Baltimore County Council Meeting – Final Landmarks Hearing on Moroni House and Legislative Session – December 4, 2025
Baltimore County Council Meeting – Final Landmarks Hearing on Moroni House and Legislative Session – December 4, 2025
The Baltimore County Council convened on December 4, 2025, for a final landmarks hearing on the Moroni House at 7076 Larendale Club Road in Scenic Ruxton, followed by a regular legislative session that included bill introductions, votes on several items, and public comments on issues ranging from ICE cooperation to school overcrowding.
Public Comments & Testimony
Landmarks Hearing
- Elizabeth Smith (counsel for property owner Cassandra London) opposed the landmark designation, arguing the property does not meet historic or architectural criteria. She noted that the B&O Railroad (associated with the house) used enslaved labor, and that the architectural modifications (a one-story addition in the 1970s/80s) reduce significance. She emphasized the financial burden of window repairs (estimated at $150,000+ vs. $10,000 allocated).
- Cassandra London (owner) stated she purchased the property on August 15, 2025, for $450,000 with a $637,000 renovation loan. She has 40 windows needing full replacement, with quotes ranging from $2,000 to $3,800 per window. The cost far exceeds her renovation budget. She opposes the designation due to unreasonable financial burden.
- Vatina Hightower (Renee Hamidi) (neighbor) opposed the nomination, stating the property owner was unaware of the nomination until eight days before closing, and that the nominator (a neighbor) had previously withdrawn two similar nominations. She called the process “sneaky.”
- Joseph Cole (virtual) supported the landmark designation, citing the house’s architectural integrity (original siding, windows, slate roof, porches) and the community’s responsibility to preserve historic assets. He noted his background on the Maryland Historical Trust board.
Legislative Session Public Comments
- Sharonda Hoffman thanked the council for supporting the Inspector General and expressed hope for a transparent process.
- Bettina Hightower thanked Councilman Jones and the council for passing Bill 81-25 (animal boarding places) which will help her business.
- Nathaniel Hardman (District 1 resident) voiced opposition to the MOU between Baltimore County and the Department of Justice/ICE, citing recent abuses by DHS and ICE. He urged the council to pass protective legislation (the “Trust Bill”) and noted the MOU’s origin in bureaucratic incompetence.
- Mary Taylor criticized the delay in forming the Committee on Public School Capacity (mandated by Bill 31-24, effective August 14, 2024). She stated 50 schools exceed 100% capacity, including Dundalk High (147%), Wellwood International (140%), Sparrows Point (130%), and Overlea High (133%). She called for immediate appointment of committee members and release of interim capacity documents.
Discussion Items
- Landmarks Hearing: Planning staff member Caitlin Merritt presented the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s unanimous (September 11, 2025) recommendation to designate the Moroni House as a final landmark, citing its association with Dr. Frank D. Sanger and Grace Cochrane Sanger, and its Queen Anne architectural style. The council discussed the financial burden on the owner and the process. Councilman Patoka joined late and requested the recording.
- Legislative Session:
- Bill 93-25 (sponsored by Councilman Urtell) was introduced as a late item (after agenda amendment) to provide development impact fee exemptions for affordable housing in the Rosedale PUD.
- Bill 81-25 (zoning for animal boarding places in BM zone) was amended twice via rule suspension to restrict its application to the Rices Town Commercial Revitalization District with a CC district zone.
- Fiscal Matters 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 were approved (purchase order with Mitchell & McCormick, contract with Safety Tank of Maryland, and three snow removal contracts).
- Resolution 62-25 (FY2026 agricultural preservation easement purchases) was approved.
Key Outcomes
- Landmarks Designation: The council took no final vote; a bill will be introduced within 90 days. The council encouraged the property owner to speak with Councilman Patoka.
- Bills Passed:
- Bill 79-25 (Personnel Law of Baltimore County) – passed unanimously.
- Bill 80-25 (Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance budget) – passed unanimously.
- Bill 81-25 (as amended) – passed unanimously.
- Resolution Passed: Resolution 62-25 (agricultural preservation easements) – passed unanimously.
