[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6612633,"mediaKeyId","2889831-28c33bd7b64a07033c88919365d60d1d","parentId",2889831,"title","Staff presents Master Plan Data Handbook Part 2, flags transportation, school capacity and commercial-base findings","audioSeconds",2054,"startMs",3562000,"endMs",5616000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2889831-28c33bd7b64a07033c88919365d60d1d&start=3562&end=5616","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2889831-28c33bd7b64a07033c88919365d60d1d/thumbnail_3562000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6612633/Carroll-County/Maryland/Staff-presents-Master-Plan-Data-Handbook-Part-2-flags-transportation-school-capacity-and-commercial-base-findings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6612633-ed8e6d6635cda27139fd0ccf8e26fe9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131339&Signature=ISmxDIE8nc1kWvXX9wgqLWckioIn0EzXmSmTT37VIcdrYRoy7-LTtN5pQ3is83t-bu48DlrmwRdGAbtZqTG6~vcV0xyszirRb3X4jDnmQ4bQk-U2lNGUkMBS7uWszDsfBe9~XOb8JW1d9tC58lwhpKJYgCFrdcUqyGg75~-N1qnslQu3hMrp~8Kcgg8KXJ8vFncvdi20sQagtdMma6j80z224H3ca~d0yjcz~AxnACZ3r96fTLoSEUU5njRGChGpSU~toJ8GDKeHStqFhR8J6FxEYVpU1TMqkDPOAf3zYdaVinm9Y5XorB0I~Vx28KdNdmYnxP3fklN6efnkT9nq6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Carroll County, MD","date","2025-04-02T00:00:00Z","article","Carroll County planning staff presented Part 2 of the Master Plan Data Handbook, a data-rich reference focused on facilities and services the county directly manages. Mary (planning staff) said the handbook covers transportation, public safety, land use and development, farm demographics, infrastructure and management and budget, and is intended as a reference for the master-plan update.

On transportation, staff highlighted that roughly half of county workers commute out of Carroll County, most often to Baltimore County and Howard County, and that approximately 36% of working residents travel more than 45 minutes to work. Traffic-volume maps show the heaviest volumes on MD 30 near Manchester, U.S. 70 near Mount Airy and I-40 in the Westminster area.

The public-safety review showed Carroll County's per-capita crime rates low relative to peer jurisdictions, and concurrency metrics placed the county above the law-enforcement adequacy threshold (1.37 officers per 1,000 population vs. 1.3 threshold). The most recent concurrency data identified two fire stations (Limeborough and Taneytown) as inadequate on a late-or-failed-response metric; eight stations and two EMS stations were approaching inadequate.

Land-use data show that agricultural and residential uses dominate county acreage; commercial and industrial uses account for about 3% of land area. Staff noted the county has permanently preserved over 80,000 acres toward a stated goal of 100,000 acres under ag-preservation programs. A chart provided by staff shows potential future residential lots are concentrated outside designated growth areas while most potential nonresidential acreage lies inside growth areas (notably Westminster), and several towns show development potential.

On schools, staff said Freedom Elementary and Sykesville Middle were identified as inadequate in recent concurrency reports but that both projects are included in the county capital-improvement program for additions. Projections for 2030 showed several elementary and one middle school approaching inadequate status if current trends continue.

In the management and budget section staff highlighted that Carroll's assessable commercial/industrial share is 12.94% of the tax base, below the 2014 master-plan goal of 15% and below comparative counties; staff said economic-development colleagues have emphasized the need for more marketable, developable commercial sites and reliable water/sewer access as barriers.

