Tag: County Council

UPDATE- Harford County Council Passes Zoning Amendments That Go Beyond Planning Recommendations

Council Members Reilly (8 amendments) and Boyle-Tsottles (1 amendment) introduced changes that allow high-intensity zoning- see how each member voted.

The chart below summarizes how each Harford County Council member voted on Amendments 1 through 9 to Bill 25-002, the Comprehensive Zoning legislation currently under consideration. The council members introduced, seconded, and acted on all amendments. 

As shown, all of the amendments were approved, which increased zoning intensity beyond what was recommended by Planning & Zoning and the Planning Advisory Board (PAB).

Notably, Councilman Bennett consistently voted “No” on amendments that sought higher-intensity zoning without public justification. He shared the following during the meeting:

Councilman Bennett stated:
“As we go through each of these amendments, I wanted to make sure I shared that… all involve going higher than the recommended placement from Planning and Zoning and the PAB. I think it’s really important for public clarity and consumption that thorough rationale is provided for each one. Without that, I wouldn’t feel comfortable supporting these.”

We appreciate the importance of transparency and accountability in the zoning process, and we will continue to keep you informed on the County Council’s final vote on Bill 25-002, expected during the special legislative session on April 22nd.

Thank you for continuing to be part of the voice for responsible land use in Harford County.

Sincerely,
Friends of Harford

 

Bill 25-002 Amendments Vote Tracker (4_15_25) CorrectedDownload

UPDATE: 2025 Comprehensive Zoning Review

As part of the 2025 Comprehensive Zoning Review, Friends of Harford has compiled the following charts, organized by District, as a resource for the community.

Each chart includes: the application number, map link, property address, total acres, acres proposed for rezoning, current zoning, requested zoning, Planning Advisory Board (PAB) recommendation, County Executive recommendations (Bill 25-002), and Friends of Harford’s (FoH) assessment.

At the conclusion of the review process, Friends of Harford will update the charts to reflect each County Council member’s vote on each application. Any changes to Bill 25-002 will be voted on by the County Council as individual issues.

Now is the time for public input—please take a moment to review the information. Once a property is up-zoned, it is rarely reversed. 

Comprehensive Zoning Review Page and Charts 

 

 

Friends of Harford Statement on Bill 24-001 Accessory Dwelling Units

Stephanie Flasch wrote to Harford County Council sponsors of Bill 24-001: Councilman Penman, Councilwoman Tsottles and Councilman Guthrie on behalf of Friends of Harford. The letter outlines concerns regarding Bill 24-001, particularly its implications for impacts to our communities. 

Friends of Harford Letter to Harford County Council Re: Bill 24-001
Position-Statement-Bill-24-001-1Download

Harford County Proposed Bill 24-001

Bill-No.-24-001-As-Introduced-1Download

Scorecard Update May 2022

View the lastest Harford County Council legislative “scorecard” provided by Friends of Harford. 

Stay tuned for updates on land use legislation and track how your County Council representative voted! 

Highlights include: 

Bill 22-003- Perryman Peninsula Moratorium– Passed unanimously by Council, then vetoed by County Executive.

FOH OPINION– Failure to submit the opportunity for individual Council members to support the moratorium again shows a lack of transparency in the local legislative process. Seven Council members voted to approve the moratorium and now not one of them were given the opportunity to speak to the public about the bill.

County Executive Glassman vetoed the bill May 2, 2022 and County Council President Vincenti chose not to discuss overriding the veto the following legislative session. By Harford County charter, the council has until the following legislative session, which would have been the May 3, 2022 meeting, the day after the veto to override the veto of a bill. 

The legislative branch, led by Vincenti should have been aware of the process of veto and should have been prepared to discuss this in the presence of citizens. Instead, there was no discussion, disappointing many citizens. 

Friends of Harford SCORECARD UPDATE MAY 2022Download
Scorecard Update May 2022

Proposed Mega Warehouse Concerns

Abingdon Business Park and Perryman Peninsula share burdens from proposed mega-warehouse complexes.  One writer to the Aegis shared those concerns.

The following Op-Ed was published in the AEGIS January 26, 2022

Greg LaCour shows his teal Protect Perryman Peninsula cap. Matt Button/The Aegis

County should halt warehouse developments to protect environment

I watched the last couple meetings of the Harford County Council and was interested in the comments about Perryman. 

