Developer's entrance entrance signs draw community group's ire
Zoning commissioner tells developer and community to work on a compromise
By Pat van den Beemt
pvdb@comcast.net
Posted 2/04/09
Sometimes, the little guy wins. Or at least he doesn’t lose.
A small community association that believes a developer is not allowed to put up large entrance signs at a subdivision took the matter to Baltimore County’s zoning commissioner.
Last week, Mark Ellerkmann, a physician at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center and president of the Dance Mill Road Community Association, appeared without an attorney in front of zoning Commissioner Bill Wiseman and pleaded his group’s case.
Alan Klatsky, whose Prestige Development of Owings Mills is building the 10-house Brighton Hills development on Dance Mill Road in Phoenix, was represented by attorney and former zoning Commissioner Lawrence Schmidt.
After listening to more than two hours of testimony, Wiseman said he gave both parties 30 days to come up with a compromise.
“The fact that Mr. Wiseman didn’t approve the sign helped restore my faith in the process,” Ellerkmann said. “The Hippocratic oath doctors take says ‘Do no harm or do no wrong. We believe Mr. Klatsky’s big monument signs would do the community wrong.”
The Dance Mill Road Association’s objections to the two signs — each 16 feet long — was supported by the Greater Jacksonville Association, which sent a letter to Wiseman.
Klatsky later said questions were raised at the hearing as to whether the stone and wrought-iron entranceway he is proposing is considered landscaping or a sign. The approved development plan contains a note that there will be no entrance signs.
Klatsky had already poured cement footers for the entranceway when Dance Mill Road neighbors saw the activity and asked the county to stop the work until the zoning commissioner’s hearing.
According to comments written by the county’s Office of Planning on the issue, one end of the proposed entranceway is outside the development’s boundaries and would be considered an off-premises sign, which is not allowed.
The other is on a portion of the Brighton Hills property that is designated a conservancy area. The Planning staff noted that the conservancy area would have to be reconfigured for the sign to remain. A reconfiguration would need approval from the Office of Planning and the Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management.
On Feb. 1, Ellerkmann sent Klatsky contact information for the three Dance Mill Road neighbors whose homes face the development and asked him to set up a meeting with those most affected by the proposed signs.
“As Councilman Bryan T. McIntire is known to say, ‘Hope springs eternal’ and I am hopeful that you will consider and respect the views of our community and view this letter as a start in that direction.”
A small community association that believes a developer is not allowed to put up large entrance signs at a subdivision took the matter to Baltimore County’s zoning commissioner.
Last week, Mark Ellerkmann, a physician at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center and president of the Dance Mill Road Community Association, appeared without an attorney in front of zoning Commissioner Bill Wiseman and pleaded his group’s case.
Alan Klatsky, whose Prestige Development of Owings Mills is building the 10-house Brighton Hills development on Dance Mill Road in Phoenix, was represented by attorney and former zoning Commissioner Lawrence Schmidt.
After listening to more than two hours of testimony, Wiseman said he gave both parties 30 days to come up with a compromise.
“The fact that Mr. Wiseman didn’t approve the sign helped restore my faith in the process,” Ellerkmann said. “The Hippocratic oath doctors take says ‘Do no harm or do no wrong. We believe Mr. Klatsky’s big monument signs would do the community wrong.”
The Dance Mill Road Association’s objections to the two signs — each 16 feet long — was supported by the Greater Jacksonville Association, which sent a letter to Wiseman.
Klatsky later said questions were raised at the hearing as to whether the stone and wrought-iron entranceway he is proposing is considered landscaping or a sign. The approved development plan contains a note that there will be no entrance signs.
Klatsky had already poured cement footers for the entranceway when Dance Mill Road neighbors saw the activity and asked the county to stop the work until the zoning commissioner’s hearing.
According to comments written by the county’s Office of Planning on the issue, one end of the proposed entranceway is outside the development’s boundaries and would be considered an off-premises sign, which is not allowed.
The other is on a portion of the Brighton Hills property that is designated a conservancy area. The Planning staff noted that the conservancy area would have to be reconfigured for the sign to remain. A reconfiguration would need approval from the Office of Planning and the Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management.
On Feb. 1, Ellerkmann sent Klatsky contact information for the three Dance Mill Road neighbors whose homes face the development and asked him to set up a meeting with those most affected by the proposed signs.
“As Councilman Bryan T. McIntire is known to say, ‘Hope springs eternal’ and I am hopeful that you will consider and respect the views of our community and view this letter as a start in that direction.”
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