Commissioners discussed municipal examples such as Mount Airy's planning efforts and raised visitor-accommodation and sports-facility needs as economic-development opportunities that connect to water, sewer and transportation availability. Staff said the handbook will remain a reference for master-plan drafting and future outreach.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning And Zoning Commission Work Session April 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Planning staff presented Part 2 of the Master Plan Data Handbook, summarizing transportation, public safety, land-use, farm demographics, infrastructure and budget data. Key findings include high outbound commuting, school capacity pressures in the Freedom area, and a comparatively low commercial/industrial assessable base.","taxTitle","Carroll County, Maryland","taxId",7748,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":44,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6612640,"Staff briefs commission on state growth-tier law, lot-yield implications for Carroll County",2098,1464000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2889831-28c33bd7b64a07033c88919365d60d1d&start=1464&end=3562","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2889831-28c33bd7b64a07033c88919365d60d1d/thumbnail_1464000.jpg","/articles/6612640/Carroll-County/Maryland/Staff-briefs-commission-on-state-growth-tier-law-lot-yield-implications-for-Carroll-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6612640-09fc810f7cf1008b15ebe3d97da308c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131339&Signature=HIZJcXXYaN~eAFZXFz5ZfzPEMrIsBgb9fQ2o58xtUI5W8vnTgqdzLaRKTMw2qYfFJjlF6Tu72JQbxqrLgNAB9CEz1Mm5M46P7ra6vAwq6CpyjbUq2NF0oMZk7tCNbQUvjeyLl7T37bDZ8dPkr276SAE0CUX26WirtNjUql~XCLBByT9j8q6IgZr~~FLUJGTjSLFXy5LIMkse-NYvhaeQm6RwtBdzb8-CNnlBbC9hAk8WFw2Z7jgafg3VSa8qya4lxyX1OgYeKAeNHhA0z4DLllZlJBTmyCfy94PYILnDk0oWR3BJvojloX-8AQaA0hYMe-1cImyTe3hweAqzrx6h8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carroll County planning staff presented an overview of the state's growth-tier legislation and discussed what adopting mapped tiers could mean for the county's future lot yield and master plan work. Staff framed the presentation around SB 236 (adopted in 2012), which created four growth-tier designations for residential development tied to sewer service and preservation goals.

Chris (Planning Department staff) summarized the tier definitions used in other jurisdictions: \"So tier 1 is anything that's currently served by sewer. Tier 2 are areas that are planned for sewer in the future. Tier 3 is large-lot development and rural villages on septic systems. And then tier 4 was the areas that are primarily designated for preservation or conservation.\" He said counties that adopted mapped tiers had to do so administratively by Dec. 31, 2012, and later incorporate them into comprehensive plans; jurisdictions that did not adopt tiers would be constrained to approving only minor septic subdivisions defined by state law (up to seven lots on septic).

Staff told commissioners that Carroll County chose in 2012 not to adopt mapped growth tiers. Instead the county amended local subdivision regulations (Chapter 155) to create a \"septic minor\" category aligning local procedures with the state's septic-lot definitions; the county kept its existing local minor/major subdivision thresholds for other purposes. As a result, staff said, a maximum of seven lots per parcel on septic is currently permitted outside municipalities. Staff noted that all municipalities in Carroll — except Mount Airy — later adopted mapped tiers.

On policy implications, staff estimated that adopting growth tiers countywide could increase theoretical lot yield \"maybe a couple thousand lots,\" but emphasized that such estimates are high-level and site specific developability and landowner intent affect actual housing production. Staff also emphasized that growth tiers adjust buildable lot yield rather than directly creating housing units, and that much of the additional lot potential would likely fall in agricultural and conservation zoning districts where lot sizes and costs may not produce lower-cost housing.

Commissioners and staff discussed agricultural preservation, parcelization, clustering and the practical implications for appraisals and ag-preservation valuations. Commissioner Ralph (board member) described the 2012 law as having encouraged landowners toward agricultural preservation in Carroll County and warned that mapped tiers can create winners and losers if not implemented by rules: \"If you start messing with the tiers, then you do have winners and losers,\" he said, and advocated consideration of corridor-based approaches rather than a simple countywide tier map.

