The Taneytown City Council on Oct. 8 voted to introduce a zoning text amendment to the restricted industrial district that would allow certain retail and service businesses on individual industrial lots, limited to 25% of the parcel.

Jim (city official) and Planning Director Andrew Gray said the change is intended to serve employees of area manufacturers by allowing nearby food service, medical, and service uses. "We are proposing to do is in the for the restricted industrial zone adding ... a permitted use of 14 of the following combined retail and service uses not to exceed 25% of the total lot area," Gray said.

Council members and staff said the draft is intentionally permissive as a starting point and can be narrowed before adoption. The amendment also retains special-exception review for certain uses that may be incompatible with manufacturing, such as day care centers, hotels and schools, so the Board of Zoning Appeals can evaluate location-specific impacts.

Officials discussed solar generating facilities and battery energy storage systems and said state law limits local code-making in that area. "There are, within the state ... Senate Bill 931 and House Bill 1036," a council member said, noting those bills address setbacks, screening and other rules and can preempt local restrictions.

Staff said introducing the ordinance now helps demonstrate progress to manufacturers (including FlowServe), which have sought nearby employee amenities and an easement for a proposed bypass. The amendment is also intended to support workforce retention and provide services for industrial employees while protecting industrial uses as the district's primary function.

Ending: The ordinance was introduced and will return for public hearing and adoption at a later meeting. Planning and Zoning will provide formal feedback before the council considers final adoption.