Planning commission waives site‑plan requirement for Tractor Supply at 520 E. Baltimore St.

The Taneytown Planning Commission on May 20 approved a waiver of full site‑plan review for Tractor Supply Company’s proposed modifications at 520 East Baltimore Street, including a 15,340‑square‑foot fenced outdoor retail display area and propane storage, planning staff said.

"Tractor Supply Company is seeking to obtain a site plan waiver to renovate the property at 520 East Baltimore Street, including but not limited to...a 15,340 square foot outdoor fenced in retail area," planning staff member Andrew said during the meeting, summarizing the application and staff analysis. The staff memorandum concluded the proposal did not involve extensive construction and recommended the commission consider a waiver with conditions.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about parking, traffic aisles and signage. An applicant representative confirmed the project will retain the same number of accessible (handicap) parking spaces and that signage inside the fenced display area would be limited to product/pricing displays; the store will mount a regular wall sign above the main entrance and add a panel to the shared monument sign for the center.

Members raised concerns about aisle widths shown on submitted drawings, which include both 25‑foot and 23'2" measurements in different rows. Commissioners also discussed loading‑dock clearance and the fence height; the applicant said the fenced perimeter would be either 8 or 10 feet as allowed by the ordinance and that staff would confirm the final height.

The planning commission voted to grant the waiver with two conditions: if the outdoor retail use ceases, the applicant must remove the fence, concrete and related improvements and restore the area to parking; and the applicant must secure a simplified site plan approval from Carol County government. The motion passed by voice vote; the meeting record shows the commission approved the waiver and the applicant representatives then left the hearing.

The staff report noted the fenced display will include two propane storage tanks (one described as 1,000 gallons) and limited changes to the rear of the building such as a new dumpster area, loading‑dock extension, replacement HVAC equipment and pavement markings. Staff said the existing area is already impervious and that proposed changes do not increase site intensity in a way that would require full site‑plan review.

Next steps: the applicant must obtain the simplified county site plan and comply with the commission’s restoration condition if the retail display use ends. The commission did not set additional conditions about signage beyond standard permitting requirements.