Baltimore County appeals panel signals limited approval for rabbinical college at Park Heights site

The Baltimore County Board of Appeals on Oct. 8 deliberated a petition (case 24-029-SPHX) seeking a special exception to permit a rabbinical college, including dormitories, at 10729 Park Heights Avenue in Council District 2. Chair Sharron Bernardi and board members Joseph Evans and Brian Pennington discussed zoning definitions, traffic access, parking, and sizable uncertainties about the site’s septic and water capacity.

The panel agreed in principle to a constrained pathway for the use: limit initial occupancy to 48 students and two faculty; designate the northern driveway as ingress only and the southern driveway as egress only; and require that no kitchen or laundry be installed without further authorization. Board members said any expansion in the number of residents or conversion to a full kitchen/laundry would require a new application and further review.

Bernardi opened the session by summarizing the petition and the requested relief, which included confirmation that 45 parking spaces would be sufficient and continued use of three existing single-family homes as nonconforming uses. She told the record the…