.

Planning and Zoning Commission recommendations presented to council included: keeping restaurants as a permitted use in the PI zone under the motor inns/motels cluster; removing restaurants and lunchrooms (with or without drive-throughs) from a separate retail list; and moving the two auto uses into the PI zone's permitted-use section. City staff and the zoning administrator raised two concerns in their report: first, that deleting restaurants from the PI zone as currently written could unintentionally remove a by-right restaurant use intended as an accessory amenity to motor inns and motels; second, that moving the new auto uses into the permitted-use section without subjecting them to the same conditions and restrictions that apply to other retail/service uses in the PI zone could create an imbalance in how similar uses are regulated. Staff also cautioned that some of the commission's recommended changes may require reintroducing the ordinance to restart the review process.

Councilmembers asked about timing and next steps. Staff reminded the council that it is required to take final action within 90 days after the public hearing closes. A councilmember also asked planning staff how much developable acreage remained at the Commerce Center; the Commerce Center's representative said there are about nine acres within the center currently in the city and about 13 acres in an adjacent parcel not yet annexed.

No final vote on Ordinance 2025‑0101 was taken at the July 28 meeting. The Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendations and the staff report were entered into the record for council consideration as the ordinance moves toward a future adoption vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Westminster Mayor and Common Council Meeting - Monday, July 28, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.","oneSentenceSummary","A public hearing was held on Ordinance 2025‑0101 to update zoning definitions for automobile-related uses. Carroll County Commerce Center representatives urged the council to classify certain auto uses so they do not count against the PI zone's 15% retail threshold; staff raised process and equity concerns.","taxTitle","Westminster, Carroll County, Maryland","taxId",71632,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588036,"Westminster council adopts annexation of 1012 Baltimore Blvd., adds 1.2 acres to city",0,4682000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5491302-e5fcc36f9b4cce0a5733fc14730db26b&start=4682&end=4682","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5491302-e5fcc36f9b4cce0a5733fc14730db26b/thumbnail_4682000.jpg","/articles/6588036/Westminster/Carroll-County/Maryland/Westminster-council-adopts-annexation-of-1012-Baltimore-Blvd-adds-12-acres-to-city","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588036-04967d8a54746a5cfcf3b0fe5f716ae1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151761&Signature=ZkzIS4Qh9-7SMRs2u3RegIm41Fs8tMBEvnKSnHoPyEO4qyfM~24Uc2MzXDV1A6NYVsvfgliAsCIefh55jdVDaP8H6MCuKzd9iOGnSzbyWoN3fmZM-x9ZwJlwJwbugXL41eiFFGEX0XoC9khOKxwsnqH~y-NPaL7up~qBhUSZ1mOtMrKqZqkZW3FFkl~RnuzzT5o8k-zNFStw3c1IHVk-pWvltzfFTLpEYjnfid6W0Umv2fLXkq8-KwCJeYKGj0kn1sZRqAyVyRH30MGJ-wCrhD4bLM2dHW8cKz4rK2iGY~XKVXKuQ-Bd2uRY5absXmxNY4d4z5PuXiSMeJYsab4w~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster on July 28, 2025, voted to adopt an annexation plan (Annexation Plan Resolution 25‑07) and a companion annexation resolution (Annexation Resolution 25‑06) to annex approximately 1.2 acres at 1012 Baltimore Boulevard into the city.

City planning staff told the council the petition was filed by 1012 BWMD LLC and that the Maryland Department of Planning and Carroll County reviewed the filing during the required review periods; county comments were filed and described by staff as not substantive. \"At this time, the department of community planning and development recommend that American Common Council adopt annexation 25 0 6,\" Planning and Zoning staff said during the hearing.

The annexed property is identified as tax account number 07‑029748 (map 0046, grid 0016, parcel 0616). The council held a public hearing as required under state law; no members of the public offered comment during the hearing. The Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission held its own public hearing on July 17, 2025, and forwarded a favorable recommendation to the council.

Councilmember Dayhoff spoke in favor of the annexation and urged the city to consider incentives to encourage additional nearby properties to petition for annexation in future meetings. The council approved the annexation plan by voice vote after a motion to adopt was moved by Councilmember Gilbert and seconded by Councilmember Dayhoff. The companion annexation resolution was moved by Councilmember Dayhoff, seconded by Councilmember Pecoraro, and approved by voice vote; the meeting record reports the result as \"the ayes have it.\" The staff presentation noted the annexation plan is required by Maryland law in addition to the annexation resolution.

The council did not specify an effective date for the annexation in the hearing record. Additional administrative steps required by state law and by the city clerk’s office were described as part of the staff report but were not detailed during the meeting.","The Mayor and Common Council adopted an annexation plan and annexation resolution to bring a 1.2-acre parcel at 1012 Baltimore Boulevard into the city following a public hearing and favorable planning commission review.","actionData","errors"]

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Council hears public testimony on zoning text amendment to define automobile uses; commerce center seeks changes to PI zone rules

Westminster council adopts annexation of 1012 Baltimore Blvd., adds 1.2 acres to city