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Licensed provider urges Salisbury to align zoning rules with state law; says she has filed suit
Summary
A licensed family‑childcare provider testified that a proposed text amendment would improperly subject large family childcare homes to special‑exception review rather than permit them by right under Maryland law, and said she has pending litigation seeking compliance.
During legislative public comment on March 23, Britney Truitt, a licensed family‑childcare provider, urged the city to stop treating large family childcare homes as discretionary uses and to align the city code with state law that she said mandates the use be permitted by right.
Truitt said she contacted the Department of Infrastructure and worked with state legislators to remedy a missing local ordinance but that the city has continued to require special‑exception approval in practice. She cited Maryland land‑use law (referencing the state statute and HB785) and said the city’s approach "claims a discretionary power it does not legally have." Truitt said she filed a lawsuit and intends to pursue all legal avenues until the code conforms with state law. She framed the issue as affecting families’ access to childcare and said continued delay harms providers and parents who need care.
No city attorney or staff response disputing the legal characterization was recorded during her remarks; the transcript shows her making specific citations to state law and announcing ongoing litigation. Council members and staff will need to examine the cited state statute and the proposed text amendment language before any formal action to change the city code.
