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BMZA grants Central Church a variance for a 42-space parking lot, restricting access to Woodridge Avenue
Summary
After hours of public comment and testimony from both the church and hundreds of neighbors, the board approved variance relief allowing a 42-space accessory parking lot and six-foot perimeter fence at 4301 Woodridge Road but required ingress/egress be oriented to Woodridge Avenue to reduce neighborhood traffic impacts.
Baltimore — The Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals on May 19 granted variance relief to Central Church to develop a 42-space parking lot at 4301 Woodridge Road, finding exceptional circumstances created by historic lot consolidations. The approval was conditioned on limiting vehicular ingress and egress to Woodridge Avenue as a mitigation measure to reduce interior-neighborhood traffic.
AB Associates attorney Al Barry and Central Church minister Norman J. Newton Jr. told the board the church lost large amounts of available parking as the nearby Edmonson Village shopping center redeveloped and argued that on-site parking was necessary to serve a congregation of several hundred and to ensure seniors and people with mobility needs could attend services safely. Planning staff recommended approval, noting the lot consolidation history made the site unusual under the zoning code and that a site-plan review committee had approved a landscape and circulation design.
Hundreds of neighbors and multiple community associations testified in opposition, citing traffic congestion at the Walnut–Woodridge corridor, loss of green space, adverse effects on property values, potential for increased noise and safety concerns, and private covenant restrictions in parts of the neighborhood. Speakers produced a petition and requested the board reject the variance or attach stronger mitigation.
During deliberations the board focused on practical mitigation that can be required by zoning resolution. After discussion the board voted unanimously (3–0) to grant the requested front- and corner-side-yard variances and to allow the parking lot and six-foot fence, but imposed a condition directing the applicant to orient access circulation to Woodridge Avenue (and to gate/manage the lot to minimize use of Walnut). The board also recorded that work cannot resume until the applicant receives the formal resolution and completes the permit review and any outstanding violation payments.
The board urged the church and neighborhood to continue outreach and suggested possible traffic-mitigation measures including signal/stop-sign changes and coordination with the council member and DOT. The written resolution will enumerate the access condition and any design requirements.
