The Bel Air town commissioners approved bank financing to cover some of the costs of its purchase of a former bank building on Main Street and accepted two resolutions during the business meeting Monday evening.
Commissioner Rob Reier voted against the proposal, which was approved with three votes in favor of it.
The town purchased the former BB&T building at 33-37 S. Main St. in October for more than $1 million. Including the $251,000 to demolish the building and $25,000 for miscellaneous expenses, Finance Director Lisa Moody said the total came to more than $1.3 million.
About $800,000 was used from the town's unassigned fund balance and the tax-exempt financing proposal approved Monday was for a partial reimbursement of $515,000 through PNC Bank, Moody said. The bid from PNC Bank had the lowest rates at 2.2 percent with a 10-year maturity, she added.
Board members also officially received a resolution that would charge homeowners a $30 administrative fee for maintaining stormwater ponds. In 2010, the town helped the Majors Choice development maintain one of three stormwater ponds in the community and charged homeowners who shared the pond a pro-rated cost over three years, Administration Director Joyce Oliver said.
Majors Choice has come forward again requesting help for the remaining two ponds and another development has contacted the town as well, Oliver added. Because it is no longer a one-time thing, the town is proposing charging $30 per household, per year for costs related to staff time.
Commissioners also received amendments to the development regulations ordinance, which were approved with revisions by the planning commission last week. The regulations change parking requirements in B2, B2A, B3A zones representing Main Street, Bond Street, part of Route 1 and "transitional areas" into downtown Bel Air, Planning Director Kevin Small said.
The amendment also added the term group homes into residential zones as a house with fewer than eight residents.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Resident Greg Adolph asked if the designation allows possible drug rehabilitation group homes in residential areas. Commissioner David Carey confirmed that the town code, which closely mirrors state code, means if a group home has fewer than eight people residing there it must be treated the same as a family dwelling.
On another issue, Adolph also agreed with John Meeks, of English Country Manor, who requested that the town put in a stop light at Boulton Street and Gateway Drive, something that community has been seeking for years.
The newly-installed camera helps, Meeks said during public comment, but does not fix the problem as a light would.
"The people who live there would very much appreciate this," Meeks said.
Adrienne DeRan was re-appointed to the Cultural Arts Commission and Jennifer Mainster Hanna was re-appointed to the Historic Preservation Commission, both for three-year terms.
Bel Air's next town meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 7:30 p.m., when a public hearing will also be held on the development regulation amendments.
