The Easton town council will hold a public hearing tonight on a proposed zoning text amendment that would allow home improvement centers to exceed 65,000 square feet.
That size limit for major retail uses does not include “retail stores within or adjacent to shopping centers which were approved prior (to) August 25, 2004, including projects which involve the expansion of individual stores within an existing shopping center; or the redevelopment of an existing shopping center; or the expansion of an existing center onto an abutting site or an adjacent site; or the construction of a new retail store on a site adjacent to an existing shopping center.”
Ordinance No. 756 would add “home improvement centers” as a use that is not subject to the size limit.
The Easton Planning and Zoning Commission considered the proposed text amendment at its November meeting and recommended the town council deny the request.
The zoning text amendment, sought by the Gannon Family Limited Partnership, has prompted speculation that Home Depot is again interested in building a store in Easton.
A public hearing on Ordinance 756 is set for 5:35 p.m. during the council’s regular town meeting tonight.
The Easton Town Council meeting may be viewed live online at https://www.facebook.com/midshorecommunitytv. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Easton Cable subscribers may view the meeting on Channel 98.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks must be worn at all times in the council chambers unless addressing the council and there is limited seating to ensure proper social distancing.
During the town’s Jan. 4 meeting, Easton Town Council President Megan Cook noted the limited seating available in the council chambers and said the council would be provided with public comments made on the video of the meeting and would leave the written record open until Friday.
If you wish to make public comments during the meeting, use the chat function on the livestream; leave a recorded message by calling 410-822-2526 and choosing option 9; or send an email to Questions@EastonMD.gov
The text of Ordinance 756 may be read below. Use the arrows at top left to move through the pages.
DraftOrd756
Liz Fisher says
Thank you for bringing issues like this to light that will likely affect quality of life and character of our town and county. I urge anyone concerned about this proposed amendment to stream the town meeting this evening and comment. It will be interested to see where a Home Depot would go. It appears that the proposed amendment to the Easton zoning ordinance for major retail development removes location ties with existing shopping centers as well as size restrictions, as long at the new structure is a home improvement center.
McConnell says
Hopefully Home Depot will come here. Best case would be to replace the world’s worst Lowe’s. But if not there must be 200,000sq ft of space in the multiple crippled shopping strip centers surrounding Easton.
John Thacker says
I agree with McConnell. Home Depot should be welcome to enter the commerce of the town so long as it complies with existing zoning code and the existing comprehensive plan. Alternately, they and the Gannon family interests could wait for the next comprehensive plan update and lobby for their proposed changes in that context. To seek a targeted amendment now that serves their own financial interests, in contravention of a unanimous vote of the planning commission in opposition, is out of bounds.
Does anyone know what the council decided on Tuesday evening?