KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND
COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S

PUBLIC HEARING - 3/16/2004

Application for Zoning Map Amendment

A Public Hearing was held on Tuesday, March 16, 2004, at 9:00 a.m. in the County Commissioners' Hearing Room, County Government Center, Chestertown, Maryland on an application for zoning map amendment filed by Chris D. Shorter, Sr. by reclassifying property owned by Enos and Susanne Bontrager from the "V" (Village) Zone to "CC" (Crossroads Commercial) Zone adjoining Maryland Routes 292 and 298, East of Still Pond in the Second Election District.

County Commissioners Scott D. Livie and William W. Pickrum were in attendance as well as Susanne Hayman, County Attorney, T. Edward Robinson, County Administrator, and Gail Owings, Director, Planning and Zoning Administration, and three interested citizens. Chris D. Shorter, applicant, arrived later during the hearing.

Notice of the public hearing was read into the record by Ms. Hayman and, referring to correspondence from Elizabeth H. Morris, Chairperson, Planning Commission, sent to the Commissioners, dated February 6, 2004, reviewed the decision made by the Planning Commission at its February 5, 2004 meeting during which it voted unanimously to recommend approval of the application. According to that correspondence, the Planning Commission indicated that they based their decision on the following: - The Comprehensive Plan encourages the retention and promotion of existing businesses as well as the development of small locally-owned businesses. - A mapping error occurred in the original zoning. - The proposed zoning of Crossroads Commercial is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and meets a public need for an automobile repair shop in the Still Pond/Betterton area.

To Commissioner Pickrum's inquiries about how the parking of vehicles being repaired, awaiting repair, etc. would be addressed, and about pertinent opinions expressed by neighbors to the repair shop, Mrs. Owings indicated that the Planning Commission discussed these concerns with Mr. Shorter at their hearing and learned from him that he plans to build a parking area in the rear of his building, and that his application received no opposition from neighbors. In fact, the residents in the area of said repair shop in Still Pond testified in favor of Mr. Shorter's application.

There being no further questions or concerns brought forward, a motion was made by Commissioner Livie, seconded by Commissioner Pickrum, and passed by the majority of the Board, to accept the application of Mr. Shorter for a zoning map amendment by reclassifying property owned by Enos and Susanne Bontrager from the "V" (Village) Zone to "CC" (Crossroads Commercial) Zone adjoining Maryland Routes 292 and 298, East of Still Pond in the Second Election District, for the reasons cited by the Planning Commission in its letter dated February 6, 2004. Commissioner Crow was not in attendance for this meeting.

This hearing was taped for reference and adjourned at 9:15 a.m.


THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND


Janice F. Fletcher
Executive Assistant


Approved: William W. Pickrum, President