That's One Way To Increase Revenues

There's no denying times are tight for Baltimore County government.

The economy has created new budgetary constraints.

But a demonstration of a available to the public Friday revealed some, shall we say, interesting opportunities for the county to make a few extra bucks

Can you say "table dance?"

During the demonstration of the My Neighborhood program, county officials showed how to look up zoning on any address in the county.

In this case, they used 400 Washington Avenue—the Old Courthouse. The program showed reporters and other attendees that the seat of county government was zoned BM CT.

County Executive Kevin Kamenetz pointed out that a link included in the program allowed users to click and learn what that alphabet soup designation meant.

Everyone soon learned that the designation allows for some interesting businesses—car washes, nightclubs and, ahem, strip clubs.

Now some governments have been accused of nickle and diming residents to death. Some businesses, however, would allow the county to do it a dollar at a time.

Kamenetz laughed and down played the idea.

"Those are just some possible uses for the zoning," Kamenetz said, laughing.

So don't expect to see poles installed in the planning board or board of appeals or County Council meeting rooms any time soon.

But we'll be keeping an eye on the budget.

Just in case.

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