Planning Board schedules public hearing for Small Area Plan 11 after staff presentation

The Baltimore County Planning Board on Oct. 16 voted to set a public hearing on Small Area Plan 11 for Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, at 5 p.m., following a presentation by Megan Oliver, the district community planner who led the effort.

Oliver told the board Small Area Plan 11 translates the county's Master Plan 2030 recommendations to the local context for the Middle River area and adjacent communities. The plan covers area characteristics, public participation results, recommended actions grouped under connectivity, environment and open space, community and economy, and an implementation chapter that lists timeframes, likely lead agencies and potential funding sources.

Oliver said the planning process began in September 2024, involved a consultant team used to create a template for future area plans (AIRS/Gross as prime consultant, with subconsultants Straun Environmental and CHP Planning), extensive community outreach across five subareas, and multiple county and state agency engagements. She said the recommendations include case studies and an appendix with maps and public-input materials.

Board members asked clarifying questions. Emily Brophy asked about the consultant role; Oliver said consultants helped define the template for subsequent in-house plans and provided technical review and case studies for transportation and environmental recommendations. Another member asked how the small-area boundaries were chosen; Oliver said the boundaries were drafted during the Master Plan 2030 process to align with existing data boundaries and community plan areas so neighborhoods would not be divided. She also said early outreach showed underrepresentation from Rossville, which prompted targeted engagement there.

After discussion, the board voted by voice to "set a public hearing regarding the Small Area Plan 11 for Thursday, 11/06/2025 at 5PM." No mover or seconder was recorded in the meeting transcript; the chair announced the motion carried.

Next steps Oliver outlined are the Nov. 6 public hearing before the Planning Board, a Nov. 20 board vote, and, if recommended by the board, transmission of the plan to the County Council for adoption as an amendment to Master Plan 2030.

The presentation materials and the plan document include an implementation table the department described as the central tool for tracking actions, lead agencies, timeframes and possible funding sources; the plan's appendix contains maps and full public-input records.

The Planning Board will take public testimony and consider the plan in subsequent proceedings; any formal amendments or adoption would occur at later public meetings and, if recommended by the board, through the County Council amendment process.