The Bel Air Appearance and Beautification Committee is a volunteer group consisting of nine to twelve members appointed by the Board of Town Commissioners and serving four year terms. This group acts as an advisory committee to the Board of Town Commissioners on matters pertaining to the appearance and beautification of the Town. Members coordinate and assist in the design, planting, maintenance, and protection of Town flower gardens. They also attempt to create civic beauty by assisting in the improvement of roadsides, parks, and other public areas within the Town. The Appearance and Beautification Committee is also responsible for decorating the Town of Bel Air for Christmas, including sponsoring the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony.

The Committee invites all those interested to attend a meeting and/or to come out and join the members at their Friday morning gardening sessions during the spring and summer months.

The Board of Appeals is a volunteer Board consisting of five (5) member body mandated by State law. The Board's role is to hear appeals from property owners for special exceptions, variances, or interpretations of the Town's zoning regulations. Members are appointed for a three (3) year term by the Board of Town Commissioners. While residency is preferred, it is not required. Members serve without compensation but receive reimbursement for travel and other expenses incurred in Town business. The Board elects its own chairman from among the membership by a majority vote of all members. This group acts in a quasi-judicial role as dictated by the State of Maryland in Article 66B of the Maryland Annotated Code.

In April 2001, the Town of Bel Air received the distinguished designation of, "A Maryland Main Street". The Town began the designation process in 1999, working through the Maryland Main Street Program and The National Trust for Historic Preservation. To meet the rigorous requirements of the program, the Town appointed an ad hoc committee that subsequently formed a non-profit corporation to administer the program. The program requirements included the formation of four main committees. The committees are made up of volunteers from the local business community and local residents, all of whom have a desire for Bel Air to remain a vibrant community at the "heart of Harford". The committees are designed to meet the needs of the whole community and consist of:

• The Economic Restructuring Committee - main function is business recruitment and retention, as well as property and space needs and availability, current and future;
  
• The Promotions & Events Committee - plans, promotes, and presents downtown events such as outdoor movies, markets, festivals, dances, etc;
  
• The Organization Committee - fund raising and membership; and
  
• The Design Committee - architecture and streetscape.

The Board of Building Appeals is a volunteer Board consisting of three members and an alternate who are appointed by the Board of Town Commissioners. Members must be licensed professional engineers/architects or builders with at least seven (7) years of experience. Members serve four (4) year terms or until a successor is appointed. The Board hears appeals from applicants based on a claim that the true intent of the building code or property maintenance code has been incorrectly interpreted, the building code does not apply or an equivalent form of construction can be used. Requests for appeals must be in writing.

The Board of Election Judges are appointed by the Board of Town Commissioners. Three members are appointed on or before the first Monday of October in every second even-number year, for a term of four (4) years in accordance with the Charter of the Town of Bel Air.

The Election Judges shall be qualified voters of the Town and shall not hold a Town office or become candidates for any elective office of this Town during their term of office. The Board of Election Judges appoints one of its members to serve as chairman. The Election Judges conduct all Town elections. Board members are compensated as determined by the Board of Town Commissioners.

The Cultural Arts Commission serves as an advisory commission to the Board of Town Commissioners pertaining to the celebration of cultural arts in the Town. The Commission identifies grant funds to be used for the promotion of the arts, participates in the coordination of cultural arts programs and events within the Town, and works in cooperation with the Town's Events Committee and other established committees/commissioners in the celebration of the arts in the Town of Bel Air.

The Commission is a volunteer organization consisting of nine (9) members who are appointed by the Board of Town Commissioners for a term of three (3) years. Residency is not a requirement for membership on this commission. Members serve without compensation but receive reimbursement for travel and other expenses incurred in Town business. The Commission elects its own chairman among the membership by a majority vote of all members.

The Bel Air Economic & Community Development Commission is a volunteer organization consisting of nine (9) members appointed for a three (3) year term by the Board of Town Commissioners. While Bel Air residency is preferred, it is not a strict requirement for membership on this Commission. Members serve without compensation but receive reimbursement for travel and other expenses incurred in Town business. The Commission elects its own chairman from among the membership by majority vote of all the members.

The primary focus of the Commission is to enhance the quality of life in the Town, to attract new businesses to the Town of Bel Air and retain existing businesses. To that end, the Commission works diligently at developing projects for the betterment of the Bel Air Business Community.

The Bel Air Historic Preservation Commission is a volunteer organization consisting of seven (7) members appointed for three (3) year terms by the Board of Town Commissioners. While residency is preferred, it is not a strict requirement for membership on this Commission. However, members must demonstrate by special interest, knowledge or training qualifications in such fields as architecture, historic preservation or urban design. Members serve without compensation but receive reimbursement for travel and other expenses incurred in Town business. The Commission elects its own chairman from among the membership by a majority vote of all members. The Commission meets monthly; additional meetings may be held at the call of the chairman. The primary focus of the Commission is to protect historically significant Town structures and to generate interest and understanding in the Town's history and its buildings. The group sponsors many activities throughout the year and reviews building plans submitted for renovation and redevelopment of historic structures in the community.

The Bel Air Planning Commission is a volunteer organization consisting of five (5) members appointed for five (5) year terms by the Board of Town Commissioners. While Bel Air residency is preferred, it is not a strict requirement for membership on this Commission. Members serve without compensation but receive reimbursement for travel and other expense incurred in Town business. The Commission elects its own chairman from among the membership by a majority vote of all of the members.

The Planning Commission is charged with monitoring growth and development in Bel Air. This includes development of a Comprehensive Plan for the community and development of regulations needed to implement the Plan's goals. All site plans, subdivisions and rezoning requests are reviewed by the Planning Commission to assure compliance with Town codes. The group also conducts special studies as needed on growth management needs, including traffic studies, water and sewer plans, etc.



Planning Commission Agenda

The Bel Air Tree Committee is a volunteer organization consisting of five (5) members appointed for three (3) year terms by the Board of Town Commissioners. Members serve without compensation but receive reimbursement for travel and other expenses incurred in Town business. The Commission elects its own chairman among the membership by a majority vote of all members.

The primary focus of the Committee is to identify locations for tree planting, plan and implement tree planting projects throughout the Town, and assist local citizens by providing information and assistance concerning care and planting of trees in the neighborhoods. The Committee is responsible for the Tree City USA designation and PLANT awards that the Town has received in recent years. it works diligently on an annual Arbor Day celebration and several other projects in the community.