Baltimore County Council Legislative Session – July 7, 2026

This was the 14th legislative day of the Baltimore County Council. The session opened with a presentation by Boy Scout Troop 124, which provided an update on scouting in Baltimore County for 2026. The council then proceeded through consent items, appointment confirmations, final readings of bills, fiscal matters, resolutions, and public comments. Key actions included passage of bills amending zoning regulations, approval of several board appointments, and adoption of a resolution supporting a planned unit development. Public testimony focused on zoning enforcement, waste management, prescription drug affordability, and the upcoming incinerator contract renewal.

Consent Calendar

• The journal for the meeting of June 1, 2026, was approved by unanimous vote.
• Bills 39-26, 57-26, 58-26, 59-26, 60-26, and 61-26 were enrolled after passage by the council and signature by the county executive. Bill 63-26 was returned unsigned by the county executive and also enrolled.
• Four bills were introduced for first reading: Bill 68-26 (zoning regulations – smoke shops, sponsored by Councilmembers Urtel and Marks); Bill 69-26 (zoning regulations – uses permitted in DR zones – housing for the elderly, sponsored by Councilman Urtel); Bill 70-26 (zoning regulations – automotive parts sales facility, sponsored by Councilman Urtel); and Bill 71-26 (zoning regulations – uses permitted in manufacturing light zone – union halls, sponsored by Councilman Marks).
• Fiscal matters 1–6 were approved as a block (contracts and a budget appropriation transfer of $4,067,222 for the police department). The matters were: 1) contract with Holland's Organic Products Inc.; 2) contract with Sustainable Generation LLC; 3) contract with Othram Inc.; 4) contract of sale with Tinta Mohammed; 5) contract of sale with Columbia Capital LLC; 6) budget appropriation transfer for police.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Gloria Kelly (District – not specified) spoke about a zoning enforcement issue in her district. She alleged that the Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections (PAI) is allowing commercial tenants to bypass mandatory site plan reviews by relying on a site plan approved in 1983. She requested the council direct PAI to enforce the current code, specifically requiring a new site plan upon change of occupancy or use, especially when bordering residential zones. She noted that previous zoning violations were lost when the property owner and attorney died in 2024.
• Ann George (District 3) testified about waste management. She expressed concern that the county’s landfill is filling and that waste is being sent to the Wheelabrator incinerator, which she described as a major polluter. She advocated for composting and recycling organic waste, noting that 25–50% of waste is compostable. She mentioned a state law (UnFarming Farm Organic Diversion Program) and suggested the county could create jobs and reduce carbon emissions by keeping organic material in the county.
• Vincent DeMarco (President, Maryland Health Care for All Coalition) and Dr. Andrew York (Executive Director, Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board) presented information about the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB). They explained that the board has set upper payment limits on Jardiance and Ozempic for state and local governments starting in 2027, with broader authority beginning in 2028. They asked the council to host a forum in Baltimore County to hear from residents about high-cost drugs. Dr. York noted the board is funded by a fee assessment on manufacturers, wholesalers, PBMs, and insurers, with an annual budget of $1–1.25 million. They urged the council to refer constituents with affordability issues to the board (email: pdab@maryland.gov).
• Rachel Kamelic (Member, Third Act) spoke about the upcoming renewal of the contract between Baltimore County and Wheelabrator (the incinerator). She noted that the incinerator is 40 years old and that the 2020 addendum to the 2016 contract contains language that could lead to future litigation. She asked the council to shorten the contract and to move toward a circular economy with composting, arguing that 30–50% of burned material is organic and could be used for soil. She requested that the contract be made publicly available for review.
• Angela Patterson (Baltimore County resident) also opposed the incinerator contract, citing health impacts (her stepfather and grandmother died from respiratory conditions). She questioned why the county would be penalized for producing less trash and advocated for expanding recycling and introducing composting.

Discussion Items

• Bill 62-26 (Councilman Patoka, Zoning Regulations – Permitted Use Conditions in BM Zone): This bill prohibits compartmentalized warehouse establishments (self-storage units) along Maryland Scenic Byways. Two amendments were offered: (1) Councilman Jones’ amendment to exempt properties in the Reisterstown Commercial Revitalization District, which passed (7-0). (2) Councilman Young’s amendment to exempt projects with a petition for zoning relief filed before June 1, 2026, which was defeated (3-4). Councilman Patoka noted that his office received over 100 emails opposing Young’s amendment. The bill as amended passed 7-0.
• Bill 64-26 (Administration bill, General Provisions – Gender Specific Terms): Updates the county code to use gender-neutral terms (e.g., councilperson, firefighter, police officer). Councilman Marks offered an amendment (uncodified section) clarifying that the changes do not preclude the use of gendered terms in other contexts. The amendment passed unanimously. Councilman Crandall opposed the bill as amended, citing a “slippery slope” on telling people how to refer to themselves. The bill passed 5-2 (Councilman Mangione and Councilman Crandall voting no).
• Bill 65-26 (Administration bill, Permits, Licenses, and Business Regulation – Food Trucks): Consolidates food truck permits. Councilman Marks offered an amendment that (a) establishes proximity standards in the MD 43 overlay district (food trucks cannot park within 300 feet of a restaurant entrance, stay more than six hours, or be more than 20 feet from an accessory trailer); and (b) gives the Department of Recreation and Parks authority to issue regulations limiting food trucks on county-owned recreational property. The amendment passed unanimously. The bill as amended passed 7-0.
• Bill 66-26 (Councilman Marks, Designation of Design Review Area – Honeygo Gateway Commercial Revitalization District): Removes the Design Review Panel (DRP) review process for this area, simplifying approvals. The bill was supported by adjacent homeowners. Passed unanimously.
• Resolution 16-26 (Councilman Jones, Harmony Garden Planned Unit Development): Provides for continued review of the proposed PUD, which would bring 168 housing units to a vacant property. An amendment added community benefits: $40,000 for a marquee sign and bike racks at Church Lane Elementary School, and $15,000 for a sidewalk. The amendment and resolution as amended passed unanimously.
• Resolution 19-26 (Chairman, Property Tax Exemption for Blind Person): Grants a partial property tax exemption and refund to Delphina M. Sevier. Passed unanimously.
• Resolution 20-26 (Councilman Patoka, Support for Apple Store Employees Impacted by Store Closure): Introduced for first reading only.

Key Outcomes

• Appointment confirmations approved: Eric Hattaway (reappointment to Soil Conservation District Board) – unanimous; Lauren Callins (appointment to Ethics Commission) – unanimous; Scott Richman (reappointment to Police Accountability Board) – unanimous; Zoe Robinson Boreski (reappointment to Animal Hearing Board) – unanimous; Jacqueline Scotto (reappointment to Animal Hearing Board) – unanimous; Hunter Peel (appointment as Chair of Ethics Commission) – unanimous.
• Bill 62-26 as amended passed (7-0).
• Bill 64-26 as amended passed (5-2).
• Bill 65-26 as amended passed (7-0).
• Bill 66-26 passed (7-0).
• Resolution 16-26 as amended passed (7-0).
• Resolution 19-26 passed (7-0).
• Fiscal matters 1–6 approved (7-0).
• The council acknowledged that the incinerator contract renewal is pending and will be addressed in future meetings. Councilman Patoka stated he did not vote for the previous contract and would not vote on the renewal if still on the council.
• Councilman Crandall reported that BGE estimated 1,600 customers in the Essex and Middle River areas remained without power from the weekend storms, with restoration expected by the next morning.
• The meeting was adjourned after the public comments.