Planning and Zoning Commission - Regular Meeting

Order the Hamstead Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. Tonight is Wednesday, March 25th, 2026. Jim, would you um do a roll call, please? Sharon Callahan, here. Lucon, here. A Mayor here. Deborah Panner here. Barb Jagger

here. The regular meeting of the planning and zoning commission of the town of Hamstead is uh held here at town hall 1034 South Carol Street, Hamstead. The public is advised that members of the Hamstead Town Council may be present and in attendance at this meeting. All persons are reminded that this session is being recorded on tape is required by law for the preservation of records and are asked when providing comment to give their name and address. All persons in attendance are requested to print their name and address and affiliation on the sign-in sheet. Um, we need a minute's approval for the meeting of February 25th, 2026, the regular commission meeting. May I have a motion, please?

So moved. May I have a second? Second. All those in favor? So approved. Uh, zoning administrator update. Jim,

uh, just a few things. first the monthly update on the water project. Uh so the pipeline side of the project uh they're on working on uh task four out of the five. Um they're out of Shiloh Road now and they are starting up the hill towards Welssley and that'll be the last piece of task four. Uh that could be a week or so or probably maybe two weeks and they'll have that wrapped up. Uh they'll be coming in at the end of next week to start the permanent patch on Shiloh Road. So that bumpiness there should be fixed then. After that they'll go to task five which is along lower Beckleysville. And they still anticipate being done pretty much uh middle to end of May for the pipelines. As far as the water treatment plants, they're actually going to move some dirt next month. So we will actually start the construction of the water treatment plants midappril. Um, they have a completion date of July 6th as of right now, 2027. But the way that they're doing this with the four different plants, they're doing two completely, then they'll move on to the next two. And they they anticipate having the first one complete up and running by either late December of this year or early January of next year.

So, it's best. It's really moving along. Um, last month I told you all about a plan to develop a solar facility on the south end of town on the Patmos property. Well, we sent them uh sent the developer some questions and comments we had regarding the project. One of those comments was just to make sure that they were aware that uh they had to do a DNR study on the on the property because there may be an endangered species uh in that habitat in that area. which is the bog turtles. Here we go again. So about I've never seen a bog turtle and yet I heard about Well, they're in danger.

So about three, they're very shy. They're cute, too. About three days later, I got an email back and they stated that we're going to have to hold off on meeting and discussing this because they have to do a study and it takes three months. So basically, it's moving it back three months. uh they'll do the study in April, May, and June. Hopefully, I'll hear from them in July. Plan could stay as is. Plan could be altered. Plan could go away depending on what the study shows. So, that's where that is. Is this the one where you said basically the town has no choice whether they desire? Can you just refresh my memory on why there's

so that's because it they put in for a certificate of public convenience and necessity known as a CPCN with the public service commission. Basically it overrules all local zoning when it comes to um solar facilities like that. Do they have to state the reason for the necessity and do we know what this necessity simply is because the need for energy? Um so it's very broad very non-specific. Correct. Okay. Yep. Um just a couple things locally with projects going on. Um number one, if you remember, it's been a while, probably a over over a year since this commission approved the solar at Panther Plex.

Well, it's being worked on now. Um they're installing the panels on the roof and they're also installing the ground mounted boxes and everything where we had them move them down by that lower entrance. About that, huh? I forgot about that. We talked about that a whole lot. Yeah. So, and the other thing, um, just in case people, uh, aren't aware, which I doubt, Chipotle is coming to town. They're taking over the Taco Bell KFC. Um, they're actively started the work now and they anticipate an opening sometime during the summer. I noticed Panther added a Boys and Girls Club sign outside. Is there That's not

They got that approved through us. Okay. because it's not if it's outside of the main street revitalization area, but we can just in house approve the signs. Yeah, I saw it. When you're talking about a side of a building that large in a sign this big, it it was I just couldn't remember. Yep. I think it's ironic, Jim, how many uh how much of that building has been um filled with things relating to children. Mhm. It's always It seems like what it always should have been and it's almost coming back. It's amazing. If you drive past there on a weekend and you see those parking lots filled filled what's going on in there, they have dance competitions.

