Planning Board approves landscape, open‑space and Reisterstown Main Street updates; schedules Basic Services map hearing

The Baltimore County Planning Board on Jan. 16 voted to approve updates to the county Landscape Manual and the Open Space Manual and to recommend adoption of the Reisterstown Main Street Streetscape Action Plan and Reisterstown Main Street Design Guidelines to the County Council. At the same meeting the board set an in‑person public hearing on the 2025 Basic Services maps for Feb. 6, 2025.

The Landscape Manual amendments were presented by staff from the Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections (PAI). Sally Nash of PAI told the board the revisions incorporate input from stakeholder groups including the Maryland Native Plant Coalition and Wild Ones Greater Baltimore, and add provisions such as a requirement for a minimum percentage of native species, guidance on rainwater harvesting, and updated maintenance practices. Nash said the department and stakeholders "were able to reach consensus on almost every request." The Planning Board approved the manual as amended by PAI following the November 7 public hearing; roll call votes recorded the motion carrying unanimously among members present.

PAI staff also presented amendments to the county Open Space Manual that clarify the distinction between general open space and amenity open space and specify that changes to residential open space approved as part of a planned unit development should be treated as material amendments to the plan unless County Council determines otherwise by resolution. NeighborSpace provided a letter of support, PAI staff said. The Planning Board voted to submit the Open Space Manual amendments to County Council for appropriate action; the motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Separately, the board considered two documents produced with the Reisterstown Improvement Association: the Reisterstown Main Street Streetscape Action Plan and the Reisterstown Main Street Design Guidelines. District planner Sydney Cooper introduced Crystal Macriotti, Main Street Manager for the Reisterstown Improvement Association, who reviewed edits negotiated after a November public hearing. Changes include revised wording for several goal statements, removal of a small number of illustrative icons from a map in the action plan, and the addition of an appendix note that documents in the appendix are for background only and are not part of the adopted plan. Patsy Mullin, land‑use counsel for St. John Properties, told the board that St. John Properties and RIA had met and reached agreement on language changes and the removal of some items that had raised concerns for property owners. The board voted to forward both Reisterstown documents to County Council as amendments to Master Plan 2030; both motions passed on recorded roll call votes.

On the Basic Services maps — annual county maps that mark deficiencies in public water, sewer and transportation for planning and development review — Andrew Brown of the Department of Public Works and Transportation explained the draft 2025 maps and requested that the Planning Board set a public hearing. The board set an in‑person public hearing on the 2025 Basic Services maps for Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 at 5 p.m., under BCZR section 4a02.3.e.1, to receive comments from Baltimore County residents. The motion to schedule the hearing was made on the record; a second and the formal roll call for that motion were not fully transcribed in the meeting record.

Votes at a glance

- Landscape Manual update — Approved (motion carried on roll call). Key changes: minimum native species percentage, rainwater harvesting guidance, biodiversity and maintenance updates. Presented by PAI; forwarded to County Council.

- Open Space Manual update — Approved (motion carried on roll call). Key changes: clarified open space definitions; PUD changes flagged as material amendments unless County Council resolution finds otherwise. Presented by PAI; forwarded to County Council.

- Reisterstown Main Street Streetscape Action Plan — Approved (motion carried on roll call). Key changes: language edits to goals and actions, removal of several illustrative icons on the plan map, renumbering of action items; forwarded to County Council as an amendment to Master Plan 2030.

- Reisterstown Main Street Design Guidelines — Approved (motion carried on roll call). Key changes: edits to recommended building setbacks, landscaping guidance, lighting and signage language, and appended illustrative material noted as background only; forwarded to County Council.

- 2025 Basic Services Map public hearing — Set for Feb. 6, 2025 at 5 p.m. (motion recorded; second and formal roll call not specified in the transcript).

What happens next

Per the Planning Board motions, the manuals and Reisterstown documents will be transmitted to Baltimore County Council for review and any required public hearings at the council level. The Basic Services maps will be the subject of the in‑person Planning Board hearing on Feb. 6, where the board will receive public comment before making any recommendation to Council.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke during presentations and votes recorded on the meeting transcript, including Sally Nash (PAI), Crystal Macriotti (Reisterstown Improvement Association), Patsy Mullin (Land Use Counsel, St. John Properties), Andrew Brown (DPWT) and board chair Scott Halupka.