[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6269460,"mediaKeyId","3042859-f8d7521b8fa8abdca1a48d18fc11bc8f","parentId",3042859,"title","BMZA defers decision on Hartford Road conversion as City Council advances zoning bill","audioSeconds",546,"startMs",2398000,"endMs",2944000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3042859-f8d7521b8fa8abdca1a48d18fc11bc8f&start=2398&end=2944","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3042859-f8d7521b8fa8abdca1a48d18fc11bc8f/thumbnail_2398000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6269460/Baltimore-City/Baltimore-County/Maryland/BMZA-defers-decision-on-Hartford-Road-conversion-as-City-Council-advances-zoning-bill","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269460-963816c5762509eddaef66d4d2bfef8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452859&Signature=YF5-mvGCOvDbf8Q~9KaE0iwMqDGO3rLhqfK8D55TdDXAJt~O32hShvBDAbcHoSALP2vzQED~QZGO7g7YtO6g3O26TRgNq3s5Dfar-78nMVuo1Vj1liEYRU7OlfS9-467aCGToztbboW0tq59rIlzsxFzLQok6b6QK6uhKrgr3t3tZAbHsbE9a5sdYZSHGLGAVz451xlJURKAfp4O42vhwK2T~m1Z6f6lpqTt-rVO5~ZxKftQdy~TGVaEZiLFQ3lDYuYWrV5CqCRA7ltK1Q7B2BFzQQDhSDe~jSxnK6j-22dNfYMpZCuLA1uvNCeocYMnGtF30Prgm86xD7mZ5GMn~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Baltimore, MD","date","2025-04-15T21:51:40Z","article","The Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals on April 15 deferred deliberation on an appeal by Karima Burrow to convert a single‑family property on Hartford Road into three dwelling units. Planning staff told the board the property narrowly misses minimum gross floor‑area requirements and would normally require variances for unit size and two off‑street parking spaces. The board agreed to await the outcome of a pending Baltimore City Council bill on third reader that would remove those requirements for many residential conversions.

Why it matters: If the council bill passes and is signed by the mayor, the applicant’s project may proceed by right without the variances now required. The board noted the bill was advanced and likely to be signed quickly because it is an administration bill; staff estimated the law would take effect 30 days after mayoral signature.

Board direction and schedule: The board will tentatively reconvene deliberation on May 6 if the legislation has not resolved the matter. The applicant was told she does not need to attend the redo hearing unless she chooses; the BMZA will send a written resolution after deliberation or if the bill renders the variance requests unnecessary.

Ending: The applicant and staff agreed to monitor the council action. The board noted that issuing a written resolution will likely take several weeks after any decision and that the applicant may reach out to the executive director’s office for clarification in the interim.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Municipal & Zoning Appeals; April 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The BMZA agreed to delay deliberation on a proposed conversion of a single‑family house to three dwelling units at Hartford Road pending action on a City Council bill that would remove several conversion variances; the board tentatively scheduled the matter for May 6 if the legislative change does not make the appeal moot.","taxTitle","Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Maryland","taxId",4816,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6269465,"BMZA pauses Village of Love & Resistance community‑center appeal; asks applicant to clarify uses and floor plan",3805,2953000,6758000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3042859-f8d7521b8fa8abdca1a48d18fc11bc8f&start=2953&end=6758","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3042859-f8d7521b8fa8abdca1a48d18fc11bc8f/thumbnail_2953000.jpg","/articles/6269465/Baltimore-City/Baltimore-County/Maryland/BMZA-pauses-Village-of-Love-Resistance-communitycenter-appeal-asks-applicant-to-clarify-uses-and-floor-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269465-0bf2b4745b4a5c6da6859bb1f0a10bae/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452859&Signature=FwJiR1Es4MyZQMgsGtVycCXKGfc8v4mlo6bf4GcDx7TqMAteJpvdubGZKHc-Dhud6MgQJ6rIJeOZTGbNBmQf9npV1YJWnwegdYoJ-9cv6ikASO351ajwWoBDdxy4xcpFv609fMd9hQFMCgxJtus-jBEMOGflgEgBCM8yf0yRuH2M1AhuYWe2qhoLM0KylQ8qfSAzYpX393--SShbBkigG6ltBk8hoHRVLRKlFWxwziD56EYhDjsKuFBdhJZ5y~zVyGLaHq5egmBGdkEHGoLDybu9HNs7Py6UBTCIbRH031xhUHXc-~~nVg1XfuMYyG~iB68zodo85C3VZ87uepvgEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals on April 15 postponed deliberation on an application by Village of Love & Resistance (Vilar) to operate a community center at 1025 East Monument Street, asking the organization to return with an amended appeal that lists all intended uses and shows where each will be located.

