Howard County Conservancy seeks conditional‑use approval for ADA path and nature‑play area

Meg Boyd, executive director of the Howard County Conservancy, presented the conservancy’s conditional‑use application (BA 25‑030C) at a hearing on March 24, saying the project would connect existing nature‑play elements with an ADA‑accessible pathway and is consistent with prior conditional‑use approvals.

"The conservancy is a 36 year old environmental education nonprofit," Boyd said, identifying the organization’s 84‑acre property at 10520 Old Frederick Road in Woodstock and explaining that the proposed accessible pathway would cover about 5 acres, less than 2% of the larger conservation easement the conservancy manages. Boyd framed the work as mission‑driven, saying nature play supports children’s physical and mental health and fosters long‑term stewardship of natural places.

Boyd emphasized the project is not intended as a change in use but as a mission‑aligned improvement: "We don't actually see it as a change in use because we have many of the nature play elements already on our property," she said. She noted existing on‑site features, including picnic areas and live animal elements, that support hands‑on environmental education.

The hearing examiner said the record for the case will remain open until the Historic Preservation Commission’s report is submitted to staff. The examiner asked the conservancy to provide an electronic copy of that report so it can be entered into the record and a decision issued.