BERLIN, MD– The Town of Berlin's Board of Zoning Appeals will meet April 2 to discuss waving requirements for a future public parking lot.
Mayor Zack Tyndall and the Town Council say they secured a lease for a vacant lot on the corner of West and Washington Streets to meet increased parking needs. Plans for the 2.13-acre property include over 100 parking spaces near the Town Center District, according to the application.
The Mayor and Council say parking area requirements in the Town Code, combined with lease agreement stipulations, could impact that number.
Town Code requires off-street parking areas to be at least 20 feet from all street lines and residential lots. However, the applicants say this requirement has been waived before, as no public lots on or near Main Street adhere.
The application also asks the Board to accept a fencing requirement in the lease agreement in place of the landscaped buffers required by Town Code.
Lots must also be paved, according to Town Code, but the lease prohibits paving.
The Mayor and Council say they would have to terminate the lease and pay a $60,000 penalty if the paving requirement is upheld.
The Board of Zoning Appeals will meet Wednesday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers.