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Council adopts buffers for school bus facilities; amendment requires setbacks in C1/C2 zones
Summary
After public comment and administration input, the council adopted Amendment No. 2 to Bill 9724 requiring 200-foot setbacks for outdoor repairs and 100-foot setbacks for specified indoor repairs for school bus facilities in C1/C2 zones; the bill as amended will be heard Feb. 18.
The Anne Arundel County Council adopted an amendment Feb. 3 that tightens where maintenance associated with school bus facilities can occur in commercial zoning districts, part of ongoing deliberations on Bill 9724.
Bill 9724 addresses zoning requirements for conditional-use school bus facilities. Following an earlier work session and public comment, Councilmember Volkke introduced Amendment No. 2, which requires outdoor repairs in C1 or C2 districts to be at least 200 feet from occupied residential structures and requires certain indoor repairs (body work, engine reconditioning, painting and similar activities) to be located at least 100 feet from residentially zoned properties. The amendment was adopted on a recorded roll call; the secretary reported the amendment was designed to limit “the more noxious uses” while allowing operators to function.
Phil Hager of Hager Land Use testified in favor of the legislation, calling it “an example of something that very seldom occurs, a piece of self policing legislation,” and said the measure is narrow in scope because properties that can use it are relatively scarce. Administration representatives (Ethan Hunt) and Office of Planning and Zoning staff (Lynn Miller) had reviewed the amendment and expressed support; the administration asked councilmembers to adopt the changes.
Councilmembers who had earlier raised concerns about potential nuisances said the added buffers addressed those concerns. The secretary recorded the vote to adopt Amendment No. 2 as unanimous, and the council set Bill 9724, as amended, to be heard on Feb. 18, 2025.
Clarifying details included that Amendment No. 2 applies to C1 and C2 zoning districts only and that indoor-only activities such as body work and engine rebuilding remain limited to enclosed spaces located not less than 100 feet from residential zoning. The council and administration characterized the changes as a compromise designed to protect nearby residences while preserving the viability of bus facility operations.
