MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
REZONING HEARING
OCTOBER 28, 2003
The Board of County Commissioners of Cecil County met in regular session at the County Administration Building, 107 North Street, Elkton, MD on Tuesday, October 28, 2003. The following members of the Board were present:
Nelson K. Bolender, President
Phyllis Kilby, Vice President
William Manlove, Commissioner
Mark H. Guns, Commissioner
constituting quorum.
The meeting was called to order by President Bolender at 5:30 p.m. and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Tina Ritchie, Court Reporter, recorded a verbatim transcript of this pubic hearing.
- KAREN PETERSON REZONING
FILE NO: 2003-11. APPLICANT: Karen Peterson. PROPERTY LOCATION: 1030 Kirk Road, Elkton, MD 21921, Election District: 4, Tax Map: 13, parcel: 359. PRESENTLY ZONED: Northern Agricultural Residential (NAR) REQUEST: Rezone 6.04 acres from Northern Agricultural Residential (NAR) to Business Local (BL) for the purpose of operating a small retail business. PROPERTY OWNER: Karen Peterson.
County Administrator Wein read the application, and all witnesses were sworn.
Karen Jones, 1030 Kirk Road, Elkton, MD 21921 and her brother-in-law Robert McKeown, 227 Elkton Road, Elkton, MD 21921 presented the application. Ms. Jones that this application was submitted to correct a mistake in the 1993 Comprehensive Rezoning. A business has operated at this location for the last fifteen years. She stated that there are four historic buildings located on the property and half of the six acres is wooded. She provided a history of the various businesses that have operated at this location. She plans to operate a small retail business from the location to sell work clothing, provide a gallery for local artists to sell their works, and a museum. Mill artifacts would be displayed in the museum, which would be a unique tourist attraction for the County. She also provided pictures, map, and support letters with the application.
Planning and Zoning Director Eric Sennstrom stated that the Planning Commission recommends approval of the application. Zoning Administrator Cliff Houston read the Findings of Fact.
Mr. McKeown stated that his wife is an artist, Geraldine McKeown, and he feels the proposed gallery would provide local artists a great opportunity to display their work, and the museum would give people an opportunity to view a historic mill. The proposed business would be low key and they have never received any complaints in twenty years.
COMMENTS IN SUPPORT – none.
COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION – none.
Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Manlove, to approve the rezoning request for 1030 Kirk Road, tax map 13, parcel 359 to rezone 6.01 acres from Northern Agricultural Residential (NAR) to Business Local (BL).
Commissioner Guns questioned the need for Ms. Peterson to change the zoning on the entire six-acre parcel since the business operation was only a small portion of the entire site.
Ms. Peterson stated that she understood that she had to rezone the entire parcel.
Counsel Dwight Thomey stated that she is not required to rezone the entire parcel and could change her request to rezone an area of the parcel. She would be required to have the property surveyed indicating the area to be rezoned Business Local and the area to remain Northern Agricultural Residential.
Ms. Peterson stated that she would be interested in changing the rezoning request to minimize the Business Local zoning since the proposed buildings for the business use are located in one area on the property.
Motion was amended by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Manlove, to permit Ms. Peterson to submit a revised site plan to the Office of Planning and Zoning designating a portion of the property to be rezoned to Business Local (BL) for business use.
VOTE: Commissioner Bolender – Y, Commissioner Kilby – Y, Commissioner Manlove – Y, Commissioner Guns – Y, motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned.