Carroll County BZA approves 16-bed addition and driveway variance for Bethenia Home Care

The Carroll County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a conditional use permit and a driveway-width variance for Bethenia Home Care on Bell Road, allowing the applicant to build a new 16-bed structure adjacent to the existing 16-bed facility.

The board voted in favor of the application (Case No. 6577) after hearing testimony from the applicants and their engineering expert. The written decision will be issued within 30 days, the board said.

The facility’s co-owner, Melson Muneses, described the project’s intent as expanding a home-style assisted living operation already on site. “This is the best place for all these old folks to have their few last few years in their life rather than in an institution,” Muneses said, explaining the choice of Carroll County and the farm-like setting. His sister and co-owner, Machiko Waminal, who operates the facility and lives on the property, testified the facility is licensed by the state of Maryland and provides levels 1, 2 and 3 care, with 24-hour supervision.

The new building, as described by Muneses and Waminal, would add 16 private rooms —…