A Zoning Makeover: The PI Zone Gets a Retail Face Lift
In a stunning move that left many scratching their heads and wondering if they accidentally walked into a zoning convention, the Westminster Planning & Zoning Commission voted to recommend ordinance 2025‑09. This groundbreaking text amendment breathes new life into the Planned Industrial (PI) zone, permitting a delightful mix of hotels and select retail/service operations. It also graciously raises the retail area cap from 15% to a whopping 30%. By the way, the commission can approve amendments to PI development plans now, because who needs oversight from the mayor and council?
On a fine Thursday, the Westminster Planning & Zoning Commission decided to recommend to the mayor and common council that they adopt ordinance 2025‑09. This ordinance is *not* to be confused with some trendy new diet fad; it’s actually a zoning amendment aimed at making the PI zone a bit more… user-friendly for limited retail and service businesses. Because nothing says “industrial” like a side of sushi with your factory.
Staff painted this ordinance as a “process-focused” change. Yes, that’s right! Forget about changing the landscape; let’s just focus on the paperwork. This amendment will roll out the welcome mat for hotels, restaurants, and service stations, all while bumping the retail/service cap to a sprightly 30% of a PI property’s area. The zoning administrator boldly declared that this would “improve the process” for local retail businesses or service shops. So, no more persistent visits from the mayor’s office! The commission can now swiftly review and approve amendments, as if they’re deciding the fate of a reality television competition.
Commissioners chimed in like it was an open mic night. One commissioner noted that the addition of hotels brings a much-needed definition to the PI zone—because who doesn’t want to hear the sound of a toaster popping as they ponder their manufacturing woes? And let’s not forget the thrilling acreage increase! Property owners can bask in their newfound flexibility, or at least pretend to while they figure out how to turn industrial spaces into community centers.
Attorney Kelly Schafer Miller, representing the illustrious owners of the Carroll County Commerce Center, showed up ready to throw her support behind the amendment. With a flair for drama, she enthusiastically backed the cherry-picked changes and hinted at more filings related to future phases. “We are here to support [the] text amendment [and] request a favorable recommendation,” she boldly declared, likely practicing for an Oscar speech without knowing it.
After a series of motions and seconding that resembled a game of “hot potato,” the ordinance was recommended to the mayor and common council with a hearty voice vote. It’s like they won the zoning lottery, but alas, the ordinance itself won’t magically make existing site development plans look better until they receive further, mystical amendments.
What’s next, you ask? The recommendation will float its way to the mayor and common council, who have the delightful authority to either adopt, modify, or outright reject this newfound zoning wisdom. Because, at the end of the day, who wouldn’t want to play catch with zoning laws? Perhaps they’ll discover the joy of bureaucracy while sipping on soy lattes in their shiny new hotels.
