Talbot County Council introduces two zoning bills: funeral homes/crematoria and short-term rental rules

Talbot County Council on Oct. 20 introduced two zoning text amendments referred from the planning commission and set public hearings for Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 5:30 p.m.

Bill 16-21 would amend county zoning (chapter 190) to permit funeral homes and crematoria as special exception uses in the AC (agricultural conservation) zoning district subject to conditions: a minimum property size of 40 acres, the parcel must abut a principal or minor arterial roadway, and the funeral/cremation use must operate in conjunction with a public cemetery offering services to the general public. County staff said the bill reflects the planning commission's recommendation and was requested by an applicant representing Woodlawn Memorial Park.

Bill 16-22 would amend short-term rental licensing provisions, establishing classes of short-term rental licenses and changing certain board procedures, application contents, hearings, renewals and grounds for denial. County staff said the planning commission recommended removing three earlier proposed requirements: an increase in minimum-night stays in certain districts, a landline-telephone requirement and a requirement to keep a log of rentals; otherwise the bill reflects the council members' original proposal.

The council introduced both bills by the required procedure and recorded the bills' numbers and the Nov. 25 public hearing date; no substantive amendments were adopted at introduction. Any substantial amendments after introduction would be returned to the planning commission per the county's zoning process.