Baltimore County brings zoning issues to its new web dashboard

Baltimore County government has a new web dashboard that’s designed to make info about a zoning review process easier to access.

The county’s Department of Planning is in the midst of a review that occurs every four years. Known as the Comprehensive Zoning Map process, it allows residents to review how properties are classified and request changes.

With the dashboard, the county’s Department of Planning is displaying the issues that were raised during the public comment period that begin in August and ran through mid-October. In all, the department received 191 requests for zoning changes.

“Already, the CZMP process has had extensive input from residents across our county, and we want to continue to be inclusive and transparent through this yearlong process,” Planning Director Pete Gutwald said in a statement. “We’re proud to launch this Zoning Dashboard, which will make this process more accessible to our residents.”

The dashboard also breaks down data on the types of requests that were made, the total land acreage impacted by the issues, and whether they are in a key zone of proximity to the Chesapeake Bay or historic areas.

It’s the latest example of Baltimore County bringing new tools to a public process. Earlier this year, the County launched a platform to provide data on spending during the annual budgeting process.

In this case the tech tool is one part of a yearlong process. The planning department is reviewing the requests, and hearings will begin in March 2020. Ultimately, the County Council must approve changes.