(8/27) After months of discussion by the Planning Commission and input from local businesses and residents, Thurmont’s Board of Commissioners voted to approve twelve amendments to the town’s zoning ordinance.

Changes to the sign ordinance back in 2017 initially spurred discontent among some business owners in town who were once allowed to utilize feather flags, banners, or A-frame signs to attract the attention of those passing through Thurmont. Those who utilized these types of advertising strategies, especially, were those businesses that were located in the Thurmont shopping center, or those whose storefronts do not directly abut the street. The revised sign ordinance in 2017 only allowed feather flags and banners to be up for a limited number of days. Many business owners noted this change negatively affected their ability to be seen by passing cars and their customer base decreased.

After back and forth discussion between business owners and members of the Planning Commission, an amendment to the sign portion of the zoning ordinance was proposed, and accepted. Feather flags were defined as "a free-standing, temporary sign typically constructed of a single shaft or pole driven into the ground with an attached pennant set vertically." Feather signs will now be permitted in the General Commercial District but only as accessory to those establishments in a shopping center that do not directly front or face a public right of way. Several conditions apply including: signs can’t be displayed beyond the daily close of business; they can’t exceed the dimensions of eight feet by two feet, and may not be above ten feet tall; and no more than one sign per 50 linear feet of the shopping center may be in place.

Along with the amendment to the signs, other amendments to the zoning ordinance were approved on August 13. These amendments address parking, building height, back yard accessory structures and covered decks.

The maximum building height in the General Business District was changed from 30 feet to 45 feet. Increasing the maximum height would encourage hotels, professional offices and would provide more flexibility for those looking to build. Additionally, within the General Business District, staff recommended increasing the side yard adjoining a residentially zoned property by one foot for every three feet of building height above 30 feet.

Another amendment made it allowable for residents to cover their decks or enclose a deck provided certain conditions were met in the rear yard of their lots; this only applies to the R5 district. The area of the deck may be no larger than 400 square feet and the height from the grade to the floor of the deck may not exceed 48 inches. Construction shall not go any further than ten feet into the rear yard. Additionally, an amendment was made to change the distance between accessory structures in a property owner’s back yard to six feet in between and six feet from the principal structure.

Lastly, an amendment was made to address parking concerns within town home complexes. A garage that is physically attached to or built within a townhouse unit shall no longer be counted toward meeting the minimum-parking requirement of that complex. The number of overflow parking spots within a townhouse unit was also increased. Now there must be two parking spaces per dwelling unit plus an additional two overflow spots.