Bel Air planning commission asked to extend site-plan approval for Hartford Mall residences

Bel Air planning staff and the developer of the Hartford Mall redevelopment on Sept. 4 asked the Planning Commission to grant a one-year extension of the site-plan approval for the residences at Hartford Mall, a 249-unit apartment community that was originally approved Jan. 4, 2024, and is scheduled to expire Jan. 4, 2026. The extension request would move the expiration to Jan. 4, 2027.

The request matters because the residences are part of a larger, multi-phase redevelopment of the failing mall and the developer told the commission the project needs the extra year to finish required plats, public-works agreements and building-permit applications before lenders and private investors will release construction capital.

At the meeting, Kevin Small, a staff member, summarized outstanding items and the timing for what remains to complete the final plan and record plat. For the developer, attorney Christopher Mudd of Venable LLP said the previously approved site plan covers the site plan, landscape plan and special approvals and that a subsequent streetscape approval was also required. “it's a 2 49 unit, apartment…