FIVE HUNDRED NINETY NINTH MEETING

CITY OF LAUREL PLANNING COMMISSION

TUESDAY JUNE 13, 2023 – 6:00 P.M.

   The meeting convened on a virtual platform via Zoom at 6:00 P.M., with Chairwoman Mitzi Betman presiding.  The roll was called with Vice Chairman Mr. John R. Kish, Ms. Krystiana Bonheur, Mr. William Wellford and Councilmember Mr. Keith Sydnor. Also present from the Department of Economic & Community Development were Mr. Robert Love, Director, Mr. Monta Burrough, Deputy Director, Ms. Emily Cline-Gibson, Planner I, Ms. Sydney Woodland, Administrative Assistant, and Ms. Brooke Quillen, Secretary to the Commission. There were approximately eight (8) members of the public in attendance.

The minutes from the May 9, 2023 meeting were approved as written, on motion by Mr. Kish seconded by Ms. Bonheur and carried on a roll call vote of all members present with Mr. Grant abstaining.

The next agenda item was for Amended Site & Landscape Plan Application and Resolution No. 23-03-PC for 311 Compton Avenue Laurel, Maryland 20707, filed by Mike Collins/Legend Builders LLC., 307 Compton Avenue Laurel, Maryland 20707. Ms. Cline-Gibson stated the applicant is seeking Amended Site & Landscape approval to construct a two-story building and a parking lot that will become the new locational for an existing daycare facility. The current vacant lot is 10,125 square feet and the proposed building will be 2,400 square feet. The applicant is also seeking approval for a parking reduction from the required parking spaces for a daycare and the applicant is requesting to reduce the required number of parking spaces from twenty-two (22) to fourteen (14).

Chairwoman Betman opened the public hearing at 6:11 p.m.

Staff explained to the Commission the current daycare will move across the street. The Commission expressed concern regarding public safety. They suggested installing a crosswalk, a “children at play” sign and/or extra lighting on the property. Staff stated they would look into what could be done. Staff also noted there is only one (1) entrance in and out of this property. The applicant, Mr. Mike Collins stated there will be space for cars to turn around in the parking lot so customers would not need to back out into the street. The daycare owner added that most of the children at this daycare are 6 months old or younger and therefore would need to be carried directly to the door.

The public hearing closed at 6:18 p.m. as there was nobody else signed up to speak on this item.

The Commission, on motion by Mr. Wellford, seconded by Mr. Kish, and carried on a roll call vote of all members present, voted to approve the Amended Site & Landscape Application and Resolution No. 23-03-PC as presented in the Technical Staff Report.

The next agenda item was for Amended Site & Landscape Plan Application and Resolution No. 23-10-PC for 307 Compton Avenue Laurel, Maryland 20707, filed by Mr. Mike Collins/Legends Builders Inc., 307 Compton Avenue Laurel Maryland 20707. Ms. Cline-Gibson stated the applicant is seeking approval to expand the existing parking lot to have a total of fifteen (15) parking spaces. The lot size is 10,125 square feet. The building located on the property is 1,850 square feet and is currently being used as an office space. The applicant’s reason for expanding the existing parking lot is to accommodate the building’s Use & Occupancy parking requirements as well as to provide additional parking spaces for a proposed daycare facility located on the property to the left.

Chairwoman Betman opened the public hearing at 6:24 p.m.       

The applicant Mr. Mike Collins explained there will be a loop driveway and they are adding five (5) parking spaces on the property.

There was nobody signed up to speak. The public hearing was closed at 6:25 p.m.

The Commission, on motion by Mr. Wellford, seconded by Mr. Kish, and carried on a roll call vote of all members present, voted to approve the Amended Site & Landscape Plan and Resolution No. 23-10-PC as presented in the Technical Staff Report.

The next agenda item was for Final Record Plat of Subdivision Approval and Resolution No. 23-08-PC for 7222 & 7302 Contee Road Laurel, Maryland 20707, filed by U.S. Homes, LLC, 7035 Albert Einstein Drive Columbia, Maryland 21046. Mr. Love stated the applicant is seeking approval to create parcels for the development of a 63-unit townhouse community to be known as Anderson’s Green. The property in July 2021 rezoned from R-5 to R-T. The subject properties were annexed into the City in 2014.

Mr. Robert J. DiPietro 16908 Melbourne Drive Laurel, MD  20707, representing Ribera Development, stated this project is for 63 new townhomes and this would be the last step for approvals from the Planning Commission. Staff explained the houses will face the roads and not the alleys that are shown on the site plan.

