My Republican Blog: Balti County Zoning law

Baltimore County Zoning being used as an enforcement arm of the Democratic Party Part II
Al Ritter

In an earlier article I addressed the problem of a Baltimore County Zoning law that required a local area resident to remove his 32 sq ft campaign sign for a Republican candidate for governor of Maryland. All complaints were basically put on hold while a challenge was made to Superior Court in Maryland. The Judge ruled that an equal enforcement of signs no larger than 8 sq ft in residential properties in no way interferes with the First Amendment allowing free speech.

The problem now lies with the out of hand violations of the 32 sq ft signs EVERYWHERE! Because they relaxed the rules until the court trial and subsequent ruling, Baltimore County looks like Las Vegas more than the pristine County it once was. I would recommend everyone to report these signs to the zoning commission, and DEMAND their removal regardless of the political they represent. I personally reported 4 of these violations and they have yet to be removed. Baltimore County and the Zoning Commission gambled on this issue and now they have lost………….now let’s make them do their job!

http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/contact/codecomplaint

Political Equality in Baltimore County Zoning Laws?
Al Ritter

Baltimore County and patriot Steve Kolbe are still at odds over the enforcement of an“alleged” Baltimore County violation to force Mr. Kolbe to remove a 4 foot by 8 foot Ehrlich for Governor lawn sign. Mr. Kolbe received a citation exactly one week to the day from the sign’s installation, and he was required to remove it one week from the date of notice, or face a $200 a day fine. Mr. Kolbe complied with the order, but has chosen to proceed in court citing his right to express his freedom of speech.

Fast forward to yesterday; when this reporter spotted a similar size sign in a residential area of Baltimore County. The sign this time is for Kevin Kamenetz, a Democratic candidate for Baltimore County Executive. Surely Mr. Kamenetz had read about the stir caused by the Ehrlich sign on Mr. Kolbe’s property, one would have to live under a rock not to have heard about it, by all the media attention that was given to the issue. The property this sign rests on is in the road easement in front of the development “West Padonia,”

from developer Tom Brooks, the actual address is 941 West Padonia Rd.

Even with my basic grasp of math, the 4 foot by 8 foot sign equates to 32 square feet, the same exact size of the sign that Mr. Kolbe had to remove from his property last month.

A bigger question now will be; will this sign be allowed to stand without citation from Baltimore County Zoning, or will the owner of this property be given the same time to remove it or face fines equal to Mr. Kolbe’s ?