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Planning staff brief board on dozens of County Council bills, including charter amendments headed to voters
Summary
Planning staff summarized multiple County Council bills and resolutions, including zoning changes, solar facility restrictions on prime farmland, and two charter amendments (department of agriculture; Inspector General Appointment Board) that will be submitted to voters in 2026.
Planning staff updated the Baltimore County Planning Board on Oct. 16 about a range of County Council bills and resolutions under consideration, from zoning and historic-preservation revisions to charter amendments slated for voter approval in 2026.
Staff read summaries of multiple proposals, including zoning-related bills that would change permitting for commercial film production in residential zones (Bill 44-25), prohibit solar facilities on prime farmland in certain RC zones (Bill 48-25), and clarify uses in overlay and revitalization districts (Bills 45-25, 60-25, 63-25). Two charter amendments'Bill 49-25 (establishing a Department of Agriculture) and Bill 50-25 (creating an Inspector General Appointment Board)'were noted as measures that must be submitted to Baltimore County voters at the Nov. 3, 2026 general election if the council approves them.
Staff also summarized bills affecting historic and architectural preservation, including a measure to clarify demolition-permit circumstances and to give the Landmarks Preservation Commission authority to delay demolition for a limited period (Bill 52-25), and a bill to create an appeals path to the County Board of Appeals for certain Landmark Preservation Commission decisions (Bill 65-25). Other bills discussed included updates to the comprehensive zoning map process (Bill 54-25), revision of councilmanic districts (Bill 55-25), tax-credit provisions for transit-oriented redevelopment (Bill 61-25), and operational requirements for hookah and vapor lounges (Bill 62-25).
Staff also reported council resolutions: a resolution encouraging the Maryland General Assembly to place the Baltimore County Board of Education under Inspector General oversight (Resolution 40-25) and resolutions amending revitalization district boundaries and supporting a sustainable-community designation for Pikesville (Resolutions 45-25 and 46-25, respectively).
No votes on these bills occurred at the planning-board meeting; staff presented the summaries to inform the board and public of legislative activity that could affect zoning, preservation and implementation of county plans.
