Baltimore County design panel approves Roland View Road house, requires shutters on elevations

Baltimore County’s Design Review Panel approved plans for a new single-family house at 917A Roland View Road on May 13, requiring the applicant to indicate shutters on the front and side elevations as a condition of the advisory approval.

The applicant, landscape architect Deon Liry of Humen and Roadie Landscape Architects, told the panel the lot is a 0.92-acre parcel created by a minor subdivision approved in 2008, zoned DR1, with public water in the frontage and a private septic system proposed for the site. Liry said the house will sit in an existing opening on the west side of the lot and that most on-site trees will be preserved. “We do have storm water management requirements and we are working through that process with the Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability,” Liry said, describing grading intended to direct runoff to the front yard dry wells and away from rear neighbors.

The panel heard one public comment from Jeremy Miller, who identified his family residence at 915 Roland View directly behind the proposed lot. Miller said three houses share the private driveway serving the rear properties and expressed concern about runoff, septic placement and the higher elevation of the proposed home. “We are here with a shared driveway… and already a very, very tight squeeze for a driveway back here for three homes,” Miller said, adding he wanted more information about environmental impacts for the adjacent properties.

Chair Joseph Yusfero and the applicant responded that stormwater, utility capacity and traffic are outside the DRP’s purview and that the county’s permitting agencies will review calculations and designs. Liry reiterated plans for dry wells and grading to capture roof runoff and said the Department of Public Works and the Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability will confirm that runoff will not be increased to neighboring sites.

Panel members focused design comments on exterior details and landscaping rather than the site’s infrastructure. Residential reviewer Fran Anderson noted shutters were listed on the materials sheet but not shown on some elevations and urged more foundation planting for a relatively stark side elevation. Builder Luke Stackle said his team would add shutters where they fit and described a small stairwell window with a historical diamond stained-glass treatment on one façade. Panelist Miss Saus (who joined late) recommended replacing the proposed dogwood at the driveway with a more drought-tolerant species and adding lower shrubs around the foundation.

Mr. Anderson moved to approve the project with the condition that the elevations indicate shutters on the front and sides; Mr. Stevens seconded. The motion carried with those present responding “I.” The panel’s recommendations are advisory; the county’s permitting review will address stormwater, septic design and other regulatory matters.

Votes at a glance: the panel voted to approve the project with the condition to show shutters on the front and sides (motion by Fran Anderson; second by Mr. Stevens; outcome: approved by panel members present). Earlier in the meeting, the panel also voted to accept the April 8, 2026 meeting minutes (motion by Mr. Stevens; second by Mr. Anderson; outcome: approved) and later voted to adjourn (motion by Mr. Stevens; second by Miss Saus; outcome: approved). The transcript records those votes as members responding “I”; specific tallies of named voters were not recorded in the transcript.

The next procedural step is permitting review: the Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability and Department of Public Works will review stormwater and septic plans as part of county permitting. The DRP’s advisory approval does not substitute for those regulatory approvals.