Bel Air Commissioners Approve Land Swap

The Town of Bel Air approved a land exchange Monday night after hearing mixed public comment.

The unanimous decision made by the board involved a 30-foot wide strip next to Shamrock Park and the Bel Air memorial tree grove, owned by the Felton family.

Town Planner Kevin Small said the exchange would improve capacity of the memorial tree grove, add acreage to town open space, may be used to provide bio-retention facility for potential water quality requirement.

After about an hour of public comment, the hearing came to a close. The vote was unanimous to approve the exchange.

Check back later in the day for video and more on the land swap issue.

You can find live updates below:

9:14 p.m.: The meeting is adjourned.

9:13 p.m.: Hopkins said the land exchange issue was one of the most detail-oriented issues that he has been involved in. “We actually postponed the vote.”

9:11 p.m.: Reier said sometimes not everyone is in agreement with the decisions the board makes, but the voices of the community are heard and this is the purest form of government with direct interaction.

9:11 p.m.: Commissioner Robert Preston said he is looking forward to Kite Day.

9:09 p.m.: Mike Ramey said he also hopes there are no misconceptions about what the church aims to do. Their goal is to service the community and instead of spending money to service their debt, the project will allow them to put that money into the community instead.

9:06 p.m.: Pastor Blaise Sedney said after being born and raised in Bel Air and there was a lot of good communication when the process of the church development started. Sedney said he thinks a dog park could be built on the church’s land. “But it takes the town to come forward and talk to us,” Sedney said. “When we talked to Carol it was a win, win. It was a way for us to pay of the debt for building our sanctuary.” “I think we ought to work more in partnership.”

9:06 p.m.: All vote in favor and the motion carries.

9:03 p.m.: Burdette moves to award a contract with Harford Sanitation of $67,827 for condominium trash removal services.

9:03 p.m.: All vote in favor and the motion carries.

9:01 p.m.: Director of Finance Lisa Moody said Harford Bank was the low bid. The staff recommends the town accept the proposal from Harford Bank.

9:00 p.m.: Carey moves to approve the proposal from Harford Bank for $270,334 in tax-exempt financing to fund the town’s portion of the Hickory Parking Garage repair.

8:59 p.m.: All vote in favor of receiving the budget.

8:58 p.m.: There will be two public hearings on the budget at future meetings, the first on April 15. The town staff asks for approval of receipt of the budget.

8:57 p.m.: The town will need to increase customer user fees next fiscal year to accommodate coming changes, Schlehr said.

8:56 p.m.: The town will also be replacing four police vehicles and several public works vehicles.

8:55 p.m.: The town plans to install four emergency generators at four sewer pump stations with 75 percent funding from FEMA.

8:54 p.m.: Capital projects improving the hickory parking garage and renovating armory garages are planned. There are also improvements planned to grounds surrounding the courthouse and replacement to grounds and sidewalks along Office Street.

8:53 p.m.: Fiscal year 2014 is basically a flat year, growth wise. There will not be any change in services provided by the town, Schlehr said.

8:51 p.m.: The FY 2014 budget is less than 2013.

8:50 p.m.: Town administrator Chris Schlehr said the tax rate is unchanged and the total budget is less than 2013. The parking fund is a little stressed due to major repair projects, but is still holding its own.

8:49 p.m.: Reier moves to receive the town administrator’s budget for fiscal year 2014 be accepted.

8:48 p.m.: The town moves and unanimously approves the fee schedule amendment.

8:48 p.m.: Commissioner Susan Burdette is the lone dissenting vote and the motion carries.

8:47 p.m.: Commissioner Reier moves to the townhouse restriction ordinance as amended.

8:47 p.m.: All vote in favor of the second amendment.

8:44 p.m.: Carey moves to amend the legislation to allow a maximum of eight with planning commission approval.

8:43 p.m.: Carey moves to amend the legislation to go into effect October 1, 2013. Commissioner Burdette voted against the amendment.

8:43 p.m.: Commissioner Robert Reier moves to approve the develop regulation changes to townhouse number restrictions.

8:42 p.m.: The motion carries in unanimous vote.

8:41 p.m.: Commissioner Edward Hopkins said he believes the end product is going to look good and that Mr. Small has been thorough with the town’s interests.

8:40 p.m.: Commissioner Susan Burdette agreed the staff did a great job in helping people understand and she did a lot of research into it.

8:40 p.m.: Carey said he was very appreciative that the staff was open with the community and helpful in explaining. Three people said they were against, several had concerns. Others sent letters. “I think that this is a good idea for the town,” Carey said.

8:39 p.m.: Commissioner David Carey moves to approve the surplus property declaration and exchange.

8:37 p.m.: A fee schedule amendment for properties sold at tax sale is up for public hearing. The fee would increase in keeping with a new fee for online sales.

8:37 p.m.: The hearing is closed.

8:23 p.m.: Pastor Blaise Sedney also asked the board to hold off on approving the change so the St. Matthews project, which is about to be submitted and has been in the works for years, can continue.

8:21 p.m.: Pastor Mike Ramey of St. Matthews Church in midst of development and the legislation would directly impact them therefore he is against it.

8:18 p.m.: Planning commission and staff is in favor of approving the ordinance.

8:16 p.m.: Small explained the town previously had a six unit limit to townhouse to a single block. Townhouse communities in town vary from 4-9 but most are within the 6 range.

8:15 p.m.: A public hearing on an ordinance changing development regulations/residential performance standards.

8:14 p.m.: The hearing is closed after extensive comments from the public. Patch will update with video following the meeting.

7:44 p.m.: Staff met with adjacent property owners as well as the Felton’s son. The Felton family has accepted any costs associated to the exchange and have agreed to keeping 15 feet of vegetation as a buffer between the town and the private property. The small portion is not feasible for tree planting due to existing wires and is not needed for public use.

7:43 p.m.: Small explained the exchange would improve capacity of the memorial tree grove, add acreage to town open space, may be used to provide bio-retention facility for potential water quality requirement.

7:42 p.m.: The resident would be required to clear the underbrush and chain link fence as a condition of the swap.

7:39 p.m.: The lot is about 30 feet in width and about 25 feet in depth. If approved, the Felton family plans to build a home on their property.

7:39 p.m.: The owner of 194 Shamrock Road proposed a land swap with the town to allow for expansion of Bel Air memorial tree grove on Lee Way and allow access to a landlocked area already owned by the citizen, Town Planner Kevin Small said.

7:34 p.m.: Commissioner Robert Reier calls Allen and Evelyn Ault and others involved in the Kite Festival to the podium for recognition.

7:31 p.m.: John Carroll student Jonathan Yantz is called to the podium for recognition.

7:30 p.m.: The meeting is called to order.