The Howard County Board of Appeals on May 1, 2025, approved meeting minutes from April 10 and issued an order postponing the hearing in case BA24-022C to June 5, 2025, at 9 a.m., with a reserve continuation date of June 26, 2025, at 9 a.m.

Why it matters: BA24-022C is a de novo appeal relating to a conditional use petition for an outdoor athletic facility; postponing the hearing delays any board-level decision and gives petitioners and opponents additional time to prepare documentary evidence and testimony.

Minutes approval

The board voted to approve the April 10, 2025, meeting minutes. The motion to approve was moved by Miss Faircove and seconded by Miss Phillips. During roll call the transcript records the following approvals: Chair Gene Ryan — approve; Miss Fearcol — approve; Miss Harris — approve; Miss Phillips — approve; Miss Shue — approve. The motion carried and the minutes for 04/10/2025 were recorded as approved.

Postponement of BA24-022C

The board called case BA24-022C at the start of the meeting. Mr. Sanders (Department of Planning and Zoning staff) summarized the matter as a petition filed by Charles Serpico et al. seeking conditional use approval for an outdoor athletic facility under Howard County Zoning Regulations, Section 131(b)(2) and Section 131(n)(6). The subject property was described in the record as 6717 Mink Hollow Road, tax map 34, parcel (Bl) 21 parcel 287, and comprising 11.01 acres in the RRDEO (Rural Residential Density Exchange Option) overlay district. The matter was presented as a de novo appeal from a March 3, 2025, order by the Howard County Hearing Examiner.

The record included the Howard County Code, the Howard County Charter, the zoning regulations, the 02/12/2025 Department of Planning and Zoning technical staff report with attached agency comments, the general plan and conditional use petition materials. The petitioners filed required certificates of advertising and an affidavit of posting as required by the Howard County Code.

The board acknowledged a request for postponement; the request demonstrated good cause and the transcript records there was no opposition from opponents. The board issued an order granting the postponement; the hearing will be continued to June 5, 2025, at 9 a.m., with a reserve hearing continuation date of June 26, 2025, at 9 a.m.

Opposition and representation

The transcript identifies parties registered in opposition to the petition by name: Angela F. Bruce; Robert J. Bruce; Michael J. Joseph Mulcare; and Kelly Bridal. The transcript also states those opponents are represented by counsel G. Macy Nelson. The petitioners are identified in the record as Charles Serpico et al.

Meeting context and next steps

Board members asked procedural questions about what materials would be part of the record in the continued hearing and whether additional Department of Planning and Zoning records could be supplied before the continued hearing; staff advised that the technical staff report is currently in the record and that additional materials would be introduced at the continued hearing as part of the de novo appeal process.

Ending

The board adjourned the hearing portion of the meeting after issuing the postponement order; the hearing on BA24-022C is rescheduled for June 5, 2025, at 9 a.m., with a reserve continuation on June 26, 2025, at 9 a.m.