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Administration Reintroduces Redevelopment Bill to Expedite Reuse of Vacant Commercial Sites
Summary
Bill 225 would streamline review and broaden modification authority for redevelopment projects in targeted growth areas, remove the undue-hardship test for certain modifications and allow higher housing densities in qualifying commercial districts.
The administration reintroduced Jan. 14 a redevelopment ordinance, Bill 225, that would streamline approvals and incentivize reuse of older, vacant or underutilized commercial properties in targeted growth areas identified in the county’s general development plan (Plan 2040).
“The legislation provides flexibility by streamlining the development approval process in support of the county executive’s priorities of community and transit oriented development, along with affordable and market rate housing,” said a planning staff member during a slide presentation. Staff described the bill as similar to a redevelopment measure introduced in 2023 and said it is intended to encourage infill redevelopment and to steer development away from greenfield sites.
Key provisions discussed included: allowing a single application phase rather than the typical two-phase development review; establishing a pre-application concept meeting that can help fulfill stormwater regulatory steps; expanding and simplifying the modification process so applicants would not have to demonstrate “undue or unnecessary hardship” to secure certain zoning modifications; permitting modifications to natural features where disturbance previously occurred; and offering alternate APF (Adequate Public Facilities) tests for roads and schools in designated town-center or transit-oriented areas. Planning staff also described altered density and nonresidential-floor-area rules in commercial districts C-1 through C-3 for qualifying redevelopment projects, allowing up to about 22 units per acre in some instances and permitting redevelopment with predominantly residential uses where the project meets the bill’s redevelopment definition.
Staff tied the measure to Plan 2040’s redevelopment goals and said the bill would apply only in specified policy areas — critical economic, critical corridor, town center, village center overlay and transit-oriented development (TOD) areas — not countywide. Council members asked questions about geographic scope, interaction with the Glen Burnie Sustainable Community Overlay and whether administration would promote the tool to prospective developers; staff acknowledged prior market challenges and said they would engage the Economic Development Corporation.
No vote on Bill 225 is recorded in the Jan. 14 work session; the item was presented for council consideration and questions.
