Votes at a glance: Anne Arundel County Council actions, March 17, 2025

Here are the formal actions taken by the Anne Arundel County Council during its March 17, 2025 legislative session, with outcomes and vote tallies where recorded.

Budget and district measures

- Bill 19-25 — Current expense budget, second quarter transfer and supplementary appropriations. The council approved transfers and supplementary appropriations that included: $481,600 from the community development fund for emergency rental assistance; $598,500 for the Farmington Village Special Tax District Fund; $769,000 in the waste collection fund; $2,960,100 transferred from the CAO contingency fund to the Department of Public Works for snow removal; and $400,000 in library fund appropriations for turnover, host fee, labor attorney and branch expansion items. Vote: 7–0 to pass.

- Bill 17-25 — Snug Harbor Waterways Improvement District modification. The council adopted a technical amendment (removing an incorrect parcel reference) and voted to approve the ordinance, which adjusts district boundaries and allows for repair and maintenance of bulkheads, pilings, catwalks and dredging. Vote on amendment: 7–0; final vote on bill as amended: 7–0 to pass.

Zoning and regional planning items (amendments adopted; many bills to be heard again April 7)

Council members adopted multiple amendments affecting the Region 9 and other comprehensive plan bills. The amendments below were adopted as recorded and will be folded into consolidated bills the council will consider at future hearings:

- Amendments to Bill 3-25 and Bill 4-25 (Region 9 general development and comprehensive zoning): multiple parcel-level land-use and zoning adjustments (including changes to parcels at 25 Leland Road in Edgewater, Riverside Drive in Galesville, 5610 Shadyside Road in Churchton, and others). Most of the amendments were adopted unanimously (7–0). These bills will be heard again April 7, 2025.

- Amendments to Bill 9-25 and Bill 10-25 (Region 1 plan): parcel-level changes including a planned land-use and zoning adjustment near Fairfax Avenue and others. Amendments adopted (votes recorded as unanimous 7–0); consolidated bills scheduled for April 7, 2025.

Ordinances passed or adopted tonight

- Bill 20-25 — Zoning: conditional uses, townhouse dwellings and workforce housing. The council revised setback and height references so workforce housing townhomes use the article 18 townhome standards (maximum height 40 feet; setbacks as specified in 18-10-127 where applicable) and passed the ordinance. Vote: 7–0 to pass.

- Bill 21-25 (listed in the minutes as Bill 2,125) — Residential districts: merger and use of substandard unimproved lots. The council passed the ordinance addressing development on substandard lots under certain ownership and size conditions. Vote: 7–0 to pass.

Appointments and resolutions

- Resolution 9-25 — Appointments to the Public Campaign Financing System Commission. Vote: 7–0 to adopt.

- Resolution 10-25 — Appointment of Brenda I. Catrilla as acting County Auditor, effective March 13, 2025 through July 11, 2025. Vote: 7–0 to adopt.

Other recorded actions

- Bill 13-25 (zoning: animal hospitals and veterinary clinics) — The council adopted two amendments (adding a definition for enclosed pens/runs and clarifying that structures/runs must be set back at least 50 feet from residentially zoned property). Amendments adopted unanimously; the bill will be heard again April 7, 2025.

- Bill 16-25 (zoning: special exception uses — assisted living, community piers and launching ramps) — Two administrative/technical amendments were adopted and the bill will be heard again April 7, 2025.

What the tallies show: Several budget and ordinance votes were unanimous (7–0). A notable narrow vote was Amendment 16 to Bill 2-25 (redevelopment incentives), adopted 4–3; the underlying bill remains scheduled for April 7.

Where to find more detail: The council’s website posts full meeting minutes, the work-session recordings referenced during debate, and the signed petitions and amendment texts. Many parcel-level changes were procedural map corrections or consistency changes that require the consolidated bills to be posted before the final votes.

Ending: The council adjourned after completing the evening’s business and set multiple follow-up hearings for April 7, 2025.