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Aberdeen planning board considers rezoning requests on Beards Hill, Old Philadelphia

Aberdeen continues to be the focus of developers, with two more rezoning requests for higher density projects under consideration by the city.

One developer is asking to rezone part of the 17.9-acre Colony at Beards Hill, off Beards Hill Road, to a denser residential zoning.

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The property is zoned both R1 and B3. The owner asked Aberdeen's planning commission at its most recent meeting to rezone the property as R3 and B3.

"We don't know exactly how this property will develop, but we want to avail ourselves of all the R3 uses," Joe Snee, an attorney for Colony at Beards Hill LLC, said during the commission's Jan 11 meeting.

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He said there are a variety of possible uses "to meet the BRAC demand."

"It made sense. We thought, too, to leave some of the B3 there to leave an additional buffer" between commercial and residential areas, he said.

Commission members were concerned about possibly creating a panhandle lot with the split-zoning, and also had questions about a city pumping station that is also on the property.

Snee said he believes the station and related utilities are connected to the property in an easement.

Commission chairman Joe Swisher also said he was concerned about the split-zoning, which the city is trying to eliminate in general.

He suggested the owner return with a uniform zoning.

"That was originally intended to be part of the [land planned for Ripken Stadium], and the stadium was in a swampland," Swisher said.

Commission member Karen Heavey also wondered what other plans exist for the area.

"The city does own a big chunk, and it's my understanding someone in the city is negotiating with the county for a park up there," she said.

The planning commission also heard a proposal to change 20.5 acres at 1104 Old Philadelphia Road, owned by 1104 OPR LLC, from M1 light industrial to B3 high intensity business.

Planning and Community Development director Phyllis Grover said the owner does not have any specific plans for the site and has been trying to market it over the years. She said the owner thinks changing it to B3 will make it more marketable for restaurant and retail use.

"He's going from a very costly and limited M1 to a B3, which is a good move for us, I guess," Swisher said.

The planning commission did not vote on either of the proposals.

Grover said a public hearing is set for the commission's next meeting, which is scheduled for Feb. 8.

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