CCOC Referrals to the Office of Zoning and Administrative Hearings (OZAH)​
 

  1. OZAH will accept referral of cases over which the CCOC has voted to accept jurisdiction. Under Section 10B-12(d), the CCOC must authorize a referral to OZAH and the referral must be made by the CCOC Chair.
  2. CCOC will formally refer the case to OZAH by email or in writing. CCOC will also deliver the original file (Commission Exhibit 1) to OZAH, which will retain it until OZAH issues its recommended decision.
  3. Once the referral is made, the CCOC staff will not have any further communication with the parties and the parties will be told to contact OZAH directly at 240-777-6660. If for any reason the CCOC staff does have any communication with a party, it must make a written report to OZAH of the communication.
  4. OZAH will select a hearing date and hearing officers and issue the Summons and all other communications and rulings to the parties. Hearings are usually scheduled for Tuesday or Thursday mornings.
  5. OZAH will apply the procedural requirements of County Code Chapter 10B and COMCOR 10B.06, when applicable, and of the Administrative Procedures Act and of its own procedures for hearings.
  6. OZAH requires printed transcripts of its hearings in order to prepare its recommended filings, and the CCOC will pay for those transcripts. OZAH will bear the other costs associated with holding a hearing.
  7. CCOC will provide OZAH with any legal or investigative support it requests.
  8. OZAH will issue a written recommended decision to the CCOC, with a .pdf copy, the original CCOC file, and any exhibits added to the file while the case was proceeding.
  9. Under Section 10B-13(f), the CCOC must appoint a panel to review, accept, modify, or reject the OZAH recommended decision. According to the County Attorney, the panel need not hold any hearings on the recommended decision.