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Sec. 59-G-2.21. Charitable or philanthropic institution.
   (a)   Development standard.  A special exception may be granted for a charitable or philanthropic institution, subject to the following requirements:
      (1)   In the Agricultural Zones regulated by the development standards of Section C- 9.4, a charitable or philanthropic institution may be granted only if it is for re-use of an existing building.  The development standards are those of the applicable zones except:
         (i)   Minimum lot size: twice the minimum required by section C-9.4.
         (ii)   Maximum lot size: 2 acres. This requirement may be waived to accommodate a residential camp for seriously ill children.
         (iii)   Minimum side yard setback: twice the minimum required by section C- 9.4.
         (iv)   Minimum frontage: twice the minimum required by section C-9.4.
         (v)   Minimum green area: 50 percent.
         (vi)   Maximum FAR: 0.2.
         (vii)   Maximum lot coverage: half the maximum permitted by section C-9.4.
         (viii)   Maximum building height: as specified in section C-9.4.
         (ix)   The property must front on and have direct access to a public road built to arterial or higher standards, with the possible exception of properties in the rural, rural cluster, and rural density transfer zones. In those three zones, frontage on and access to an arterial or higher standard is not required if the board finds that road access via the primary or secondary road will be safe and adequate for the anticipated traffic to be generated.
      (2)   In the One-Family Residential Zones regulated by Section C-1.32, the development standards are those of the applicable zones except:
         (i)   Minimum side yard setback: twice the minimum required by Section C-1.32.
         (ii)   Minimum frontage: twice the minimum required by Section C-1.32.
         (iii)   Minimum green area: 50 percent in R-60, R-90, and RMH zones; 60 percent in R-150 and R-200 zones; 70 percent in RE-1, RE-2, and RE-2C zones.
         (iv)   Maximum FAR: 0.25 for residential, recreational, and environmental uses; 0.25 or 100,000 square feet, whichever is less, for office uses.  Any charitable or philanthropic institution established by special exception before May 6, 2002 may expand to a 0.25 total floor area ratio.
         (v)   Maximum building height: 35 feet in R-60 and R-90 zones; 50 feet in R- 150, R-200, RE-1, RE-2, RE-2C, and RMH zones.
         (vi)   The property must front on and have direct access to a public street or roadway having more than one through travel lane in each direction of travel.  Access to a corner lot may be from an adjoining primary street, constructed to primary standards, if the Board finds this access to be appropriate and not detrimental to existing residential uses on that primary street.  This requirement does not apply to any charitable or philanthropic institution facility that lawfully exists on May 6, 2002.
         (vii)   Outdoor recreational facilities must be located, landscaped, or otherwise buffered so that the activities associated with the facilities will not constitute an intrusion into adjacent residential properties. The facilities must be designed and sited to protect adjacent properties from noise, spill light, stray balls, odors, and other objectionable impacts by providing appropriate screening measures, such as sufficient setbacks, evergreen landscaping, solid fencing, and walls.  The setback must not be less than twice the rear yard setback of the zone.  This requirement does not apply to outdoor recreational facilities which lawfully exist on May 6, 2002.
         (viii)   For residential and office uses, standards (2)(i) and (iv) do not apply to the use of an existing building that exists lawfully at least 3 years before the special exception petition is filed.  Any expansion or addition to the existing building must comply with the standards in effect at the time a modification is filed.
      (3)   In the C-1 and C-3 Zones, the development standards are those of the applicable zones.
   (b)   Parking Standard.
      (1)   Off-street parking space must be provided as follows:
         (i)   Residential: one parking space for every 2 residents, and one space for every 2 employees on the largest work shift.
         (ii)   Recreational and Environmental: the total number of required parking spaces for each component of the proposed development under Section E-3.7 for auditorium, health club, commercial swimming pool, commercial recreational establishment, and other similar uses.
         (iii)   Office: same as general office under Section E-3.7.
      (2)   The Board may modify the off-street parking space requirements if warranted because of the program, method of operation, or clientele.
      (3)   All other parking design standards must comply with Section E-2.83 and other applicable sections of Article 59-E.
   (c)   Waiver.
      (1)   If the property is designated as a historic resource by the master plan for historic preservation, the Board may waive development standards (a)(1)(i) through (ix) and (a)(2)(i) through (viii).
      (2)   If the special exception is for a new building to be located on the property of an existing religious institution, the Board may waive the standards (a)(1)(ix) and (a)(2)(vi).
      (3)   The Board must not grant any waiver as stated in Sections (c)(1) and (2) unless it finds that:
         (i)   Road access will be safe and adequate for the anticipated traffic to be generated;
         (ii)   Road access will not have a significantly adverse impact on the surrounding neighborhood; and
         (iii)   The grant of the waiver will not cause other significant adverse impacts on the surrounding neighborhood.
      (4)   In the agricultural zones, a special exception for a charitable or philanthropic institution may be granted only if it is for re-use of an existing building. The Board may waive this restriction to approve a residential camp for seriously ill children and their immediate family members, operated or sponsored by a non-profit organization under the following conditions.  Immediate family members may attend sessions jointly with or separate from the sessions attended by the children. Separate sessions for immediate family members are only permitted as a secondary camp activity. The camp may include facilities for overnight accommodations and for support services related to camp activities. The camp must be compatible with adjacent land uses.
      (5)   A charitable or philanthropic institution for which a petition was approved before May 6, 2002, is a conforming use. Any such special exception may be modified under Section 59-G-1.3(c), subject to the following conditions:
      (i)   Any expansion or enlargement must comply with the standards specified in Sections (a) and (b) above, except that, if the land area has not been enlarged, the board may waive the maximum lot size in agricultural zones or the FAR standard or the road frontage requirement stated in Sections (a)(1)(ii), (vi), (ix) and (a)(2)(iv), (vi) above in accordance with anticipated future expansion that has not been commenced or completed as of August 15, 1988, but that was expressly recognized in the conditions or record of the approved special exception.
      (ii)   In any zone where the special exception is no longer allowed, any amendment to the special exception must comply with the standards in the R-60 zone, as stated in Sections (a) and (b) above.
(Legislative History: Ord. No. 8-58, § 7; Ord. No. 11-29, § 8; Ord. No. 11-47, § 1; Ord. No. 11-78, § 1; Ord. No. 14-47, § 1.)
   Editor's note—Section 59-G-2.21 is cited in Grand Bel Manor Condominium v. Gancayco, 167 Md. App. 471, 893 A.2d 1144 (2006).  Section 59-G-2.21 is quoted and interpreted in Pierce v. Montgomery County, 116 Md. App. 522, 698 A.2d 1127 (1997).
   Section 1 of Ord. No. 11-78 purported to amend subsection (b)(2) of this section. The amendment was actually to subsection (a)(2).