A conditional use petition hearing was held on March 24, 2026, at 10:00 am before Hearing Examiner Joyce Nichols, regarding a proposed redesigned nature-based play space with an ADA-accessible pathway at the Howard County Conservancy property (10520 Old Frederick Road, Woodstock, MD). The applicant, Meg Boyd, Executive Director of the Howard County Conservancy, presented the project and called one expert witness to testify about its consistency with county plans and zoning requirements.
Being recorded and summarized. Good morning. It is approximately 10 a.m. on the 24th day of March. We are here for BA25 030C on behalf of the Howard County Conservative Inc. This is a conditional use for a charitable or philanthropic institution. And the case is being presented by Ms. Meg Boyd on behalf of the Conservancy. So Ms. Boyd, it is your case if you just identify yourself for the record. Thank you. Yes, my name is Meg Boyd. I'm executive director of the Howard County Conservancy. I'd like to introduce the Conservancy and the project, and then I do have one witness that I'd like to call. Okay, wonderful. Go ahead, your case. So the Conservancy is a 36-year-old environmental education nonprofit. We're located on the 84-acre property at 10520 Old Frederick Road in Woodstock. This is actually part of a 232-acre conservation easement property that we operate as an environmental education center. And the proposed use in this application is consistent with the conditional use approval from 2002, which permitted a full range of public conservation uses, including special events, educational programs, student field trips. In 2016, our conditional use, which I believe was in front of you, Madam Hearing Examiner, was that was specific to the physical footprint of our education center. And it also reaffirmed our conservation and our education uses on the property. This project specifically is focused on connecting our existing nature play elements with an ADA accessible pathway. The area of the 790 foot proposed accessible pathway is approximately five acres, which is less than 2% of the 232 acre easement property that we manage. We view nature play as really critical in environmental education. It enables children to develop a familiarity and a comfort with playing in nature that's really critical to developing a long-term love of nature and building future environmental stewards. Play has changed dramatically for children in recent years. Most children now play on fenced plastic playgrounds or on astro turf fields that are fenced in. And our mission really core to our mission is nature play, which is a free form creative play that's open-ended and provides rich opportunities for children and families and also supports their physical and mental health. So this really is a mission focused program for us. We are simply adding ADA accessibility and then improving some of those areas on the property. So a quick overview of the project and its consistency with HOCO by design. In chapter two, growth and conservation, it emphasizes equitable and sustainable growth alongside conservation. And that chapter also highlights the need for infrastructure for residents. The conservancy is open to the public free sunrise to sunset daily. So we really view this as a very accessible amenity for the community. Park uses are also detailed in chapter six, dynamic neighborhoods, and that stresses the need for common spaces like this for neighborhoods. And then chapter seven sets a goal for new and existing public spaces to be inclusive and welcoming and creating walkable and accessible spaces, which is really also central to this project. The historic district commission attested to the merits of this project and the DPC staff report. Um also did not raise any concerns about the project. So I do have a witness that I can call in issue. He wants to take the seat right there. And I also do have Mr. Groom's CV if you would like it for the record. Would you like it's up to you? Would you like to put it in? Yes. Okay. So petitioners one will be Mr. Groom Seav.