MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

REZONING HEARING

July 13, 2010 

The Board of County Commissioners of Cecil County met for the purpose of a rezoning hearing the County Administration Building, 200 Chesapeake Blvd., Elkton, MD on Tuesday, July 12, 2010.  The following members of the Board were present:

            Brian L. Lockhart, President

            Rebecca J. Demmler, Vice President

            Wayne L. Tome, Sr., Commissioner

            James T. Mullin, Commissioner                                                                                                     

Constituting a majority Board.

The meeting was called to order by President Lockhart at 2:15 p.m. and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

File No. 2010-04 - Applicant: Charlestown Crossing, LLC. C/o CT Charlestown Crossing, LLC. Property Location: 3200 Pulaski Highway, North East, MD 21901.  Election District: 5, Tax Map: 30, Parcel: 124 & 11. Presently Zoned: Light Industrial (M-1) / Suburban Residential (SR).  Request: Request to rezone 20.8 Acres +/- from Light Industrial (M-I) / Suburban Residential, (SR) to Multifamily Residential (RM).  Property Owner: Clark P. Turner.   

All witnesses presenting testimony were sworn in by Administrator Wein

Attorney, Mr. Richard Bechtel, Mr. Fred Sheckells and Sean Davis appeared before the Board in support of a request to rezone 20.8 acres of property located at 3200 Pulaski Highway, North East, MD 21921 from Light Industrial (M-1) / Suburban Residential, (SR) to Multifamily Residential (RM).  This request is based upon several mistakes the applicant believes were made during the 1993 Comprehensive Rezoning as well as the substantial change in demand for residential housing since the last Comprehensive Rezoning in 1993.  Mr. Sheckells testified the area currently zoned Light Industrial (M-1) would be best served as Suburban Residential (SR).  Mr. Sheckells advised the Board the south side of the site will probably have to be redesigned to meet the new stormwater regulations; however they would like to get through the sale season to see what the market is demanding.  Mr. Davis testified after his review of the current zoning he believes several mistakes were made in the last Comprehensive Rezoning in 1993 which consist of the following, the need for higher density residential uses that buffer lower density residential uses further within the property and away from Route 40. The Department of Defense, Base Realignment Act and Closure (BRAC) program has created demand for additional residentially zoned property. To accommodate the expected increase in population for this area based on the provision of public sewer and water services and there is not enough demand for all of the business/manufacturing zoning in this part of Cecil County.  Mr. Sheckells also testified there has been substantial change in the character of the neighborhood since the last Comprehensive Rezoning in 1993.          

 Commissioner Comments:

Commissioner Lockhart asked how many homes have been sold.

Mr. Sheckells confirmed 4 homes have been sold and 3 homes are on hold.

Commissioner Mullin asked how many units did the think would be in the Multifamily (RM) zone.

Mr. Bechtel stated that is was undetermined at this time.

Mr. Sheckells commented it has the potential for up to 320 units, but did not think they would meet that number.

Commissioner Demmler commented she was concerned that BRAC not only requires more residential zoning but also requires zoning for business's as well.

Mr. Davis commented that the section subject to this request to rezone is back off Route 40, which will require a certain type of business that is a more community based business not a BRAC based business.

  COMMENTS SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:

No one appeared to speak.

Eric Sennstrom, Director of Planning & Zoning presented the recommendation of approval on behalf of the Staff and the Planning Commission, based upon the substantial change in the character neighborhood since the last Comprehensive Rezoning in 1993 and based upon the mistakes in the 1993 Comprehensive Rezoning.

Clifford Houston, Zoning Administrator read the findings of facts.

The decision for rezoning request will be placed on the Board's agenda for the July 20, 2010 meeting.