Zoning Appeals, Board of

Meetings

6:00 p.m.
Third Tuesday of every month
Health & Public Services Building

Meetings are open to the public, but public participation may be limited to periods during which testimony is permitted

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

Meeting minutes are unofficial unless signed. For official copies of the minutes, contact the Department at 410-479-8100.

View the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting schedule.

Members

Name	Role	Type	Term	Term Start	Term End
Mike Mann	Chair	Member	First	3/15/19	3/14/22
Karen Hardy	Citizen	Member	First	1/1/20	12/31/22
Ben Butler	Citizen	Member	First	1/1/20	12/31/23

Composition

The Board of Zoning Appeals is composed of at least three (3) citizens of Caroline County including one (1) alternate. Board members are appointed by the County Commissioners and serve three (3) year terms. The Chairman and Co-Chairman serve for one (1) year; terms may run concurrently if so determined by its peers.

Election

Candidates will be gathered with dual efforts of the Board Liaison and the Commissioners Office before submitting names for the Commissioners approval.

Term of Office

Term of three (3) years. Each member shall serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms. After completing a second term, a member may not be reappointed for two (2) years. The term of Office of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be one (1) year.

Charge / Authority

(Annotated Code of Maryland, Land Use Article, Division I, Title 4. Subtitle 3)

The Board of Zoning Appeals have the power and duty to hear and decide applications for special use exceptions, variances, and appeals where it is alleged there is error in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by the Zoning Administrator in the enforcement of the Zoning Chapter of the Code of Public Local Laws of Caroline County, Maryland.

Application Information

The application fee is $500 for Special Use Exceptions, $300 for Variances and $400 for an Appeal or Interpretation. Any "after the fact" application will be double the required fee. All advertising costs associated with the application will be invoiced separately and are due prior to the scheduled hearing date. Applications will not be processed until a completed application and the fees are received. No fees will be refunded if an application is withdrawn after the publication of the first Public Hearing Notice or if the application is denied. Applications, together with all required information and fees, must be filed by the application deadline posted on the published meeting schedule.
A maximum of three (3) applications are accepted each month and are processed on a first come first serve basis by submission of a completed application and payment of fees.
The Public Hearing Notice is published for two (2) weeks in the Times-Record and may also be published in the Star Democrat; in addition the property will be posted.
A copy of the Public Hearing Notice is mailed to all adjoining property owners.
The applicant and/or authorized agent will receive a notice stating the date, time and location the application will be heard, approximately two (2) weeks before the hearing. If a notice is not received please contact the office.;
Either the applicant or an authorized representative of the applicant must be present at the hearing.
The applicant should bring any drawings, plats or photographs which describe the property and support your application to the hearing. All supporting documentation and exhibits are encouraged to be submitted at the time the application is filed.
All hearings are scheduled to begin at the same time and the order in which the hearings are held is determined that night. All hearings will conclude at 11:00 p.m.
Decisions of the Board are usually made the night of the hearing, but the hearing may be continued, tabled or the decision delayed until a later date.
The day after the hearing, the decision of the Board is available by calling (410) 479-8100 after 9:00 a.m.;
A copy of the Board's decision will be furnished to the Applicant(s) and any other party to the proceeding without charge.
For commercial and industrial special use exception applications, eight (8) legible, full and complete copies of all exhibits, including electronic media, to be introduced by the applicant shall be delivered to the office at least fourteen (14) days prior to any hearing. The exhibits delivered shall be introduced by the applicant into evidence at the public hearing. No other exhibits other than rebuttal shall be permitted to be introduced by the applicant without specific permission given at the public hearing.