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Civic association and residents press objections on density, setbacks and study currency; examiner leaves record open
Summary
Opponents, led by the Howard County City Association, urged denial citing zoning‑criteria compliance, setback discrepancies (TSR references a 300‑ft standard versus a 30‑ft requested setback), and the age or limited scope of traffic counts; the hearing examiner closed testimony but left the record open for memoranda through Aug. 21.
Opponents reiterated objections that influenced the 2021 planning board denial and argued the current submission replicated those concerns. Stu Kohn, who identified himself as president of a local civic association, urged the hearing examiner to deny the petition and highlighted several points of contention: the proposal increases units on the Old Farm from 32 to the hundreds, the technical staff report references a 300‑ft minimum setback for residential buildings from MD‑216 while petitioners seek a 30‑ft setback in one area, and some traffic counts cited in the TSR are several years old.
The hearing examiner accepted those public comments into the record but did not rule at the hearing. The examiner closed evidentiary testimony, allowed memoranda of law to be filed through Aug. 21 at 4 p.m., and said she will issue a recommendation for the zoning board after reviewing briefs and objections.