Why it matters: The project proposes a mix of community services (day care, library/education space, event and wellness space) alongside revenue‑generating elements (shared office/co‑working areas and a commercial kitchen). BMZA staff and board members said the code permits community centers in R‑8 but that auxiliary or commercial activities must be clearly identified and shown on a floor plan so the board can determine whether uses are accessory to a community center or a separate use requiring its own approval.

Planning flagged additional procedural points: the property is inside the Sterling Street Historic District and exterior changes must be reviewed by the Commission for Historical & Architectural Preservation (CHAP); site‑specific parking questions remain because the application did not supply a fire‑rated occupant capacity for the facility.

Board direction and next steps: The board asked the applicant to file an amended appeal listing all requested uses, attach a floor plan showing exact footprints for each use, and include any additional variance requests that may be needed. The BMZA will re‑post and schedule the matter once the amended materials are filed.

Ending: Vilar representatives said they will work with BMZA staff to refine the application; the board did not set a firm return date and noted it will not schedule a new hearing until a complete amended filing is received.","The board postponed final action on a conditional‑use request by the Village of Love & Resistance (Vilar) for a community center at 1025 East Monument Street and asked the applicant to submit an amended application showing the precise mix of uses, floor plans and any variances needed.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6269470,"BMZA approves Chipotle and Dunkin' drive‑throughs, parking and other appeals; denies 8‑foot fence",9970,2000,9972000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3042859-f8d7521b8fa8abdca1a48d18fc11bc8f&start=2&end=9972","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3042859-f8d7521b8fa8abdca1a48d18fc11bc8f/thumbnail_2000.jpg","/articles/6269470/Baltimore-City/Baltimore-County/Maryland/BMZA-approves-Chipotle-and-Dunkin-drivethroughs-parking-and-other-appeals-denies-8foot-fence","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269470-c52b0af4e07e5390a088376e730675a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452859&Signature=BsMdiMHl06f2sZWpsqDugo3dm7QMjNh6GMvHsWxEI2pDRNaP3y5jOJkB88ZYAyiyn1a-CHcmu1TCp0asV4vEu17KLZvCT9fJBEDmYJqo726rPhqUne37rvtVd3AVXcp8nQBy9vyjUWa~SaUtD~awDIzeVJQu198hG2LPF33ja0s3K0plAniQB3tBDgxbGODpv4v0knmu1qFWfUu4zbKJpXSmp1fB9exvazR24REdH5YB~HifZt3gUk6z~JYO17Qs15PWoV0CHO~HiSeLG2B9txvLR8BeXAlsBVjKkSsOtKjjobZCAEshb7x-9T6~mzAlBwsqc-YiMlKphbSAasTO7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals voted April 15 to approve a package of zoning appeals including conditional‑use approval for a Chipotle drive‑through at Reisterstown Road Plaza and a Dunkin' carryout with accessory drive‑through on Sinclair Lane, granted a conditional use to convert a site on Washington Boulevard to an office accessory to warehouse use, and approved a 24‑space parking lot to support the Old Town Mall redevelopment.

