Press Releases

Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee will hold a virtual meeting on March 10 at 10 a.m. to review potential zoning changes for surface parking in residential zones and telecommunications towers

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, March 9, 2021

The Planning, Housing, and Economic Development (PHED) Committee will meet virtually on Wednesday, March 10 at 10 a.m. on Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 20-06 that would allow the Planning Board's approval of a site plan to supersede a special exception (now called conditional use) for surface parking in a residential zone. The Committee will also review ZTA 19-07 which would allow poles with antennas as a limited use in residential zones where the pole would replace a pre-existing utility pole, streetlight pole or site plan-approved parking lot light pole.

The members of the Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee include Councilmembers Hans Riemer (Chair), Andrew Friedson (Lead for Parks) and Will Jawando.

ZTA 20-06, Surface Parking – Residential Zones
Council President Tom Hucker and Councilmember Hans Riemer are the lead sponsors of Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 20-06. This ZTA would provide relief to developments that are in effect split-zoned because they have commercial uses on commercial zoning and associated parking on residential zoning. Councilmember Andrew Friedson is a cosponsor of the ZTA. 

This change would provide applicants with the flexibility to renovate or redevelop these properties without having to go through multiple review processes. Less than twenty-five properties are left in the County to which this provision may apply, due to sectional map amendments that have occurred over the years. The Planning Board and Planning staff recommend approval of this ZTA.

The Council staff report can be viewed here.

Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 19-07, Telecommunications Towers – Limited Use
The PHED Committee will again consider ZTA 19-07, which would facilitate the deployment of next-generation wireless infrastructure. The new wireless antennas on utility and light poles would offer faster speeds, enhanced reliability and greater capacity. Councilmember Hans Riemer is the lead sponsor of this ZTA, which would allow certain telecommunications towers as a limited or conditional use in certain residential zones; revise the standards for telecommunications towers allowed as a limited or conditional use; revise the conditional use findings required for the replacement of a pre-existing pole; and amend use requirements to address certain telecommunications towers. Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmember Craig Rice are cosponsors.

The Council staff report can be viewed here. Release ID: 21-087
Media Contact: Sonya Healy 240-777-7926, Juan Jovel 240-777-7931