Yes. And kids come from all over the Mid-Atlantic region to u participate in. Isn't that exciting? Great for the town, for community. That's it. Okay. Thank you. Any other comments about Jim's comments? Okay. Uh, then let's move on, please. Introduction of the final site plan for Wise Guest and Go 721 Hanover Pike. Welcome. Good evening. Nice to see everybody again. Yes. Bill Swanik with HRG here to introduce the final plan. I was here last month for approval of the concept phase.

The final plan is a carved copy of the concept. So when you look at the plan set, there's been no changes to layout. The only thing that we've really changed or modified would be related to storm water management when we move from concept to final. And if you don't know what you're looking at, you wouldn't even see the changes, but they made us change some of the u the storm water management facility um controls. We had some curb cuts going into that basin. Now we have inlets with pipes. So minor changes other than just really storm water. Um, we submitted the con or the final plan. We're starting to generate some of those comments now. Um, we're really just waiting for storm water at this point. So, once we get that, we'll resubmit a revised plan, uh, addressing all the comments and then hopefully make it back before this board for final approval.

Okay. Um, any questions, comments? Questions. That's why I'm here this evening. Again, I don't see any new faces. So, same plan as before. Mhm. Uh, one thing I can tell you, and everyone has a copy of it, town staff has reviewed it already, and we've sent comments into uh, into bill. Most of the comments, they're just basically clerical um, corrections. Uh, so it should be easy to fix. Yeah. No worries changing or making those revisions. Yeah, no issues. And I know I've asked you more than once, but based on this timeline now that we are in final phase, what's our opening?

Um, we're still holding true if we can get Last time I checked with Carol County, we were like number nine in the queue for storm water review. So, it's really hinging on that. We're still adamant that we would like to get this one built before the end of this year, okay, this construction season. So, we're as soon as we get comments, we're going to turn those around, work through some final issues with the town, hopefully gain final approval so we can start construction. Well, that's exciting. We're ready to go. We just need our We need our approvals. Very good.

Just to clarify, just to make sure that I am correct. There is no separate signage on this. No monument sign, no pyline sign. It's just the signage on the canopies pretty much. Okay. Where is the um the pricing the It would be on Nick canopy. Yeah, I think um I think Alex mentioned maybe putting that on the monument side. Maybe the dollar the the price. Here we go. You mean on the shopping center? I thought there was maybe a proposal. I'm not sure. I don't usually deal with signage. That's usually handled by Wise directly.

Yeah. I think in the plan from what we saw the the dollar amount was going to be on like the canopy on the canopy. Okay. So there and we did we did put in our comanding signage on the property but need as far as I know there's no adjustments to freestanding. That's normally what they do is just on the canopy facing out you would see the price. So there's and then you've got the little sign down. Yeah. And you'll have prices of 2.29 a gallon, right? I couldn't resist. I just, you know, sorry, forgive me. You have to use your wise points to

a lot a lot of points. If you live within the 10 minutes, you get the I'm sorry. And so this picture that you do have in the plans, where is this one from? I believe that one might be Westminster. I'm not 100% sure. That's their state look. Um, we did talk with Jim. We're going to go ahead. We provided photos the first round, but we'll go ahead and do the required rendering just to get it on the property and spruce it up a little bit. That's what you're looking at. Uh, generally signage colors.

Okay. Any other comments or questions? Exciting. Say that. Yes, you're getting there. Yes. Yes. Jim, anything? No, I'm good. Okay. All right. Thank you very much. You're very welcome. Hope to see you soon with a final plan approval. Sounds good to us. Working towards that. Thanks so much for your time today. Thank you for being here. The adequate facility study on this. Um, no need for you to attend.

