Baltimore County?s planning board approved plans for a Catonsville business?s expansion that were missing key details including adverse environmental impacts, the county?s highest appellate panel ruled Wednesday.
Two community groups are appealing the planning board?s approval last month of expansion plans submitted by Frosty Refrigeration, a heating and air conditioning business that wants to build on a Powers Lane parcel now occupied by a vacant church. The plans do not indicate the proposed height of the building or any impacts on noise, odors, traffic and the environment, the groups said.
“The county places a very strenuous standard on site plan petitions,” said people?s counsel Peter Max Zimmerman. “It?s just not something where we can tolerate omissions and say, ?oh, well, maybe they can give us more later.?”
With the support of county planners, County Council members have authorized changing the site?s zoning from residential to business outside of the county?s four-year comprehensive rezoning process.
Attorneys for the neighborhood groups said the project does not benefit the community and does not meet the county?s requirements for a restriction.
Board of Appeals members Wednesday did not address the zoning dispute, but ordered business owner John Lederer to return next month with a more complete site plan. Board Chairman Lawrence Wescott said the company could have “easily” included details of interest to the community.
“I don?t know what the normal dust and noise from a heating and air conditioning company is and I?m not sure the people of the neighborhood know,” Wescott said. “I think you have to fill out your environmental impact statement to be far more complete and make it comply with these requirements.”
Lederer?s attorney, Neil Lanzi, said the company did not include potential adverse impacts because there are none. He said the company will likely move from the county if the plans are not ultimately approved.
“Some of the details that are alleged to be substantial are frivolous,” Lanzi said.
