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2:30 PM

1. ROLL CALL​

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

CONSENT AGENDA

3. CIP TRANSFERS

REGULAR AGENDA

4. POLICY REGARDING PLANNING COMMISSION RECOGNITION OF PLANS(Citywide) *Please see the draft policy  at the end of the agenda below

5. CITY COUNCIL BILL #17-0171/ FIVE AND DIME HISTORIC DISTRICT (City Council President – Administration)   For the purpose of designating the area located within certain boundaries as the Five and Dime Historic District. (Eleventh District)

6. CITY COUNCIL BILL #17-0172/  HOWARD STREET COMMERCIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT  (City Council President – Administration)   For the purpose of designating the area located within certain boundaries as the Howard Street Commercial Historic District. (Eleventh District)

7. CITY COUNCIL BILL #17-0158/ REZONING – 1770 AND 1780 UNION AVENUE(Councilmember Leon F. Pinkett, III)   For the purpose of changing the zoning for the properties known as 1770 Union Avenue (Block 3575C, Lot 068) and 1780 Union Avenue (Block 3575C, Lot 068C), as outlined in red on the accompanying plat, from the I-2 Zoning District to the I-MU Zoning District.  (Seventh District)

3:00 PM

8. CITY COUNCIL BILL #17-0164/ ZONING – CONDITIONAL USE CONVERSION OF A SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING UNIT TO 2 DWELLING UNITS IN THE R-8 ZONING DISTRICT – VARIANCES – 2240 EAST BALTIMORE STREET (Councilmember Shannon Sneed)   For the purpose of permitting, subject to certain conditions, the conversion of a single-family dwelling unit to 2 dwelling units in the R-8 Zoning District on the property known as 2240 East Baltimore Street (Block 1723, Lot 039), as outlined in red on the accompanying plat; and granting variances from certain bulk regulations (lot area) and certain off-street parking regulations. (Thirteenth District)

9. MINOR AMENDMENT FINAL DESIGN APPROVAL/ MODFICATION TO FENCING FOR SINAI HOSPITAL PARKING LOT ON SIDES OF NORTHERN PARKWAY/ PREAKNESS WAY/ PIMLICO AND BELVEDERE AVENUE - MARYLAND JOCKEY CLUB, INC. PUD # 13 (Fifth District)

10. MINOR CHANGE-FINAL DESIGN APPROVAL (SIGNAGE AND LANDSCAPE) PARKSIDE SHOPPING CENTER  PUD #39 (Second District)

*DRAFT POLICY REGARDING PLANNING COMMISSION RECOGNITION OF PLANS

The Planning Commission wants to support and recognize as many planning efforts as possible.  In order to do so, staff has developed recommended guidelines for various types of plans to be recognized by the Planning Commission.  

City-managed Plans

The Baltimore City Planning Commission is responsible for preparing and updating plans showing the physical development of the City.  The Planning Commission relies on staff of the Department of Planning to help accomplish this mandate. This mandate is largely met through a variety of citywide initiatives and plans, such as the new zoning code, community development strategies, sustainability plan, agency plans, the capital improvement program, etc.  In addition to citywide initiatives, Planning Department staff is currently managing three planning initiatives with a neighborhood focus: 

• INSPIRE - Through the 21st Century Schools Initiative, Baltimore City Public Schools, in partnership with the Maryland Stadium Authority, Baltimore City, and the State of Maryland, will be investing nearly one billion dollars to renovate or replace schools over the next several years. The Department of Planning is conducting a planning program for the neighborhoods around each of the new or renovated schools. The program is called INSPIRE, which stands for Investing in Neighborhoods and Schools to Promote Improvement, Revitalization, and Excellence.
• LINCS  - Leveraging Investments in Neighborhood Corridors (LINCS) is an interagency partnership to revitalize key corridors that connect neighborhoods and communities throughout the City. The goal of this initiative is to enhance the aesthetics and economic vitality of these gateways, while seeking to improve quality of life and increase community capacity.
• Green Network Plan Focus Areas - Abandoned buildings and vacant properties plague many Baltimore City neighborhoods, making communities less safe, hurting property values and diminishing quality of life. With the Green Network, Baltimore City is creating a bold vision for reimagining these vacant and abandoned properties and transforming them into community assets. The vision will provide a thoughtful blueprint for turning vacant properties into parks, gardens, urban farms, open space and future development sites to benefit residents, promote economic development and make Baltimore communities more connected and sustainable.

All of these plans inform City agencies’ recommendations related to land disposition, transportation, zoning, facilities management, capital improvement program, and other policy areas. Many are adopted or reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission.

Community-managed Plans

Many communities initiate planning processes that result in a neighborhood master plan or other topical plan document. Planning Department staff often plays an advisory role in the development of these independent neighborhood plans. Communities seeking to have their plan recognized by the Planning Commission and receive an official acceptance letter must meet the Community-managed Plans Guidelines. The acceptance letter recognizes and supports the goals, direction and major concepts expressed by the plan, but does not obligate the City to support every recommendation or fund/implement recommended projects.

Community-managed Plan Guidelines

These guidelines apply to plans created by organizations other than the Department of Planning or other City agencies. In preparing a community-led plan pursuing Planning Commission recognition, the community sponsor must:

• Create an advisory committee to guide the planning process that includes DoP staff;
• Host at least three (3) open, public meetings during the process; and
• Meet with stakeholders who will be affected by the plan’s recommendations (property owners, institutions, public agencies, other neighborhoods, etc.).

The plan document must:

• Be consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Master Plan and other City policies;
• Include standardized topics such as process, existing conditions, background data, goals, strategies, recommended action steps;
• Include a detailed implementation chart, in a format acceptable to the Planning Department; and
• Be in a well-designed, easy to read format.

If a community wishes to use their plan to pursue state, federal or other funding for development projects, the plan document should also adhere to those guidelines.

*The Planning Commission recognizes that plans substantially completed prior to adoption of this policy, may not meet all of the above guidelines, but should meet most of them in order to be accepted by the Planning Commission.

Benefits of Planning Commission Recognition

• The issuance of an “Acceptance Letter,” recognizing and supporting the goals, direction and major concepts expressed by the plan,
• Accepted plans can provide general policy guidance to the Planning Commission;
• Accepted plans can provide input to the City’s larger comprehensive planning process;
• For accepted plans, the Planning Commission can recommend public funding, land disposition, rezoning, or other staff resources necessary to carry out the recommendations of the plan;
• The Planning Commission can encourage other City agencies to use accepted plans in similar fashion;
• Accepted plans will be made available on the Department of Planning website.

Questions /concerns – Please call Sara Paranilam at 410-396-5935 or e-mail – sara.paranilam@baltimorecity.gov

This agenda was prepared on the assumption that all necessary materials have been made available in sufficient time for consideration by the Commission at this meeting.  There are occasionally changes in this agenda when relevant materials have not been delivered to the Department on schedule.  For any item marked (**), please call the Department at 410-396-4488 for the most current information.  The meeting will be held in the Phoebe B. Stanton Boardroom of the Department of Planning, located on the 8^th floor of 417 East Fayette Street.