Planning and Zoning Commission - Regular Meeting

Hamstead planning and zoning commission meeting. Uh tonight is Wednesday, December 17th, 2025. Uh can we have a roll call, please?

And

this is the regular meeting of the planning and zoning commission of the town of Hamstead and the public is advised that members of the Hamstead town council may be present and in attendance of the meeting. Persons are reminded that this session is being recorded on tape as 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 required to print their name and address and affiliation on the signin sheet at the front of the office. Uh Jim, um we need to call have a minute's approval. November 19th, 2025 regular commission meeting. Uh do we have a motion, please? to approve the

can I have a second? Any further discussion? So approved. Uh next on the agenda, um approval of the Oh, Jim, I'm sorry. Is there any administrator update?

Just a few things. Um as far as the water system project, uh the last three bid packages, which are for the two water treatment plant construction, um contracts and for the water treatment plant inspection services. cont. They were submitted to MDE last week for their approval. Once they're approved, we'll be able to execute the contracts with Kago for construction and RK engineering for inspection services. We plan to issue the notice to proceed to both of those uh organizations on February 1st, and we're hoping we'll be able to break ground on a new water treatment plant sometime in April. The installation of the new raw water manes continues to progress. Milan Utilities is currently working on Dakota Road. I'll be moving along uh on the shot panther drive probably not coming next week Christmas the week between Christmas and New Year's and they'll also be on Shiloh doing some work in front of Hamstead on the week between Christmas and New Year's trying to get a big portion of that done while school's out. So, um they're going to spend the majority of the working on this section which Shiloh Panther and then well and then that's task three out of five they get that done they'll probably be over 60% done those two and they're hoping to be done by May the entire project and so we'll have a couple of months there where there's an overlap with construction of the pipelines and the water construction plants but then pipelines will be done and they'll just be constructed plants that's a two year process to get those plants done. So, we're looking at probably May or June of 2028, but we're moving. So,

yeah. Yeah. Well, we've been working on this project for [snorts] over two years. So, we're halfway there to the timeline. Uh some of the other projects that are going on, just to give you guys an update, continues through the review process. Um there's a chance that they could be able to have uh the public hearing final approval in January meeting. Um depends on if they get the approvals from the county reviewing time more likely to be February and uh before you guys leave in the back. have got revised final plan uh submission so it's updated with the correct signage and the correct um exterior of the building so that I'll give you guys that gas and go continues through concept review they're close I expect they may be here also in January for concept approval and Melanie Acres subdivision that's been renamed now crossing That's the house subdivision down off of Dana Avenue which is commission approved in 2024. Two of the six houses are done and sold. A third is nearing completion and construction has begun on the fourth and fifth houses. I expect they'll be done the la the sixth house by probably May or June this year and it'll be all wrapped up.

Excuse me. It goes very quickly once Yes. and they are big houses selling for big prices which is pretty amazing the [snorts] prices that they're getting. But that's it. Okay, any questions? Okay, let's move on then. Approval of sign application Rumba Home Group 1222 North Main Street. Can you represent?

I represent group. We are asking permission to decastic It's a mounting substrate that says farms real estate on it and it's like what we see in this exactly picture is from the uh the sign

as far as town regulations um everything fits fine within the town code. Um you look at the the amount of window coverage it's well under 33% of the window. Um the sign above the window, homes and farms real estate. Uh that is a non-illuminated sign. I think it looks fine in my opinion. Any comments, questions? No. Then that's easy. I'm sorry. Black and white.

Um let me see. The logo itself the HG the top part of that semicircle is

almost an existing I know her.

Okay. If there are no other comments or questions, then we need a motion, please, to approve the signage at 1222 North Main Street for Homes and Farmers Real Estate. We have a motion, please. Pardon? I need a second. Any comments, questions? So approved.

Welcome. Okay. Uh, next on the agenda, approval of a zoning certificate, 1306 North Main Street, addition.

I'm sorry, one I went to the next one. I'm sorry. 106. Thank you. Main Street Exterior Renovations, excuse me. might be a pass that off. You've done a lot of work. It looks really nice.

This is This is from this. Is that what I'm looking at? That was recent, wasn't it?

I love that blue. Very pretty. Oh, it's around the front of the house. I see it. [laughter]

Okay. So that's just going to stay the current same as the white is now.

The only vinyl to the board. Any other comments, questions? Nothing. Okay. So, u then if you all are satisfied, then we need to have a motion for an approval of the zoning certificate 1006 South Main Street Exterior Renovations. I have a second.

Second motion.

Okay. No further discussion. So, approved. We'll be sending you a zoning certificate pretty. Okay. Um, next on the agenda, approval of a zoning certificate now 1306 North Main Street Edition. Good evening. for consideration. So the one thing to remember with this is the variance to get the 9 ft to move forward which has already been approved by the board of zoning appeals. um they never expire. They variances stay with the property forever. Even if it's sold, um the variance always stays there. So basically, you're what you're approving is just the exterior change, which if I understand correctly, Kevin, you're taking what is the existing exterior facing Main Street and just pushing it 9 ft forward.

