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Vital Views
The Severna Park Voice, April 2005
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County Council in Action
by Councilwoman Cathleen M Vitale
It Ain't Over Till It's Over
To the amazement and credit of the County, its citizens and the Council,
last month the County Council unanimously passed the first comprehensive
rewrites to the zoning and subdivision laws in twenty or so years. Not
so amazing, is that the Council is already working on the rewrites and
"finessing" of several provisions which either need restructuring or
further input. Last month I outlined several of the positive changes to
the provisions, all which were ultimately enacted by amendments prepared
by the administration or various council members. Over the course of the
last six months more than 300 amendments were proposed, some passed and
some remain to be discussed.
As for those areas that need further attention. My colleague Ed Reilly
and I will continue to work on bed and breakfast legislation for the
benefit of the entire County. We hope to have that introduced in the
next several months. The Council as a whole will continue to address
environmental issues such as steep slopes, grading and development. To
all those who wrote to me on the issue of steep slopes, the Council
decided to handle this issue in separate legislation based on the
enormity of the issue and the several divergent points of view. It is my
hope that a consensus bill can be reached that the entire Council can
support.
Signs, both posting and usage, is an area that received little attention
from both the County and the citizenry. We did not have much discussion
regarding those provisions until the latter few weeks of the
legislation. As a result, several council members, including myself have
agreed to review those provisions, seek community input and come back
with recommendations for changing those provisions. Please contact me if
this in an area of interest.
Lastly, however perhaps most important is the issue of public
participation and notice. The Council will continue to hear input
regarding the public's right to be notified of changes in and around
their neighborhood. This issue, seemingly easy has been the most
troublesome, as it requires weighing the right of an individual property
owner to develop his property against the right of a neighboring
homeowner or community interest. I suspect there will be a few changes
to the recently passed legislation. .
In addition, for the next few months the Council will be considering
administrative ordinances. Among them are proposals to increase the
water and wastewater charges and finalizing constitutional amendments
regarding the purchasing office and their authority to bid or not bid
certain types of contracts (you remember, it was on the 2004 ballot).
Also before the council are ordinances concerning licensing of bail
bonding companies and a tow truck companies right to retain your
possessions should you fail to timely pay the tow bill.
Of particular importance to me, is Bill 15-05, which will waive tipping
(landfill) fees for non-profit charitable organizations who build or
remodel affordable housing units around the county. A brief history.
Previously, the administration waived the fees for dumping waste at the
landfill. There was no procedure, no legal authority nor any rhyme or
reason as to who was entitled to the waiver and who was not. When the
issue was brought to the county council, in no small part due to our
prior representative, Diane Evans, I, together with Pam Beidle crafted
legislation to insure that those organizations who were non-profitable
charitable organization who participate in the construction or
rehabilitation of housing for low and moderate income households that
earn up to 80% of the median income for our area. These organizations
will be entitled upon proof and certification to a rebate for any fees
paid to the County while dumping at the landfill.
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