The citizens living in Perryman have every right to be concerned about adding more warehouses, especially ones built on Harford County wells. Also more heavy truck traffic on county roads increases the already dangerous conditions. All this is above and beyond what they should have to deal with. Developing this property would increase environmental damage to Bush River and the Chesapeake Bay.

Billy Boniface, chief adviser to County Executive Barry Glassman, wrote to the owners of the Perryman property and suggested they put the property in preservation. He indicated this would create a lifetime legacy for the county and the property owners. Members of the Abingdon Business Park coalition have asked Boniface to write a similar letter to the owners of this 325 acre property. He did not acknowledge this request. Citizens involved with Abingdon coalition have also voiced concerns at the council meetings. They have written letters and met individually with their representatives. They mentioned the vacant warehouse and retail spaces, concerns about the effect of pollution, heavy traffic and loss of property values. The folks in Abingdon, as in Perryman, want to see a halt to warehouses that are adjacent to or in residential areas regardless of the zoning. They want to make sure the Ha Ha Branch, Otter Point Creek, Bush River and the Bay are not contaminated by heavy truck traffic and related chemical runoff.

This council voted to include Abingdon Business Park in the enterprise zone in April 2019. This was a bad decision.

Enterprise zone tax relief is for under developed property or property that needs revitalization. This incentive is to create good paying jobs. The enterprise zone investment is to create an economic engine for the county. Warehouse jobs are not high paying jobs. Robotic machinery is often used in place of workers. And as we know, warehouses often stay vacant at county taxpayer expense.

Destroying woods, wildlife, streams and rivers can never be undone.
Harford County residents deserve better.

Janet Hardy, Abingdon

For more information on the opposition to proposed projects click on links below. 

Save Abingdon Woods

Protect Perryman Peninsula  

Scorecard Update- Bill 21-003 Gas Station Bill

View the lastest Harford County Council legislative “scorecard” provided by Friends of Harford. Stay tuned for updates on land use legislation and track how your County Council representative voted! 

Bill 21-003 Gas Station Bill – Sponsors: Council Members Johnson, Wagner, Giangiordano, Beulah. 

Allows Motor vehicle filling stations or service station in the B2 or B3 Zoning district if EITHER: 

  1. All adjoining properties are served by a public water source, OR
  2. They will be sited on a minimum one-acre parcel which is located within 1 mile of the Harford County Water Service boundary.        MORE INFORMATION ON THE BILL 

SCORECARD UPDATE June, 2021

Friends of Harford Scorecard, Update March 2021

View the lastest Harford County Council legislative “scorecard” provided by Friends of Harford. Stay tuned for updates on land use legislation and track how your County Council representative voted! 

Highlights:

Bill 21-001 Community Solar Energy Generating System (CSEGS)

Sponsor: Council President Vincenti for County Executive Glassman
Adds CSEGS to Zoning Code definition as a principal use of sun for electric power generation

  • Added as a Special Development where Director of Planning & Zoning has sole authority to allow
  • Limits to 2 megawatts of capacity (AC)
  • Not allowed in AG
  • Not allowed in Natural Resource District or Chesapeake Bay Critical area
  • All residential has acreage limitations and added buffering
  • Allowed in all business, commercial and industrial districts with current buffers
  • Required decommissioning to original land with a payment to the County of 115% of anticipated cost for the
    entirety of the use For more Information

FOH: Opinion: A Special Exception rather than a Special Development should be required for approval to allow neighbors the opportunity to weigh in on the use. This use should be allowed in the AG District.

Amendments introduced by Councilman Wagner and sponsored by all County Council members.

New Definition- Viewshed as an area of land, water or other environmental element that is visible from a fixed
vantage point, in context with historic preservation. Viewsheds may be described as areas of particular scenic or historic value that are deemed worthy of preservation from impacts resulting from development or other
forms of change.

Replaces uses and districts with the following:
• Requires the use to be a Special Exception (not a Special Development)
• GI District will be a permitted use and not require a Special Exception
• Removes parcel size limitations
• Increases structure location to 250′ from offsite dwelling unit from 200′
• Adds that no location will be within the Viewshed of a property listed on Harford County Historical list.
• Site shall avoid visual corridors that are scenic Viewsheds or areas. Shall not be located within 1 mile
on either side of any designated scenic by-way on any County or State maintained road.
• Increases time for restoration of site for decommissioning from 6 to 12 months.
• Increases bond, surety, letter of credit or other financial assurance from 115% to 125% of anticipated
cost of removal.
Vote was unanimous in approval of all amendments.

