Process for Amending the Text of the Zoning Regulations
Pending Text ZRA's
How Do I Access Information concerning text ZRAs?
To view archived ZRA's please click HERE
ZRA 96
ZRA97
ZRA 110
ZRA 114
ZRA 115
ZRA 116
ZRA 119
ZRA 124
ZRA 125
ZRA 135
ZRA 136
ZRA 137
ZRA 138
ZRA 139
ZRA 140
ZRA 141
ZRA 142
ZRA 143
ZRA 144
ZRA 141
ZRA 145
Process for Amending the Text of the Zoning Regulations
(see also Howard County Code, Section 16.208 )
Zoning regulation text amendments (ZRAs) may be proposed by individual citizens, businesses, their attorneys, members of the County Council, or the Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ). Following are the steps in the process of amending the zoning regulation text:
- A person interested in changing the zoning regulations files a petition with the County Council through the Administrative Assistant for Zoning. Individuals may file petitions in two period of the year: between February 1 and February 28 and between August 1 and August 31. Council members and the Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) may file petitions to amend the regulations that are in the public’s interest at any time.
- The Administrative Assistant for Zoning collects the required fees and assigns a number to the petition. She forwards copies to the member of the County Council and to the Department of Planning and Zoning and requests that the Planning Board schedule a meeting to consider the petition.
- The Department of Planning and Zoning circulates the petition to appropriate County departments for comment. After receiving those comments, the DPZ prepares a technical staff report, which includes recommendations to the Planning Board from the Department. It forwards the technical staff report to the Planning Board and to the County Council.
- After it receives the technical staff report, the Planning Board holds a public meeting to consider the proposed ZRA.
The Planning Board forwards the ZRA with its recommendation to the County Council. The Planning Board may recommend approval, modification, or disapproval.
- The Chairperson of the County Council introduces a Council bill to place the ZRA before the Council for consideration. The Chairperson may file this bill anytime after the Council receives the recommendation of the Planning Board and the technical staff report. The bill filed by the Chairperson may introduce the ZRA as it was submitted by the petitioner or with amendments recommended by the Department of Planning and Zoning, the Planning Board, or members of the County Council.
- The County Council follows the normal procedure for considering and passing a bill. After introduction, a public hearing is scheduled. At a subsequent legislative session, the Council will give final consideration to the ZRA and send it to the County Executive for signature.
- If the ZRA is approved by the County Council, the Administrative Assistant for Zoning forwards a copy of the bill to DPZ, who amends the regulations as soon as the bill is effective (generally 61 days after it is enacted).
How Do I Access Information concerning text ZRAs?
- The Council will post copies of pending zoning text regulations when they are filed, and it will post links to the technical staff report and Planning Board recommendations when they are received. You may access those from this site.
- After the Department of Planning and Zoning has completed its review and prepared a technical staff report, questions concerning the ZRA may be directed to the department.
- The Department of Planning and Zoning posts the schedule of the Planning Board on its website.
- After the Council introduces the ZRA as a Council bill, questions concerning the legislation may be directed to the County Council. The Council posts all pending legislation, related background, and its agendas on the legislative section of this website
- If you are unable to find the ZRA you are looking for on this page, please click here to direct you to the Zoning Regulation Amendments Archived page.
Pending text ZRAs
- ZRA 96, to amend various sections of the Zoning Regulations establishing new special bulk requirements for density and for minimum lot size applicable to Neighborhood Infill Subdivisions and Neighborhood Infill Re-subdivisions...
- ZRA 97, Owen Kelly, Carrigan Homes, to amend Section 130.B.2 (Variances) of the Zoning Regulations
- ZRA 110, Aladdin Rock, LLC, to amend Section 127.5.E.3.e (Moderate Income Housing).
- ZRA 114, Tim Keane, to amend the Zoning Regulations of Howard County to amend Section 103.A.122 to add wording to provide that a preserved parcel need not contain a residential improvement.
- ZRA 115 Forest Motel, Inc., to amend the Zoning Regulations of Howard County to amend Section 117.3 (OT District) to add new Section C for the addition of an ice cream store and allow long term uses to continue in an OT zone.
ZRA 115 Application
|
Technical Staff Report |
| Planning Board Date= 10/22/2009 |
Planning Board Recommendation |
| Council Bill XX-2009 |
Public Hearing Date= ___/___/___ |
- ZRA 116, Erickson Retirement Communities, to amend Section 103: Definitions and Section 127.1: PSC (Planned Senior Community) to provide appropriate regulations for a campus style Continuing Care Retirement Community ("CCRC").
| ZRA 116 Application |
Technical staff report |
| Planning Board Date = __/__/____ |
Planning Board recommendation |
| Council Bill XX-2008 |
Public Hearing Date = __/__/___ |
- ZRA 119, Add new Conditional Use for Boutique Hotels
- ZRA 124, Sec. 103.A. to add new Section 139.2. (Route 40 Manual)
- ZRA 125, Sec. 118.B. to add "kennels" as a matter or right in B-1 District
- ZRA 135, to amend Zoning Regulation Section 131.N.43 to permit riding academies/horse stables to be located within 100' of existing dwelling (w/20 or less horses; and 200 of existing dwellings (w/20 horses) on sites in the RC/RR District over 20 acres.
- ZRA 136, to amend the Zoning Regulations such that if bonus residential density is utilized in the MXD-6 District, the range of percentages of gross area set forth for employment uses under Sec. 127.C.3.a. would be increased from between 9% and 11% to between 7% and 11%.
- ZRA 137, to amend various sections of the Zoning Regulations to permit density from potential infill lots in R-20, R-12 & R-ED zoning districts to be sent to the R-SA-8 and R-A-15 zoning district.
- ZRA 138, to amend Section 128.J.2.f. to remove the requirement that sites for Pick-Your-Own Enterprises located in an RC Zoning District have frontage on and direct access to a collector or arterial road.
- ZRA 139, to amend Section 125.A.9.f. to add alternative means for the provision of affordable housing units for new development located in the NT (New Town Downtown Columbia Revitalization) Zoning District.
- ZRA 140Amend section 127.4: TOD (Transit Oriented Development).
- ZRA 141Amend Section 103: Definitions, Sectio 107: R-ED (Residential: Environmental Development) District, and Section 128: Supplementary Zoning District Regulations of the Zoning Regulations in certain ways to augment and improve Neighborhood Preservation Density Exchange Option, and to amend Section 128.A.1.j of the Supplementary Bulk Regulations to correct an omission in the ZRA 137 amendments.
- ZRA 142 Provide for a conditional use in the RC and RR zoning districts which will promote commercial solar farms in Howard County that will provide clean energy to local entities and contribute to carbon-free energy in the power grid system.
- ZRA 143 Amendments to Section 127.6: TNC (Traditional Neighborhood Center) Overlay District in the Zoning Regulations to revise a number of existing regulations in Sections 127.6.C, 127.6.E and 127.6.F.
- ZRA 144 To establish a new zoning district, the Community Enhancement Floating (CEF) District
- ZRA 145 Amend the Conditional Use regulations in Sections 131.G. and 131.N.25 to update the existing conditional use regulations for gasoline service stations.
| ZRA 145 Application |
Technical Staff Report |
| Planning Board = __/__/__ |
Planning Board Recommendation |
| Council Bill XX-XXXX |
Public Hearing = __/__/____ |
* Cases not heard on the given date will roll over to the next meeting. For more information go to the Planning and Zoning Website