Zoning Board Public Hearing on Proposed Rules of Procedure Changes - October 19, 2026

The Zoning Board of Howard County held a public hearing on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. to receive testimony on recommended changes to the Rules of Procedure for the Zoning Board and the Rules of Procedure for the Zoning Board Hearing Examiner. The hearing was conducted in a hybrid format (in-person and virtual). The board unanimously approved the minutes of the September 14 and 16, 2026 meetings. Three members of the public testified. The board accepted written comments until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 2, 2026, and scheduled a meeting to vote on the final rules for Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The board voted unanimously (4-0, with Vice Chair Walsh absent) to approve the minutes of the September 14, 2026 and September 16, 2026 zoning board meetings.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mr. Cohn (testified via WebEx due to vertigo): He raised several concerns about the draft rules: (1) The rules do not define what constitutes a "party" for filing exceptions; he suggested that sign-up sheets clarify whether a person is a "party of record" or "person of record." (2) He noted that public notification signs for the Maple Lawn hearing examiner case were incorrect, referring to the wrong meetings. (3) He recommended using "majority" or "supermajority" instead of a fixed number (e.g., 3 of 5) to allow for potential changes in board size. (4) He pointed out that the hearing examiner rules use "decision and order" but should state "recommendation." (5) He asked about consequences if a subpoena is quashed. He offered to meet with the board to discuss further.
• Joel Horowitz: He argued that the rules regarding administrative appointment of the zoning counsel and hearing examiner violate the Howard County Charter (Sections 216 and 603), citing a county attorney's statement that the charter overrides zoning board rules. He also expressed concern that the zoning counsel should not advise the hearing examiner on legal matters and criticized side-bar discussions. He noted formatting issues (unnumbered paragraphs) in the draft rules, recommended consistency between "working days" and "business days," and addressed the need for affidavits of political contributions to be updated when new members take office. He agreed with Mr. Cohn on the need to define "party" and suggested that anyone who files motions or cross-examines becomes a party.
• Chris Oliva (of Columbia): He expressed reservations about the administrative handling of appointments for the hearing examiner and zoning counsel, suggesting a public hearing to vet appointees. He also recommended that the hearing examiner conduct declaratory rulings on citizen petitions under current provisions, citing an example where a use not permitted in commercial zones required such a ruling.

Discussion Items

• Future Meeting Date: Following testimony, the board discussed scheduling a meeting to vote on the final rules. They considered Tuesday, November 10, 2026, and Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. The board selected Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. to expedite the process.

Key Outcomes

• The board unanimously approved the September 14 and 16, 2026 meeting minutes.
• The public hearing on the proposed rules of procedure was conducted; written comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 2, 2026.
• The board decided to hold a meeting to vote on the final rules of procedure on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
• The meeting adjourned, to be followed by a county council public hearing at 7:00 p.m. and an emergency legislative session at 6:30 p.m.