View Scorecard

Friends of Harford Legislative Input- Bill 21-001 Solar Energy

Friends of Harford President, Stephanie Flasch, provided input for Bill 21-011 during the February 2, 2021 County Council Meeting. Remarks below.

RE:  FOH Supports Bill 21-001 Solar Energy with Amendments

Friends of Harford (FOH) is dedicated to advocating for responsible land use policies and practices that reduce environmental impacts. We commend the County’s legislative efforts for alternative energy initiatives.  Bill 21-001, Solar Energy, is an opportunity to enact small scale clean energy sources but must be amended to reduce negative impacts on Harford County’s landscape so the legislation is a win, win for all.

FOH reviewed solar energy best practices, HarfordNext Environmental Stewardship and Community Planning Areas chapters, plus solar energy legislation in effect in other Maryland Counties to evaluate the Solar Energy bill.  FOH requests the following amendments:

  • Define Power and Regenerative Plants, Harford County’s large scale solar projects permitted in GI district.   The definition can clarify the difference between large scale solar utilities and the Community Solar Energy Generating Systems (CSEGS) as an accessory or small-scale solar development.  The language in the both definitions need to identify key differences. Development Standards B (8) allows up to 3 CSEGS on one parcel;  how  is this different from large scale solar projects?
  • Change Permitted Use from a Special Development (SD) to a Special Exception (SE).  Allowing the community and adjacent property owners the ability to provide feedback on the impacts proposed to their property or community. The county has no experience with a small scale solar accessories in the designated zoning, therefore a Special Exception would at least potentially allow neighbors to help set site-specific requirements to protect themselves, or if necessary, to stop the project.  An SD denies both possibilities.
  • Solar developments should not exclude Agricultural districts. Agricultural protections can be designed to address different developmental-related risks.    For example, sitings prohibited in Rural Legacy Areas, on land under conservation or preservation easement plus a two-mile buffer from designated Scenic Byways in the County.  These type of restrictions assist in preserving the local heritage, the scenic views, and protect against the detraction of events held in agricultural areas.  The addition of the Agricultural District allows a Use that does not destroy valuable land with permanent development. 
  • Incorporate The Department of Natural Resources guidance on Solar Site Pollinator Habitat designations into Development Standard Section B (5) to gain benefits at the solar site and enhance habitats surrounding the site.
  • Use limitation must be included.  Maximum square feet occupied on lot or a percentage of the land to ensure the size is appropriate for the districts and minimizes the impact on the communities. Similar to Use limitations sited for Accessory Use and Structures § 267-27.
  • CSEGS projects should be limited to balance County initiatives with Maryland Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (Md-PACE) program. Harford County Code, Chapter 123 Article VIII: Clean Energy Loan Program provides incentives and opportunities for clean energy programs; solar energy sources on existing structures.

Bill 21-001, Solar Energy is a step in the right direction to enact standards for small-scale solar projects but requires amendments to reduce the long term impacts on Harford County’s landscape and communities. Thank you for your consideration for Bill 21-001 amendments.

Friends of Harford Legislation Request

Friends of Harford (FOH) requests the Harford County Council to AMEND Zoning Code 267-39 (F); REMOVING the Director of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) as the only grantor of waiver for trees, shrubs, plants and specific areas considered priorities for retention and protection as described in 267-39 (D). 
 
In addition, CREATE legislation to commission a Waiver Advisory Board to include members from various county organizations: Environmental Advisory Board, DPZ, Planning Advisory Board, Harford Soil and Conservation Board, Parks and Recreation Board, Historic Conservation and Harford County Forestry Board.
 
Introduction and approval of an amendment to Zoning Code 267-39 adding an oversight committee for granting waivers for trees, shrubs and plants accordingly is the FIRST STEP to reassuring the citizens of Harford County that areas that contribute long-term aesthetic, environmental, and economic benefits will be reviewed in a fair and appropriate manner when development of these area are requested.
Friends of Harford Tree Waiver Legislation Request
Tree-Waiver-Friends-of-Harford-Request-November-2020Download

Virtual Harford County Government Hearings & Participation During COVID

Harford County Government published the following links on its website for information on hearing dates, how to participate virtually and where to watch County Council meetings and Zoning hearings. See Below