Chairwoman Betman opened the public hearing at 6:30 p.m. There was nobody signed up to speak. The public hearing was closed at 6:30 p.m.

The Commission, on motion by Mr. Wellford, seconded by Mr. Grant, and carried on a roll call vote of all members present, voted to approve the Final Record Plat Plan and Resolution No. 23-08-PC as presented in the Technical Staff Report.

Next, the item was for Special Exception Application No. 940, for Peace on Patuxent, located at 228 Patuxent Road Laurel, Maryland 20707, however, Mr. Monta Burrough was experiencing technical difficulties and it was decided to be moved the last on the agenda.

The next item was for Text Amendment Application No. 263 (Ordinance 1212), an ordinance to amend the Unified Land Development Code to include personal non-medical cannabis as a special exception use in certain zones within the City for recommendation to the Mayor and City Council. Mr. Love stated the proposed Text Amendment No. 263 (Ordinance 2012) would modify various sections of the Unified Land Development Code. The code provides the City’s zoning requirements, subdivision regulations, forest conservation codes, and all other development-related regulations.

Chairwoman Betman requested the wording be updated from “certain zones” to “commercial zones”. The Commission asked if an applicant could apply for multiple properties, staff stated technically yes however the strict requirements would make it difficult to find the right locations. Staff explained the closing time on these businesses would depend on the location however it would more than likely be around 10 or 11 p.m.

Mr. Wellford made a motion to recommend approval of the Text Amendment Application No. 263 (Ordinance 2012) as presented in the Technical Staff Report and proposed ordinance to the Mayor and City Council. Bonheur seconded Mr. Wellford’s motion. Mr Vice-chairman Kish and Mr. Grant abstained from the vote. Chairwoman Betman cast the vote of “Yes”. The motion to recommend approval passed with a 3-0 vote.

The next agenda item was for the Forest Conservation Plan and Resolution No. 22-09-OC, SR-77 Walker Branch Stream Restoration, filed by Prince George’s County Stormwater Management. Mr. Love stated the applicant is requesting approval of a Forest Conservation Plan associated with the Walker Branch Stream Restoration Project located east of I-95 and west of Dorset Road.  This project will restore a section of Walker Branch and generate nutrient and sediment reductions as part of the Prince George’s County Clean Water Partnership. Natural Channel Design techniques will be utilized to create a stable stream system that will prevent bank erosion and sustain a natural riffle-pool sequence. The restoration project crosses eight (8) different parcels.

On behalf of Corvias/Prince George’s County Stormwater Partner/M-NCPPC, Mr. Joseph Monheit, 6958 Aviation Boulevard Ste. #C Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, commented this particular property has been declining for the past five (5) years. He added the main goal is to protect the current stormwater management system and the county will maintain this for at least thirty (30) years. Lastly, he stated the surrounding properties have been notified of this project and they plan to for its completion around June of 2024.

Chairwoman Betman opened the public hearing at 6:48 p.m. There was nobody signed up to speak.

The public hearing was closed at 6:48 p.m. by Chairwoman Betman.

The Commission, on motion by Ms. Bonheur, seconded by Mr. Kish, and carried on a roll call vote of all members present, voted to approve the Forest Conservation Plan and Resolution No. 22-09-PC as presented in the Technical Staff Report.

The last agenda item was for Special Exception Application No. 940 for 228 Patuxent Road Laurel, Maryland 20707, filed by Peace on Patuxent for recommendation to the Board of Appeals. Mr. Burrough stated the subject property is zoned, R-55 (One Family Detached). Peace on Patuxent is proposing to operate out of the existing, 6-bedroom, 1,363 square foot, two (2) story single-family residential building.  The lot size is 10,040 square feet and was originally built in 1963. The applicant is seeking approval for the establishment and operation of a nursing home.

The Commission commended the applicant for requesting such a unique service to the community, however, they want to see more regulations on these types of requests so that close surrounding properties would not be able to open something similar in the future since this is in a residential neighborhood.

The applicant, Ms. Senita Hill, 228 Patuxent Road Laurel Maryland 20707, stated the required sprinkler system installation requirement is not an issue and she is willing to do whatever is necessary to get the property up to code. Staff commented that more requests like these could come to Laurel however they would still have to go through the Special Exception and permitting procedures to receive final approvals from the City.

The Commission, on motion by Ms. Bonheur, seconded by Mr. Kish, and carried on a roll call vote of all members present, voted to recommend approval of Special Exception No. 940 to the Board of Appeals as presented in the Technical Staff Report.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:06 p.m.

Approved: Brooke Quillen                                         Date: 7/11/2023