Development Review Committee (DRC) Results

The Development Review Committee (DRC) is responsible for reviewing and approving development in the County. The DRC meets weekly to determine which projects meet the requirements for limited exemptions to the development regulations or whether changes to previously approved plans meet the requirements of refinements to those plans.

Until about March 2013, the County posted the results online of all DRC meetings in handy, easy to read lists. One could quickly find the result of a recent action. It was only "recent" because they continually removed those more than about 9 months old. For those after March 2013, one needs to search the online database for a specific address or project name, which is not always obvious how to do. Developments are often of vacant lots which do not have addresses. See below.

The following are files downloaded at various times, each covering a period of time.

The findings of the DRC may be categorized as follows:

• "A" or "B" exemption, as detailed below
• No Action - The DRC does not have the authority to grant the applicant's request or the applicant's request does not require DRC approval.
• Tabled - A decision by the DRC is withheld pending further information. The applicant will need to bring the request back to the DRC on the "old business" agenda once outstanding issues are resolved.

Decisions:

• "A" Exemptions - "A" exemptions are exempt from the development review and approval process as provided for in the Baltimore County Code, Article 32, Title 4, Subtitle 4.
  A project meeting these requirements does not require a concept plan, community input meeting, development plan and or an Administrative Law Judge hearing.
  Applicants who meet one or more of the criteria for an "A" exemption, described below, may apply directly for a building permit, or recording in the land records.
  • A-1-i-1- The building or preparation of land for building a dwelling for one or two families on a single lot or tract that is not part of a recorded plat.
  • A-1-i-2 - The building or preparation of land for building a dwelling for one or two families on a lot or lots exempt from the lapse provisions of § 32-4-273 of this title.
  • A-1-ii - The building or preparation of land for building on a lot of record lawfully in effect at the time of the building or preparation of the land for building, provided the lot of record did not result from a subdivision of land exempt under § 32-4-105 of this subtitle.
  • A-1-iii - The construction of one tenant house or the location of one trailer on a farm tract.
  • A-1-iv - The subdivision of property in accordance with a court order, a will, or the laws of intestate succession.
  • A-1-v - The resubdivision or lot line adjustment of industrially zoned or commercially zoned parcels of land that have been the subject of a previously approved Development Plan and recorded plat.
  • A-1-vi - The construction of residential accessory structures or minor commercial structures.
  • A-1-vii-1 - The construction of a building owned and operated by a county volunteer fire, ambulance, or rescue company that is used primarily for storage or training purposes.
  • A-1-vii-2 - The construction of a building owned and operated by a county volunteer fire, ambulance, or rescue company that is used primarily for fund-raising activities.
  • A-1-vii-3 - The construction of a building owned and operated by a county volunteer fire, ambulance, or rescue company that is used primarily for other purposes related to rescue or fire-suppression activities.
  • A-1-viii - Lot line adjustments in residential zones that are not part of an approved Development Plan or zoning plan and do not change the number of lots or increase density.
  • A-1-ix - Subdivision of land that was recorded before January 26, 1990 into three or fewer lots.
  • A-1-x - Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, subdivision of land into three or fewer lots for residential single-family dwellings provided that the lots are not served by a panhandle driveway.
  • A-2-i - If a lot is served by a panhandle driveway, the subdivision of land into three or fewer lots for residential single-family dwellings is only exempt from the concept plan requirements under §§ 32-4-211 through 32-4-217 of the Baltimore County Code.
  • A-2-ii - If a lot is served by a panhandle driveway, the subdivision of land into three or fewer lots for residential single-family dwellings is only exempt from the county review requirements under §§ 32-4-226 and 32-4-227 of the Baltimore County Code.
• "B" Exemptions - "B" exemptions are specifically exempted from the community input meeting and hearing officer's hearing only.
  Applicant's receiving a "B" exemption, described below, are required to have a development plan approved prior to building permit submittal.
  • B-1 - Lot line adjustments, including the combination of lots or parcels.
  • B-2 - Amendments to an approved Development Plan or plat that do not materially alter the proposed development.
  • B-3 - The subdivision of land that is in an approved state agricultural land preservation district or county agricultural easement for the purpose of the conveyance of the lots to the owner or the children of the owner under Title 2, Subtitle 5 of the Agriculture Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland and Article 24 of the Code.
  • B-4 - The subdivision of a farm tract into two lots.
  • B-5 - The subdivision of land into three or fewer lots for residential single-family dwellings.
  • B-6 - The construction of accessory structures.
  • B-7 - The subdivision of land or buildings in a planned office or industrial park for which a Development Plan has been approved in accordance with this title.
  • B-8 - A minor development that does not exceed a total of three lots.

For those after Mar 2013, go to the "Citizen's Access" and follow these instructions:

• (You do not need to "Login" for this purpose.)
• Under "more" and "Land Management", select "Search Development Applications".
• Enter adress or project name. (Note that you can enter simply a street name and get all on that street.)
• Click on the desired Record Number.
• Select "More Details" and then "Application Information" or "Application Information Table" (it varies)
• This provides the results. See above for explanation. (It's not always clear, for example, it may list "a-1-vi" as the "requested action" without really saying that it was granted. Others actually show what the "decision" was.)