Planning Board Opposes Rezoning Request for Loch Raven Boulevard Parcel

The Baltimore County Planning Board on July 17 voted not to support the cycle zoning reclassification petition (case R-2025-50) for property identified at 8635 Loch Raven Boulevard and 1731 East Joppa Road and recommended adoption of the Department of Planning Cycle Zoning Reclassification Petition Report dated June 5, 2025. The board also recommended that the Board of Appeals schedule hearings on the matter in period 4 of the cycle (September–December 2025) to allow a decision by Dec. 31, 2025.

The petition had been introduced to the board on June 5 and was the subject of a public hearing on June 17. At the July 17 meeting, Department of Planning staff were present to answer board questions. Board members raised whether the Board of Appeals’ recent determination — that there was no technical drafting error in the filing — removed one of the grounds the petitioners had asked the board to consider: whether the original classification was established in error or whether the character of the neighborhood had substantially changed.

Jason Vittori, attorney for the petitioner, said the applicant omitted one of three client-owned parcels from the filing because the supplemental parcel did not have its own street number and the petitioner relied on the addresses supplied by the client. “We didn’t file all 3 parcels,” Vittori said, adding that an ALTA survey was not provided to the planning department at filing. Vittori told the board the omitted parcel’s inclusion would have resulted in rezoning the entire request and that the petitioner would otherwise wait four years to refile unless the Board of Appeals finds a mistake or a change in the neighborhood.

Board discussion focused on the standard the Board of Appeals will apply. Vittori described the legal framework the appeals board will use and cited Baltimore County Code section 30‑2‑3‑5‑10 (as referenced in the meeting transcript) as the code section setting out the considerations the appeals board will weigh, including population trends and adequate public facilities. Department staff said the Board of Appeals will make findings of fact and conclusions of law about whether there was a change in the neighborhood, an error, or mistake.

A motion that the planning board “does not support the rezoning request for cycle zoning 01/2025 petition for reclassification, case number R‑2025‑50; recommends adoption of the Department of Planning Cycle Zoning Reclassification Petition Report dated 06/05/2025; and recommends Board of Appeals schedule hearings on the matter during period 4 of the cycle (September–December 2025) in order to render a decision by 12/31/2025” was moved, seconded, and adopted by roll call. Motion carries.

The board’s roll-call recorded individual votes during the meeting; the chair announced the motion carried and the Board of Appeals will schedule hearings in the September–December 2025 period. The appeals board, not the planning board, will make the legal determinations about drafting error or a change in neighborhood character.