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Hearing examiner signals intent to grant conditional use modification for church at 113 Full Long Corner Road
Summary
At a continued Howard County hearing on case VA-20-414, the hearing examiner said she is "inclined to grant the conditional use modification" for petitioner Calvin Van Bick, but said the approval will not be effective until a written decision is issued and the petitioner satisfies Department of Health and site development requirements.
The Hearing Examiner at a continued Howard County hearing for case VA-20-414 said she is "inclined to grant the conditional use modification" requested by petitioner Calvin Van Bick for property at 113 Full Long Corner Road, but she emphasized the approval would not be effective until she issues a written decision and the petitioner completes required follow-up steps.
The examiner said she had reviewed the technical staff report and the documents submitted by Van Bick and that the county's Department of Health had requested additional materials, including documentation of all intended uses, floor plans for the proposed structure and information showing any added septic flow. "Essentially, if you get the conditional use approval, you still have to go through all the health department requirements," the examiner said.
Van Bick, who confirmed his name for the record as Calvin Van Bick and identified himself as the petitioner, told the examiner he did not have additional materials beyond what had been filed but said he has been consulting an engineering firm familiar with Howard County procedures. The examiner reviewed two floor-plan documents submitted by the petitioner—an "existing" drawing and a "proposed" drawing (A102)—and directed that both be placed in the public record.
The examiner described the Department of Health comments as potentially relevant to the county's conditional-use criteria only if they presented a direct effect on neighbors. She summarized the health department's position: the proposal could require septic expansion and percolation testing depending on the number of users and the size or number of bathrooms shown on the plans. She also confirmed she received an updated health-department comment the day before the continued hearing.
The examiner said she would prepare a written decision in order and that hearing examiners have 30 days after the close of the hearing to issue that decision. She told Van Bick that the decision would be sent to him by county staff (Ms. Burns). "I will let you know that I am inclined to grant the conditional use modification. However, the approval won't be actually valid for you to be able to take to DPZ to do anything with until I submit a written decision in order," she said.
The examiner and Van Bick discussed next steps: if a written decision issues in favor of the petition, Van Bick must still obtain site development plan approvals, satisfy the Howard County Department of Health requirements (including any required septic work and testing), and follow other Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) procedures before construction or occupancy changes can proceed.
No formal vote or final order was issued during the hearing. The examiner's statement of inclination is not a final approval; the decision will be effective only when a written order is issued and any conditions set out in that order and by other agencies are satisfied.
Van Bick said he and the church congregation are eager to proceed and that he has been in contact with an engineer experienced in Howard County projects and prior church renovations. The hearing was then concluded.