And the one question I had is the sign isn't going to move. There's plenty of room there. So, Yeah, me and Christina went out and measured it. So, it's actually once you move it forward, you've still got what was it? So, right. So, when we have the foot will still be and I I mean, if there's space there. So, is it pretty much even with the building next to it when you kick it out? When you kick it out a little bit.

Yep. Yeah. So, if you look at that one picture, it'll be even with this pop out here. I just have one question to ask. It's just me. Why did you decide to go with the black window instead of white in the building? I know I'm putting you on the spot. That was curious.

But I'm flexible.

I'm just a tiny opinion, but I like the tradition like very traditional house in the background. The white and the black does look very very modern. It looks that's just my little

but that is 2026 2025. I mean that the way this looks is what I'm used to see. do our best to see. Okay. Uh any other discussion? No, nothing. Okay, that's good. I actually I think that it looks very much up to date with what I'm used to seeing in especially in businesses today. Actually, I'm seeing so many lovely white homes today. These beautiful white colonial homes, it's amazing. Yeah.

Did you ever consider that something It's just my opinion. Yeah. And I think Sharon hit on it's the just my opinion. If if you put white buildings on a white white windows on a white building, you're just you're not see.

Okay. Uh then with no other further discussion, then we need to have an approval of the zoning certificate for 1306 North Main Street. May I have a second? No further discussion. So approved. You're very welcome. Okay. Uh next, uh a Carol County Department of Planning update. And it looks like we have a letter. You have a two-page or one one page double-sided doulesided update from Carol County Department of Planning. Obviously, I'm not going to read the entire thing. [laughter]

Yeah. Um, so you guys look it over. Um, if you have any uh questions, you email or call myself or Christina and we can reach out to the county and try and get those questions answered. Very thorough.

It is. So Claire Stewart is our temporary liaison in the planning department. She's also deputy director of department of planning. So she's got her hands full over there. So I'm assuming

just a question just kind of a learning thing for me. together. So what do they have control over? Where does that stop? Next month I will bring you a booklet that describes the relationship between the county and the town. what the county will do for us and what is expected town of the town to help the county with um you know they'll help with review of plans. They will um assist in the liaison role. They will help us um when we do um updates to the water and sewer master plan when we need to do an amendment. They'll do that. They'll put together the annual um report that has to go to the Maryland Department of Planning. And what they'll do is instead of Hamstead doing their own report and Westminster and Manchester doing their own reports, the Carol County Department of Planning will put one in that oversees the entire county and the municipality including municipalities. So actually next month we will discuss the annual report and the Hamstead information. go into that, but I'll I'll make sure that I get a copy for everyone of it's a little booklet that describes the relationship and how the two work together matters of this type of

There is in this paper that we have the the item at the bottom of the page, deferrals. That's that's been a big topic of discussion with Carol County Realtors. And um this is this is a big deal. There's a meeting tomorrow morning um in commission. Yeah. That I wish I could go to to hear that.

Yeah, that is um the main thing to remember with that is that is the freedom district. that is only taking place to affect any um plans or development in the Freedom District. Um for those that aren't familiar with it, what they're doing is basically they're putting um a six month or three month moratorum on any uh plans, acceptance of plans, um approval of plans that deal with any new retirement villages, retirement homes, subdivisions, planned commercial centers, self storage centers. um anywhere from three months to six months or to eight months just to try and figure out what's going on and maybe to change some code regulations on those types of developments. Um and it has caused some issues

um with with developers down there and and plans that are already in progress that are basically getting halted. I think I can imagine how it would be let's say if they and did that um put a moratorum up here TSC waste gas and go anything that we have in the works right now come to a halt some of those people have invested money in their planning absolutely and now with this deferral the big complaint of course is what happens next because after that period of time if the rules change regulations change it means more money to them

and cause them not to be able to complete what they started. So, it's a big deal. Okay. Any other comments, questions? Okay. Is there any other business? Is there any public comment? I woke up already.

Good. So just mention that earlier and think that always I have to say Hamstead this is an incredible town the way they take it is I mean I have to say it and go on record I will always say that because it's true they really take wonderful care of this community I mean the fellas that clean the streets and put the pre-treat and then come out and plow and then come back out again and salt again we're very lucky

indulge me like remember to sh the county hadn't got it. Right. And so I'm trying to find anywhere to park over and one of our workers had steep Anyway, he says, "I'm sorry."

I'm walk. Was it? Yeah. But I I gotta say that that I'm not surprised to hear that because that's the way they are here. Absolutely outstanding. So, we're very fortunate. When you said you were needed to thank I thought you were going to thank your parking attendance for this evening. [laughter]

Okay. So if there isn't any other business then we need to have a motion please to adjurnn. I make a motion to adjourn. And is there a second? No discussion. Right. Right. So adjourn. Thank you.