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Bel Air considers density cap of 20 dwellings per acre in ordinance 840‑25; commissioners debate grandfathering approved projects
Summary
Commissioners reviewed proposed ordinance 840‑25 to add a 20 dwelling units per acre cap in B2A and B3A zones, discussed downtown outliers and whether projects with prior approvals or building permits should be exempt from the new standard.
At a February work session the Bel Air commissioners reviewed ordinance 840‑25, which would set a density cap of 20 dwelling units per acre in several commercial and multifamily zones. Staff and commissioners discussed downtown outliers that currently display very high densities on small lots and whether to apply the cap retroactively to projects already approved by the Planning Commission or those with building permits issued before the ordinance takes effect.
Director Small summarized development patterns and staff density research showing most multifamily projects cluster around 20 units per acre; downtown B2 parcels are an exception because small lot size makes density figures appear very high for relatively few units. Commissioners noted that B3 historically had a density limit and that applying a consistent cap to B2A and B3A aligns with surrounding jurisdictions.
Commissioner Chance and Commissioner Taylor voiced differing views on whether to carve out projects that already have Planning Commission approval. Commissioner Chance said he would like staff to prepare an amendment carving out projects that have building permits before the ordinance’s effective date; several commissioners said they wanted to hear public testimony before deciding. Director Small and other staff noted a carve‑out for Planning Commission approvals had existed in an earlier draft and that a building permit‑based carve‑out would be administratively simpler to prove.
No formal vote was taken; commissioners asked staff to prepare proposed amendments for the public hearing and to bring a model that would carve out projects with building permits if the board chooses to pursue that protection.
