Commission reviews Members First site plan; motion introduced but recommendation deferred
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Summary
The commission reviewed site development plan S240008 for a Members First Federal Credit Union branch along Baltimore Boulevard/Route 140, discussed access improvements, parking and pedestrian connections, and moved to conditionally approve with design conditions; the final recommendation was deferred after a procedural objection and the city attorney’s absence.
The Westminster Planning & Zoning Commission on Nov. 20 reviewed site development plan S240008 for Members First Federal Credit Union, a proposed 1.92-acre bank site on Baltimore Boulevard near Route 140, and discussed access, landscaping, parking and pedestrian connections to the adjacent Goodwill property.
Staff (Speaker 3) described the proposal: the property is zoned B-business, the site would provide 32 off-street parking spaces where 12 are required, include two ADA spaces, and relocate or improve access drives to allow two-way movements and a deceleration lane at the Route 140 entrance. Staff noted an unusual condition: the primary access crosses or is adjacent to the Goodwill property, so the applicant must coordinate improvements with the adjacent owner. Staff recommended conditional approval subject to: depiction of required Goodwill-adjacent improvements, addressing outstanding city and county comments, submission of signature sets, and a staff-proposed condition that the Route 140 entrance elevation carry the entrance feature facing Goodwill for visual consistency.
Applicant Aaron Navarro (Landworks) and Michael Martin (Members First) told the commission design choices were constrained by an existing stormwater pond that prevented rotating the building to face Route 140, described efforts to work with the State Highway Administration on sidewalks, and said the applicant had increased landscaping in response to staff comments. Navarro said SHA “would prefer not to have anybody walk along” the busy Route 140 segment and the team focused on directing pedestrian movement to safer connections.
Commissioner (Speaker 2) moved to conditionally approve S240008 pursuant to the 11/20/2025 staff report and to add item 3 regarding improvements to the Route 140 elevation and required Goodwill improvements. When asked for a second, a procedural objection and confusion arose; the chair announced the city attorney had “some personal issues in her family,” and the commission deferred making the recommendation that evening.
Next steps: staff will work with the applicant and adjacent property owner to finalize design details and resubmit; the commission will take up the recommendation at a later meeting after legal review.