- Fiscal Matters: Items 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 approved unanimously.
- Pending Legislation: Bill 91-25 (electric vehicle center zoning), Bill 92-25 (Towson University Housing District rental density), and Bill 93-25 (impact fee exemptions for affordable housing) were introduced and will have work sessions.
- Public Commitments: Councilman Patoka stated that on December 15, 2025, companion bills (a “Trust Bill” limiting ICE cooperation and codification of the Office of Immigrant Affairs) will be introduced. Council members acknowledged the need to expedite the School Capacity Committee formation.
Meeting Transcript
First, and we're here for we're here to be transcribed and summarized. So we're here for a uh final landmarks hearing on the Moroni House at um 7076 24 Larendale Club Road in Scenic Ruxton, Maryland. And um I think we have testimony from our Caitlin Merritt from planning who will present be presenting. Wanna come up and present and we'll uh we I know we have uh Councilman Young is in traffic, he's online, and I know Councilman Patoca, whose district this is will be joining us shortly. He had to take his wife to the airport, so I think he's scrambling to get back and be online. All right, um good afternoon. Floor is yours, thank you. Thank you for allowing me to share a brief uh summary about the Moroni House. Um, like you mentioned, um, it's uh stands tall at the corner of Ruxton and Learendale Club Roads in District 4. Um so on September 11th, 2025, the landmarks preservation commission unanimously voted to add the Moroni House and its setting to the Baltimore County uh preliminary landmarks list. Um so after careful review, the commission found the property to meet two of the five designation criteria listed in our code. Uh the first being its association with an important person locally, and the second, the house being a distinctive example of a particular architectural style. Constructed around 1889, the two and one-half story frame structure is a fine example of the Queen Anne style of architecture, which was popular during the latter half of the 19th century. The house was constructed for Dennis Moroni, who was the general superintendent of transportation for the BO Railroad at the time. The Meroni House was a family home to many over its 130 plus years, uh, including a concert violinist, a doctor, an artist, and in addition, a successful spice company was founded within its walls. The most notable owners appear to have been Dr. Frank D. Sanger and his wife Grace Cochrane Sanger, and the Sangers occupied the house from 1906 to 1919. Dr. Sanger was a pro professor emeritus uh rhinoology and laryngology at the University of Maryland Medical School. Additionally, at the time, he was a consulting laryngologist for eight Baltimore hospitals, and his obituary notes that he studied nose and throat conditions in Berlin and Vienna and is said to have been the first physician to institute modern methods of tuberculosis treatment in a Baltimore hospital. Uh Grace Cochrane Sanger was recognized in her time as a skilled portrait painter. Um in addition to painting, she also worked as a book and magazine illustrator. Grace Sanger received her training under William Merritt Chase, Hugh Breckenridge, and Howard Pyle. And she painted many prominent members of Baltimore Society and exhibited her work locally. Exhibited in its original wood German siding, original wood windows, the slate roofing, and porch elements. The house's overall design and its original foot footprint has remained relatively unchanged except for a small one-story edition on the side, which was constructed in the 1970s or 80s. And the side edition is sensitive to the main block of the house. The current visual appearance of the house is most likely very similar to what it would have been looked like at the time of its construction. Due to the retention of design, materials, and workmanship, the house has retained integrity of feeling and association. The lack of modern materials and alterations has allowed the structure to be viewed as a product of its time and its style of architecture. Thus, the property meets our criterion too as a significant example of the Queen Anne's style of architecture. Again, it is for those reasons that the landmarks preservation commission voted to add the property to the preliminary landmarks list, and thus recommending it to council to be designated as a final landmark. Thank you, and I'm here to answer any questions. Okay, thank you, Ms. Merritt. Uh any questions for Miss Merritt on the property. I know we have several speakers, so we'll um we'll get to the speakers. Maybe we may have questions for you once we get through the speakers. So Miss Bel Castro, do you want to call the speaker? Mr. Chairman, um I ask I'm sorry, because you stepped away from the the microphone. Um who made the application? Okay. Yeah. All right, fair enough. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, sir.
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