Okay. And then the following month, which will be May, um we'll do a public hearing. Hopefully, we'll do a public hearing and a final, but we'll wait until as soon as we get storm order, we can move forward with that state. That's my next step. Actually, we'll need all the branches, all the reviewing bureaus approval. Okay. And once we receive that, then we can do a public hearing and the approval in one evening. We'll keep you posted. Sounds good. All right. Thanks so much, everybody. Enjoy the rest of the evening. Thank you very much. Feel better. Yes. Don't laugh too much. See that turn? Don't climb the ladder again. Oh, no, no, no. I'm off the ladder for a little while.

Okay. Thank you. Uh, next on the agenda, Carol County Department of Planning Update. Welcome. Thanks for your service. Thank you. Have a nice

He's a very loud speaker. How you are? We'll go ahead. that one. All right. Uh if I'm yelling, let me know.

Um so, um did you have a meeting in February? Because quite a few of these are have not changed since February. So, if I'm repeating anything, please let me know. Um I um I think I think uh we haven't had any updates with deferrals, although I can go over anything with the deferrals. Um I'm sure that you know that uh deferrals have been uh in discussion with open sessions with the board of county commissioners. Um just to recap, I'm sure you already know this, but um in the Freedom area, um there are four different um types of developments that are um now deferred. Um those include retirement villages and retirement homes, uh six months deferral. Uh cluster subdivisions, six months defer deferral. Planned commercial centers, eight months deferral. and self- storage facilities. Three months deferral. Um, oh, we also they also have discussed uh deferring um data centers. Um, but I don't think that they've um I'm not sure exactly how long those deferrals are um just because these were all grouped together. um they haven't been specifically addressed in the zoning ordinance um because when we wrote the zoning ordinance, data centers weren't really part of the conversation. So, I think that they're still working on um creating the language and text around um data centers and the deferrals for the data centers. Um but so it's we're they're temporarily deferring the acceptance and review of applications for data centers for oh sorry yeah 12

months actually. Yeah. So it's 12 months for data centers. Um yeah and these are all for um the freedom area doesn't affect anywhere else in the county. And so Carly, I'm sorry I'm not familiar with what you mean by the deferral exactly.

Oh okay. Okay. I wasn't sure if Okay. They've gone into it. So, um, uh, Commissioner Krebs was concerned that the county code doesn't address the welfare of citizens in the Freedom area with respect to provisions governing retirement villages and retirement homes, cluster subdivisions, planned commercial centers, uh, qualified projects, and self- storage. So, these deferrals will allow the planning and zoning commission to study the zoning code to suggest possible modifications to address those concerns um with specifically the the freedom area. Um yeah, so it's it's just um deferring the approval of um projects of these nature of this nature. So um yeah. Yeah. Are there any other questions about deferrals?

Thank you.

Okay. Um, we had a um there was a recommended text amendment from the planning and zoning commission um for the con consolidation and relocation of non-conforming use off the premises signs. Um the proposed text amendment allows for multiple signs to be consolidated into a larger sign up to 50 ft high. Um the board directed staff to schedule a public hearing uh following a public information session. Um, so we had a public information session on March 5th at the Finburg Library, um, where, um, that text amendment was explained to the public. And, um, on February 5th, the board of county commissioners uh, directed uh, planning staff to work with the planning and zoning commission to remove uh, oh, wait, sorry, this is a second text amendment. Um we al they also directed us to uh work with planning and zoning commission to remove residential as an accessory use to planned commercial centers. Um and that uh text amendment was introduced to the planning and zoning commission on March 4th. So still pending um approval on on both of those. But those are the the text amendments that have been uh that we're working on.

Back to the billboard one. I'm familiar with it. What it and the way that I understand it, it was basically it was directed more towards the 140 corridor coming in there through Fsburg up towards Westminster where you have a lot of billboards and say you have two or three billboards on your property. What this would do is this would allow you to combine the size of those three billboards, take it down and replace one basically much larger. Correct. Um I I believe it's um like viewing the the signs as one like unit. Oh, a consolidating

consolidating in ter not in terms of like re um like erecting a like as one sign but as like consolidating it as but they're treating them as as they the three are treated as if they are one. Yes. Okay. And now is that countywide? I believe so. Okay. I believe so. Okay. Yeah. Would that come into play for any signage here

in town? No. I think if I read the information from February, there was nothing on there that pertained to this area. Although I could be wrong if I'm mistaken, not mistaken. I don't recall, but I'm almost positive that none of this applied like you said if it's related to our town. Right. I will say driving up and down 140 because I work in on 140 uh the billboard traffic is mind-blowing. Oh, the amount of billboards. Yes, very much so. Yeah, that is true. Yeah. Okay. Thank you.

