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Record of Proceedings

Hearing Examiner Meeting – BA 26-010C: Persons’ First, Inc. Conditional Use Petition (August 18, 2026)

County Council & Boards — Tuesday, August 18, 2026
BodyHoward County, Maryland
SessionCounty Council & Boards
DateTuesday, August 18, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 25:03

Original source
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0:01

All right.

0:01

We're now recording.

0:03

Okay.

0:04

And you can turn your mic on too, Ms.

0:05

Martin.

0:07

Yeah, we got sure.

0:08

Super.

0:09

Okay.

0:09

All right.

0:11

This is the 18th of August.

0:13

It is approximately 5 30 in the evening.

0:16

We are here for BA26-010 C, an application by persons first incorporated.

0:27

Actually, it's by Miss Kinesha Martins, who's trading as persons first incorporated.

0:33

It's a request for a conditional use for a child care facility, comma, daycare treatment and care facility.

0:42

And Ms.

0:43

Martin, we are here at your bequest.

0:45

It is your case.

0:46

And so since you're going to be the only witness tonight, I need to swear you in.

0:51

Sure.

0:52

Thank you.

0:53

Do you solemnly swear or affirm under the penalties of perjury, that the responses given and statements made shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

1:01

Yes.

1:02

Thank you.

1:03

Please state your name and business address for the record.

1:06

Sure.

1:07

Kinesha Martin.

1:08

Business address is 16429, 5UA, Ms.

1:12

Bowie, Maryland.

1:14

All right, thank you.

1:15

All right.

1:15

It is your case.

1:16

It is your burden of proving that you meet all the requirements for the proposed use.

1:25

So I'm gonna let you just go and tell me how you meet all of the required criteria.

1:32

Sure.

1:33

So we have gone through the necessary steps for the conditional use process.

1:37

This is our last fake last phase.

1:39

We have given the narrative for the program that we're going to be operating in St.

1:45

John's Lane.

1:48

There lies my first question.

1:50

How many students?

1:53

Sure, approximately 30.

1:56

30.

1:56

Okay.

1:57

So I have to set a number.

2:00

So 30.

2:02

A maximum of 30?

2:04

Well, we can if there's room for we certainly have room for more.

2:08

So we typically go by projected numbers of who we think will support.

2:13

But we can increase the number if there's need we can go over that number by maybe 40.

2:20

40.

2:20

Okay.

2:21

Because your petition all states in terms of three classrooms.

2:26

Well, three classrooms doesn't tell me how many students you're proposing.

2:30

So I have to set the number.

2:32

No, that makes sense.

2:32

So the three class so two of the three will be utilized for the actual students.

2:36

One would be a conference room.

2:38

So it's one conference room for meetings to make sure that we have confidentiality, and then two for where the actual program will be operated.

2:45

So you think that each classroom can accommodate 20 students at a time?

2:50

Absolutely.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████100%
Summary of Proceedings

Hearing Examiner Meeting – BA 26-010C: Persons’ First, Inc. Conditional Use Petition (August 18, 2026)

On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., Hearing Examiner Joyce Nichols conducted a virtual evidentiary hearing via WebEx for Case BA 26-010C. The applicant, Kinesha Martin (trading as Persons’ First, Inc.), requested a conditional use to operate a day treatment and care facility for up to 40 clients (ages 21 and older) within three rooms of an existing religious institution at 3291 St. Johns Lane, Ellicott City, Maryland. The hearing focused exclusively on the applicant’s testimony and evidence; no public testimony was offered, and no technical staff report was presented.

Discussion Items

  • Application Details: The facility will occupy approximately 2,075 square feet within an existing building (on an 8.97-acre parcel) with no new construction or site changes. Two classrooms will be used for client activities and one for confidential meetings. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Client Population and Services: The program serves adults with developmental disabilities or autism spectrum disorders, providing structured day programming focused on independent living skills, health education, social development, vocational readiness, and community volunteering. Some clients may have 1:1 staffing ratios. The facility will be licensed by the state as a “day program.”
  • Capacity: Applicant initially estimated 30 clients but agreed to a maximum of 40 (20 per classroom). The hearing examiner set the maximum at 40, even if the state license authorizes more. The applicant confirmed that number is consistent with their plan.
  • Compliance with Criteria: Ms. Martin reviewed the general conditional use standards (Section 131.0 of the Howard County Zoning Regulations), stating the proposed use is harmonious with the General Plan, compatible with surrounding land uses, will not alter site design or parking, will not increase traffic congestion or burden public facilities, and promotes community integration for individuals with disabilities. She noted that a lease agreement for the rooms is in place but contingent on conditional use approval and state licensing.
  • Current Operations: The applicant currently operates only community-based (non-licensed) activities; this facility would be their first licensed site.

Key Outcomes

  • Hearing Concluded: The evidentiary hearing was declared closed. The hearing examiner will issue a written decision and order in the coming days, which may grant approval, approval with conditions, or denial.
  • Next Steps: If approved, the applicant must then obtain a license from the State of Maryland (likely through the Department of Health or equivalent) and process any needed approvals with Howard County Department of Zoning and Planning. Any party dissatisfied with the decision may appeal to the Howard County Board of Appeals, and subsequently to circuit court.

Meeting Transcript

All right. We're now recording. Okay. And you can turn your mic on too, Ms. Martin. Yeah, we got sure. Super. Okay. All right. This is the 18th of August. It is approximately 5 30 in the evening. We are here for BA26-010 C, an application by persons first incorporated. Actually, it's by Miss Kinesha Martins, who's trading as persons first incorporated. It's a request for a conditional use for a child care facility, comma, daycare treatment and care facility. And Ms. Martin, we are here at your bequest. It is your case. And so since you're going to be the only witness tonight, I need to swear you in. Sure. Thank you. Do you solemnly swear or affirm under the penalties of perjury, that the responses given and statements made shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Yes. Thank you. Please state your name and business address for the record. Sure. Kinesha Martin. Business address is 16429, 5UA, Ms. Bowie, Maryland. All right, thank you. All right. It is your case. It is your burden of proving that you meet all the requirements for the proposed use. So I'm gonna let you just go and tell me how you meet all of the required criteria. Sure. So we have gone through the necessary steps for the conditional use process. This is our last fake last phase. We have given the narrative for the program that we're going to be operating in St. John's Lane. There lies my first question. How many students? Sure, approximately 30. 30. Okay. So I have to set a number. So 30. A maximum of 30? Well, we can if there's room for we certainly have room for more. So we typically go by projected numbers of who we think will support. But we can increase the number if there's need we can go over that number by maybe 40. 40.

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