Staff recommends approval for Intermediate Care Facility at 2420 Cambridge Beltway; setback is legal nonconforming

Rose Lawson of Rayland Acres, LLC applied for a Special Exception (BOA-26-0003) to open an Intermediate Care Institution at 2420 Cambridge Beltway, a parcel staff records as about 3.67 acres. The applicant proposes expanding the existing single-family structure to roughly 12 rooms housing about 17 residents; the use is permitted in residential zoning if the parcel is larger than two acres.

Staff identified a site constraint: the existing house sits approximately 21 feet from the eastern lot line while the current side setback requirement is 25 feet, leaving the building about 4 feet short of the present standard. Because the structure predates current setbacks, staff and the Planning Commission recommended treating it as a legal nonconforming building; the applicant agreed that any new additions must meet the current setbacks. Brian D. Herrmann, Director of Planning and Zoning, summarized staff’s view: "The applicant has made a convincing argument for the Special Exception," and staff concluded the use would not endanger public health, would be compatible with the neighborhood, and would conform to the Comprehensive Plan when subject to required permits and State licensing.

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval (6–0, with Commissioner Chantay Nelson recused). The staff report notes adequate utilities, driveway access on Cambridge Beltway, and limited pedestrian impacts given the rural context; final City permits and Maryland licensing would be required before operation. The provided record contains the Planning Commission recommendation and staff endorsement, but the Board of Appeals’ final vote on the Special Exception is not recorded in the supplied materials.