Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Aviation Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission recommends Board of Appeals review of private grass airstrip at 6315 Suicide Bridge Road
Summary
The Planning Commission recommended a favorable referral to the Board of Appeals for a special exception to allow a private grass airstrip at 6315 Suicide Bridge Road; staff said the 1,863-by-75-foot turf strip would not increase lot coverage and noted coordination with aviation authorities.
Dorchester County Planning Commission members voted to recommend a special exception for a private grass airstrip proposed for 6315 Suicide Bridge Road in Perlock, Md.
Applicant Hunter Phillips, appearing by phone and sworn in, told the commission the strip would be strictly for his personal use: "It's not gonna be an airport or anything like Dorchester County General has. I'm not selling fuel. I'm not charging anyone any lien fees." Staff advised that a portion of the property lies within the Chesapeake Bay critical area but that the proposed grass strip would generate no net increase in lot coverage.
Planning staff read a technical summary into the record: the parcel is about 128.86 acres with roughly 75.2 acres in the resource conservation area; estimated current lot coverage is 53,665 square feet with about 14,688 square feet inside the critical area (about 0.44% critical-area coverage). Staff said the proposed 1,863-foot by 75-foot turf strip would be dirt and turf only, with no removal or import of fill and no hard surfacing, and recommended approval. A support letter from airport director Steve Moore — read into the record by staff — said the Maryland Aviation Administration is working with the applicant on safety and clearance criteria and urged Dorchester County to approve the proposal.
A commissioner moved to recommend the special exception favorably to the Board of Appeals; the motion passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The Board of Appeals will take the application up next, and staff noted critical-area comments will be available before that hearing.
