311 Sandy Spring Rd, Laurel, MD 20707

Commercial Neighborhood Zone

The purpose of this classification is to provide a zone, which, encourages the economic stability and preservation of historic commercial uses such as offices, small businesses and other trade establishments that have developed within specified older sections of the City and developed under older codes and ordinances; provides both flexibility and control in their continuance through modification options exercised by the Planning Commission, and allows improvement and expansion where the uses, both existing and proposed, have no detrimental effect on adjoining commercial or residential properties which have developed largely in existing structures whose reconversion to residential use is unlikely. Properties placed in the Commercial Neighborhood Zones may also be locations for mixed use, in order to fulfill the housing goals of the duly adopted Master Plan such as establishing housing opportunities for the elderly and the handicapped. The following shall be the specific intents of the Neighborhood Commercial Zone: To recognize businesses which have evolved and which are largely contained in the City's Historic District areas or immediate environs.; To provide a mechanism to control the expansion of these uses.; To allow infill development where such expansion may be appropriate and compatible with surrounding properties.; To recognize and permit the continuance of small yard regulations.; To insure that resulting rehabilitation, renovation or new construction is in character with surrounding neighborhoods, which shall involve coordination, where applicable, with the Historic District Commission.