Um we've been going through um recommendations from the master plan workg groupoup uh sessions that we held um this past year. Uh we had uh three different work groups. Uh one was housing, one was uh economic development, one was agriculture and then a series of recommendations uh were created from those workg groupoup sessions. And um the planning and zoning commission has been going through those um recommendations um as part of a broader process to review, update, and propose changes to the master plan. Um we've been uh we've been coming up with uh different opportunities for public feedback um throughout that process and we're expecting to continue going through recommendations and kind of filing through those recommendations, coming up with um like a smaller list of recommendations and then um eventually getting to public feedback. Um and that should it'll go through to 2026. So um and yeah, we so the planning and zoning commission has been reviewing policy recommendations during their regular meetings. Um, we also have um been working with um Michael Baker to um review and evaluate the relationship between adopted master plans and the county's current zoning and site development regulations. um to have an expert uh provide uh recommendations for code revisions that will uh allow uh consistency with the county's adopted plans.

So master plan is is in process. um uh water resource element. Um uh comments were received from state agencies on the draft water resources element plan. Um on January 20th, the county planning and zoning commission held a joint public hearing on the evening of February 4th with Manchester and New Windsor's planning commissions. Um, and we also had um other municipal planning and zoning commissions um public hearings on February 23rd. Were you at that one? I can't remember.

We did our own here, right? Okay. So, we Sharon signed a paper and um Brenda has it. So, okay. I was actually over your place today at the WRCC meeting and um we're going to well next month we will revisit the W the water resource element and look at the the final actual piece of the document and um hopefully we what we'll do then is we will recommend it to council for approval. So

Okay, great. Um the fall 2025 water and sewer amendment includes Mount Ary, Tony Town, and Freedom. Um the board of county commissioners adopted the amendment on February 19th and it will be forwarded to MDE for approval. Um an extension to the triannual update of the water and sewer master plan has been granted by MDE. The triannual update will now take place in 2027. Um, in the meantime, spring and fall amendment cycles will be offered and all of the municipalities have been contacted about any spring amendments that they'd like to uh have processed. I think

I don't think we have anything. I know we don't have anything in the spring and I don't think we'll as of right now I don't anticipate anything for the fall, but we'll see what happens. Okay, great. Um, annual reports. Um I believe that um all of the municipalities have turned in their um their portion of the annual report. Um and the draft of the completed annual report should be available for review in May. And I think those are all of my updates. All righty. Um if do you have any questions about any of those?

Thank you. And could you tell us again your name? I apologize, but I'd like to let council know that we do have someone here now. Yeah, it's uh Carile Fiat. I have some silent letters in Carile. Oh, okay. I have it. Sorry. Thanks. Thank you. So, Carly, you go. You can just say Carly, too. Yeah. Got it. Which do you prefer? I I like Carile a little better, but mostly because I like the way it's written. I like the way it looks. That's and that's truly the only thing that I like a little more. It's a very pretty name. Thank you. Thank you. It's a family name. Welcome to Hamstead. Thanks. Thank you. Delighted to have you. Welcome is right. Yes. Thank you so much. So nice to meet all of you.

It's right here. It's a pleasure to have somebody here again. No offense, Jim. You were good at reading. Okay. Um, thank you again. Is there any other business? Cool. Thank you. Any public comment? No. Nora then? Uh, we need a motion to adjurnn. I make a motion to adjurnn. May I have a second? Second. All those in favor? I so adjourn. Thank you. Thank you very much. Rock, paper, scissors.