Staff said they brought the item to the commission to provide background for master-plan conversations and to flag the topic as a possible future point of discussion rather than to recommend immediate action. No formal action or vote was taken.","Planning staff reviewed the state's 2012 growth-tier law (SB 236), Carroll County's decision not to adopt mapped tiers in 2012, and potential effects on lot yield and agricultural preservation if tiers were reconsidered during the master plan update.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6612644,"Commission reviews concept plan for VAPCO contractor equipment storage yard near Taneytown",907,454000,1361000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2889831-28c33bd7b64a07033c88919365d60d1d&start=454&end=1361","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2889831-28c33bd7b64a07033c88919365d60d1d/thumbnail_454000.jpg","/articles/6612644/Carroll-County/Maryland/Commission-reviews-concept-plan-for-VAPCO-contractor-equipment-storage-yard-near-Taneytown","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6612644-c144d3e5a8edd113be6cb280d80e6dba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131339&Signature=WfQZ2Exw-7Jy7aryNlRfvcl6E2SGmEv9a2hDqo~Ni~EmmvN2nvIYCTuhvY6T9sj3uWkyOvG6l2gBT6Soyk9j-zhjsQ7pm5NFvHc2KO~3QoTtpzug6vl6W3Sd6MDBs3v5dWrLDqKE363kvq5g~zG-yiRrta8AIw73nHVwcQ0vve94qp2NUi3LBAnmQxCjwJe7R9GhuY8gwFZO5H~1wt4gBIZ~K9XFvX7bO4ixVXhXQar8OSNkF50m~hIS0gTcd5uVGPsZ-i32PTmvqvPbNxoqafGxIY9wVbKpmRJSuOcdOQA0rRcWajIpJlzVXwDPl692GanCnWzl~FtwR062H23PEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Carroll County Planning & Zoning Commission heard a concept site-plan presentation for a three-acre contractor equipment storage yard for VAPCO on a parcel adjacent to the Taneytown municipal boundary. The applicant presented file S240009 and staff said no formal commission action was required at the concept stage; the commission retains the authority to delegate final approval to the chair.

Planning staff said the overall ownership parcel is roughly 78–80 acres but is split by Crouse Mill Road and a railroad. The proposed contractor equipment area is on the parcel’s southwestern portion and would be used to stage finished cooling equipment from VAPCO’s nearby headquarters before off-site shipment. David Becraft, Bureau of Development Review staff, summarized the project and noted concept-level engineering and landscape reviews had been completed.

Project proponents described the storage yard as an unpaved equipment staging area rather than an enclosed building. Jim Mathias (DDC) and Chad Rindoller (VAPCO) told the commission the site would be a gravel equipment parking/staging area; there are no buildings, no proposed lighting and no signage. The Board of Zoning Appeals previously approved the conditional use on Sept. 26, 2023, subject to three conditions: no site lighting, operating hours limited to 7 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday–Friday with occasional Saturday activity at the same hours, and no manufacturing on the storage site.

Staff said landscaping around three sides of the yard and along Kraus/Crouse Mill Road would exceed the county’s landscape manual standards. Stormwater management granted concept approval for an on-site solution that includes three submerged gravel wetlands; staff said a pipe under Kraus Mill Road will need to be upgraded to handle flow from the site. Forest conservation obligations will be met by placing a conservation easement on a separate parcel the applicant owns on the opposite side of Kraus Mill Road.

Commissioners asked about traffic routing and pavement. A staff reply noted trucks would access the site via state routes onto Crouse Mill Road and that the anticipated frequency of truck movements did not trigger a traffic-impact study. A commissioner asked whether vehicle weights would be acceptable on Kraus Mill Road; engineering review flagged no red flags at concept. Commissioners also sought assurance the landscaping would be substantial (not small container stock), and the applicant said they would plant more-than-minimum materials and avoid very small container stock where possible.

No formal vote was taken. Staff and the applicant identified several items that will need detailed study at final plan review, including the pipe upgrade under Kraus Mill Road and documentation for final stormwater and forest conservation compliance. Staff invited questions and noted public comment rules; no members of the public spoke on the item during the meeting.

Planning staff said they do not anticipate major public-facility impacts because the storage yard will not generate significant continuous new public demand. The commission will receive the final site plan for detailed review and possible delegation of final approval per commission practice.","The Planning & Zoning Commission reviewed a concept site plan for a three-acre contractor equipment storage yard for VAPCO just outside Taneytown. No formal action was required; the project previously received conditional use approval from the Board of Zoning Appeals subject to three conditions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Staff presents Master Plan Data Handbook Part 2, flags transportation, school capacity and commercial-base findings

Staff briefs commission on state growth-tier law, lot-yield implications for Carroll County

Commission reviews concept plan for VAPCO contractor equipment storage yard near Taneytown