The approvals were part of a full docket the board handled after Executive Director Becky Witt opened the meeting: \"All right everyone. Thank you, good afternoon and welcome to the April 15 docket for the Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals. My name is Becky Witt. I'm the Executive Director of the BMZA.\" The board also denied a request to keep an existing 8‑foot rear fence at Newington Avenue, finding the legal standard for a variance not met.

Why it matters: The decisions greenlight new neighborhood commercial activity and infrastructure projects that back planned redevelopment work in parts of Baltimore City, while the denial of the fence variance underscores the board's requirement that applicants show a legally recognized uniqueness before exceeding uniform residential zoning limits.

Votes at a glance
- Extension requests (appeal 20223696427 Hartford Road): Denied as untimely. Outcome: denied (board consensus). Note: staff described the filing as two years late and inconsistent with extension precedent.
- Extension (appeal 20203601): Approved (first extension) to allow the applicant more time to obtain revised retaining‑wall drawings and begin construction; tally reported as 4 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention.
- Case 2024‑305 (506 N. Arlington Ave): Confirmation of nonconforming density (three dwelling units) — approved (unanimous).
- Case 20257300 (Washington Blvd): Office use as accessory to warehouse (conditional use) — approved (unanimous); planning recommended approval contingent on the office remaining secondary to the industrial/warehouse use.
- Case APL25‑0056512 (Reisterstown Road Plaza): Chipotle drive‑through (pickup‑only lane with three stacking spaces) — approved (unanimous). Planning and applicant briefs said the lane is limited to mobile pickup orders and the plaza already supports other drive‑throughs.
- Case APL25‑011409 (Esquith Street / Old Town Mall parking): Conditional use for a 24‑space surface lot to support the Blake at Somerset redevelopment — approved (unanimous), subject to site plan review committee (SPRC) requirements.
- Case APL205‑3320 (Sinclair Lane, Dunkin'): Carryout food shop with accessory drive‑through and parking/stacking variances — conditional use and variances approved (unanimous). The board found the site’s location on high‑volume thoroughfares supported additional stacking and parking.
- Case 2025‑012721 (Newington Avenue): Rear yard fence, 8 feet requested (6 allowed) — denied. The board determined the applicant did not demonstrate the level of property uniqueness required to grant a height variance.

Details and rationale
- Drive‑throughs: Staff and the board repeatedly noted that the Reisterstown Plaza drive‑through is designed as pickup‑only and that the applicant received SPRC review; community support letters from local organizations were entered into the record. The applicant for the Sinclair Lane Dunkin' emphasized a through‑truck‑route location and SPRC approval as support for stacking space and parking variances.

- Parking to support redevelopment: The Esquith Street lot was approved to serve a new grocery and a 90‑unit apartment building called the Blake at Somerset; planning noted the Old Town Mall urban renewal plan has been largely stricken and that additional parking will aid neighborhood access and safety.

- Fence variance denial: Board members agreed the applicant had documented crime concerns and property improvements, but said similar crime patterns exist across the neighborhood and the record failed to show the legal uniqueness required for a variance. As a result the board voted to deny the requested 2‑foot height exception.

What’s next: Approved conditional uses and variances move to the written resolution stage; the BMZA noted it will issue signed resolutions by email after drafting. Several approvals carry SPRC or other administrative follow‑ups before final permits are issued.

Ending: The board completed the session after hearing the full docket and instructed staff to circulate written resolutions for the approved matters.","At its April 15 docket the Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals approved multiple conditional uses, variances and a parking request — including a Chipotle drive‑through at Reisterstown Road Plaza and a Dunkin' carryout with drive‑through on Sinclair Lane — while denying a rear‑yard 8‑foot fence variance on Newington Avenue.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

BMZA defers decision on Hartford Road conversion as City Council advances zoning bill

BMZA pauses Village of Love & Resistance community‑center appeal; asks applicant to clarify uses and floor plan

BMZA approves Chipotle and Dunkin' drive‑throughs, parking and other appeals; denies 8‑foot fence