BMZA approves Morton Street Dance Center move and up to 10 onsite parking spaces, subject to SPRC review

The Baltimore Municipal Zoning Appeals board on Aug. 5 approved a conditional‑use application to relocate the Morton Street Dance Center and Full Circle Dance Company to a commercial building in the R‑6 residential district, and granted a parking maximum variance to permit up to 10 on‑site spaces, subject to Site Plan Review Committee (SPRC) approval.

Attorney Drew Tilden said the applicant will convert an existing nonresidential building into four studios serving children and adults; classes will generally be staggered with 10–12 students per class and a maximum of 16. Planning found the property has a long history of nonresidential use and recommended conditional‑use approval; the board concluded the studio is compatible with the residential neighborhood and that the proposed operation would not produce adverse effects beyond those typical of a similar use.

On parking, the applicant submitted a site plan showing more spaces than the code’s maximum; Tilden revised the request to seek relief for up to 10 on‑site spaces (the code’s maximum would otherwise be lower based on studio calculations). The board discussed stall and aisle dimensions and conditioned its approval on SPRC review to ensure the parking layout, aisle widths and turning radii comply with applicable standards. The board voted to approve the conditional use and the parking maximum variance (up to 10 spaces) with a condition that final parking design obtain SPRC approval.