Baltimore City — After nearly an hour of testimony and follow‑up from planning, the Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals approved a conditional‑use application to operate a neighborhood deli at 2306–2310 Rowland Avenue and confirmed that the property’s long mixed‑use history supports multifamily eligibility.

The applicant, represented in the hearing by Brandon Sidawano and counsel, asked to operate a small deli in the narrow storefront portion of a larger single‑structure property that has carried commercial activity for decades. Planning staff noted a muddled permitting history: records show varying uses dating to the mid‑20th century, including a 1962 certificate of occupancy for a beauty shop and evidence of commercial activity in the side storefront going back to early photographs.

Why this mattered at the hearing: the zoning code’s definitions separate a "single‑family dwelling" from a "dwelling" based on the number of dwelling units and how the structure is used; because 09‑2001 and related code language can block a by‑right conversion of a property that is exclusively a single family dwelling, the board spent extensive time parsing whether the Rowland property is properly described as a single family dwelling or as a long‑standing mixed‑use building.

What happened in the hearing: Planning staff and the applicant each presented historical documentation and photos. The applicant said the side storefront portion has been commercial for many decades and would operate as a small Italian porchetta/sandwich deli with limited hours; the applicant also argued the overall structure (three stories, roughly 3,500 sq ft) is more sensibly used as a multi‑unit property than as a single, large family house.

Board discussion focused on definitions and precedent. Several board members noted prior cases where a first‑floor commercial use with residential above had been treated as a commercial/residential mixed case and required different treatment than a straight single‑family conversion. The board also noted that, unlike some other contested cases, this property does not require new bulk or yard variances as presented — the applicant is not proposing an enlargement that would change lot coverage or setbacks.

Decision and next steps: The board voted to approve the conditional use for the deli and confirmed that the property may be treated so as to permit multifamily density (two dwelling units) in this configuration based on the structure’s long mixed‑use record. Staff will prepare a written resolution for mailing to the applicant.

Quote from the hearing: "We want the records to reflect what we saw is what in fact you intend to operate," Executive Director Becky Witt said in the hearing as she urged clarity in floor plans and filings; the Rowland applicant provided historical photos and testimony aimed at that precise clarification.

What it means: The decision clears the way for the applicant to open the deli portion of the building and preserves a path for the property to be occupied as multiple residential units consistent with the board’s interpretation of the code and the property’s history. The board cautioned any future applicants that comparable mixed‑use findings turn on the individual property’s recorded history and on whether additional variances are proposed.

Status: Conditional use and density confirmation approved; written resolution to follow.