Board of Appeals grants county motion to dismiss Jim Craft Homes permit appeal, says easement question belongs in circuit court

The Baltimore County Board of Appeals granted the county's motion to dismiss an appeal by Jim Craft Homes over a disputed building permit, concluding the board and the county director lack authority to determine whether a private implied easement exists.

Shramp Bernardi, chair of the Baltimore County Board of Appeals, opened deliberations by framing three issues before the panel, including whether the appeal was ripe and whether the director of PAI or the board could rule on the implied-easement question. Bernardi noted the director's letter dated 09/27/2024 requested additional information and said the director believed he lacked authority to decide the easement issue. "If they felt that they had information and and that information was insufficient, that maybe the letter should say ... a reasonable time of 30 days, then they would issue a denial of the permit," Bernardi said.

Board members debated ripeness.…