SNOW HILL, Md. -- Worcester County Commissioners denied a request to rezone agricultural land for commercial use. A local business planned on opening up an antique store on the property, but needed approval from the county.
After a public hearing, commissioners voted 4-3 to not rezone the parcel of land.
Tuesday mornings discussion was centered around .78 acres of land, which sits about a mile and a half from Snow Hill's downtown. The land is occupied by a warehouse and asphalt parking lot.
Commissioners who voted against rezoning, however, said it's the farmland surrounding the warehouse that influenced their decision.
The final vote came as a shock to Hugh Cropper, the attorney representing Black Water LLC, the business that owns the land and asked for the rezoning.
"My client testified in favor, we had a surveyor in favor who works with the comp plan, we had an environmental consultant in favor, we had retired Sheriff Chuck Martin, who's well respected, in favor," said Cropper.
The county's planning and zoning commission and the Snow Hill Chamber of Commerce also voiced support. It's one of the reasons Commissioner Joe Mitrecic made the motion to approve.
"It made sense," said Mitrecic. "You have all those people from Snow Hill that were wanting it."
Mitrecic's motion was seconded by Commissioner Elder and when it was time to vote, Commissioner Purnell sided with Mitrecic and Elder. But, Commissioners Bunting, Bertino, Fiori and Abbott all voted against it.
"Which is kind of concerning because you know the two people that represent that area, Diana[Purnell] and Ted[Elder] were for it," said Mitrecic.
Commissioner Abbott did provide a statement to WBOC:
"This did not fit our comprehensive plan for the county. This is A-1 zoned property with currently farmed land on all sides. Our county is a farming community and as such our agricultural land needs to be protected."
Cropper said the plot of land, however, is designated as a growth area under the comp plan and because of the size of parcel, agricultural use does not fit.
"Of all the permitted uses and special exception uses as agricultural, none of them fits this property," said Cropper. "So without the rezoning, this property essentially, probably is going to remain dormant, unproductive."
Cropper said he plans on appealing the decision to the Worcester County Circuit Court.
