Howard County Board of Appeals Meeting - March 19, 2026

The Howard County Board of Appeals held a hybrid meeting on March 19, 2026, at 9:00 AM. The meeting addressed administrative matters, one case continuation, and planning for future board training.

Consent Calendar

• Meeting Minutes (March 5, 2026): Approved unanimously (5-0) with an amendment from Ms. Harris. Motion by Ms. Phillips, second by Ms. Fearcom.

Discussion Items

• Case BA 25-019C – Trotter 5857, LLC: An appeal of a Hearing Examiner’s decision regarding 3173 St. Charles Place, Ellicott City. The board opened the case as advertised and then continued it to May 21, 2026 (with a reserve date of May 28, 2026) due to the need for the full board to be present. No substantive hearing was conducted.
• Board Training Topics: The board discussed prioritizing training topics for future sessions. Ms. Harris noted that her specific bullet points under each topic were not incorporated into the compiled document. After discussion, the majority of board members prioritized Topic 3: "Hearing Procedure and Rules of Evidence." Mr. Cook, from the Office of Law, indicated that the topic could be further divided into separate sessions on rules of evidence and procedural matters. The board agreed to coordinate with Mr. Cook to schedule a training session on Topic 3, and Ms. Harris’s additional bullet points will be added to the material.

Key Outcomes

• Meeting Minutes Approved: The minutes from March 5, 2026, were approved unanimously (5-0) with an amendment.
• Case Continued: BA 25-019C was continued to May 21, 2026, at 9:00 AM, with a reserve date of May 28, 2026.
• Training Priority Established: Topic 3 (Hearing Procedure and Rules of Evidence) was selected as the first training priority. Mr. Cook will coordinate scheduling and incorporate all board members' suggested bullets, including those from Ms. Harris.