Bel Air Planning Commission approves annual report; highlights parks work, pedestrian safety and mall redevelopment concerns

The Bel Air Planning Commission on March 1 approved its 2024 annual report and elected new officers, while members pressed for follow-up on park improvements, pedestrian safety at major crossings and outstanding conditions on large redevelopment projects.

Kevin Small, planning department staff, presented the report and said, “The planning commission issues a report every year, reviewing its previous year activities.” He outlined park rehabilitation work at Homestead Park and Plumtree Park, stormwater and off-street parking improvements, and progress on preservation and pedestrian planning projects.

The commission’s annual report matters because it summarizes how local planning recommendations, capital projects and ordinance changes are being implemented and flags items that need further action. Commissioners used the report discussion to press staff and other agencies for follow-up on a range of town projects and on safety fixes that require county or state cooperation.

In brief votes, commissioners approved the minutes as amended, elected Lois Kissinger Kelly chair and Peter Schlayer vice chair by voice vote, and approved the annual report as revised. Those actions were voice votes recorded in the meeting transcript; the meeting record does not include full roll-call tallies for those items.

Key items in the report and commission discussion

- Parks and public amenities: Staff described ongoing and planned park work. Homestead Park has been partially rehabilitated and will receive a new playground in coming months; Plumtree Park will receive a 12-inch layer of engineered wood fiber (EWF) surfacing and a paved parking lot to bring the site into compliance with handicapped-accessibility standards. The report also noted a new Rockfield Memorial Tree Grove with capacity…