[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6656939,"mediaKeyId","5108604-5fb6eeb57b367a6ea564650254cdcd74","parentId",5108604,"title","Frederick County planner briefs Mount Airy commission on proposed data-center overlay and Newmarket rezoning talks","audioSeconds",263,"startMs",401000,"endMs",664000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5108604-5fb6eeb57b367a6ea564650254cdcd74&start=401&end=664","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5108604-5fb6eeb57b367a6ea564650254cdcd74/thumbnail_401000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6656939/Maryland/Frederick-County-planner-briefs-Mount-Airy-commission-on-proposed-data-center-overlay-and-Newmarket-rezoning-talks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656939-747cff314dadadb60900430a3a479f32/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149894&Signature=JxbnbXvSvJQKGpbXSrCGfGYXHkqdixmVkPPYn9q-IBHd5Jm5PNmFKl7I3BHm9ap0dKjGjMp1sTL38BeqsB6IyivYLc07OjAzOACepJFrX5E-6t05jY1DDNTeP7ailsDtVwTQ-U0V6oxcfxhTdR2YYv84TmgUhaT3muJAr41HGyySNa5XhITrMyqmWaPCM5A-0Bt8Y1SDJFI4TRaCZ-Zm8-JnO5s6Y7H-EqevBEZzAi6-fZyWDtTLjG0w~QG~zTaHeTWMzocDjt7S3ufaFuNj6TmOlmjMcLt-Q2TJ2st5eCciczK8oWuBdDGHv~8NiYW73BnGxFUqg2X9VMX8z7A1sw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mount Airy Town, MD","date","2025-07-01T01:22:19.493Z","article","Vanessa, a Frederick County planner present at the June 30 meeting, briefed the Mount Airy Planning Commission on ongoing county-level planning work that could affect the town.

Vanessa said County Council members introduced proposed legislation to establish an overlay district to limit further large data-center development on the East Alco site near Adamstown, an area of roughly 1,000 acres. The Frederick County Planning Commission will review a proposed map at its July 9 meeting and hold additional sessions (noted for July 16 and July 23) to receive public comment; the county's planning commission recommendation will then go to the state for a 60-day review period before the County Council considers adoption. Vanessa said that, as of the briefing, no rezonings were proposed and that a moratorium on new data-center development remains in place under County Executive Jessica Fitzwater.

Vanessa also described a staff workshop held June 18 under an \"Investing in Workers and Workplaces\" initiative: county staff are exploring rezoning a handful of parcels in the Newmarket area from general commercial and Office/Research/Institutional (ORI) to light industrial to support businesses that need loading/industrial space near interstates. Those rezonings are still under discussion and will return to the county planning commission for further workshops.

Commissioners pressed for more local information about an adjacent large residential project (Cherry Run) that they said could generate traffic and water/wastewater impacts for Mount Airy. Vanessa said Cherry Run's application, for roughly 1,000 dwelling units, was approved in May and that county staff would provide available traffic and water-study materials to Mount Airy staff for review. \"I can definitely reach out to our development review planners,\" Vanessa said. She agreed to email the county's materials and a link to the Carroll County Master Plan to John for distribution to the commission.

Why it matters
A county overlay or rezoning near Mount Airy could affect cross-border infrastructure demand, traffic, and future annexation and land-use decisions. The moratorium and public-review windows give municipalities and residents time to comment.

Next steps
Vanessa will send the documents referenced (county master plan link and any available studies) to John for distribution to the commissioners; county planning hearings on the data-center overlay are scheduled for mid-July.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mount Airy Planning Commission Meeting 6-30-2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Frederick County planner told the Mount Airy commission on June 30 that the county has introduced a proposed overlay to limit data-center development on about 1,000 acres near Adamstown and that the planning commission will review the map beginning July 9.","taxTitle","Mount Airy, Carroll County, Maryland","taxId",72996,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6656944,"Mount Airy planners question wastewater-expansion entry in draft county Water Resource Element",1676,2335000,4011000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5108604-5fb6eeb57b367a6ea564650254cdcd74&start=2335&end=4011","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5108604-5fb6eeb57b367a6ea564650254cdcd74/thumbnail_2335000.jpg","/articles/6656944/Maryland/Mount-Airy-planners-question-wastewater-expansion-entry-in-draft-county-Water-Resource-Element","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656944-87c78302c90793eec3c5ef98c0b299a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149894&Signature=ckV5U1dYpPPEFH6zfAfjJiNCzUgTZkGUUTfE7f-lKSuagVWOtoqUkR-2MgN8bKYjbpB~AMVEYG74pFCr-BJcST4-D5dHT5MsUFvCRWoOH224eELYct3amTxEKekz8gUliNgtXwxSMZhVNcVozHD4NlehHqqsZVSmm77SSJy~wHz-MN5Anow7EmvDViZHr6FO5ixBolZ-4wSqmc~f9NAwPbutYS2iba9fmHYt91SLid-rs8KKRgrp6vIBQv3u0oUM68y56XlU-F3IH7Hj4ASImLlvlq4dhBjx4JVYiz-8K11nlilJaa7H2Q4P6P7spzf4c8bErNlwUHImyZ0Pzo9-jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mount Airy's Planning Commission spent the bulk of its June 30 meeting reviewing a draft Water Resource Element (WRE) prepared through Carroll County and requested clarifications before the county advances the document.

Commissioners focused on a table in the draft that lists a Mount Airy water-supply deficit of 299,052 gallons per day under a build-out scenario and then, in an adjacent column, lists possible actions to address shortfalls. The draft includes a bullet suggesting wastewater treatment plant expansion as a potential action; town engineer Barney told the commission that recommendation appears misplaced. \"So the water Wastewater treatment plant expansion should come off this list, I would think,\" he said, explaining that the town's water-supply shortfall is a supply issue (wells, allocation) rather than a wastewater issue.

Barney and Water & Sewer Commission chair Swanson provided technical context: the town's wastewater facility currently shows a roughly 10,000-gallon-per-day surplus for infill development but would not, by itself, resolve a groundwater supply deficit. Barney said the town has studied capacity upgrades to the treatment plant that could increase throughput by changing processes (not necessarily enlarging tanks or footprint), and he gave cost ballpark figures discussed in the review: the lower-cost process-change option was roughly in the $12'$14 million range to reach an intermediate capacity (about 1.5 million gallons) and a larger option exceeded $15 million for higher capacity. He said those technology-based options allow some capacity increases without adding new tanks on the constrained treatment-plant site.

Commissioners agreed to send three points back to the county as edits or queries: 1) question or remove the draft's suggestion that wastewater treatment-plant expansion is a solution for the water-supply shortfall, 2) if the WRE retains wastewater-related recommendations, clarify that capacity increases can be achieved by process/technology changes within the existing footprint (not only by expanding site area), and 3) ask town engineer Barney and Water & Sewer Commission chair Swanson to work with county staff to improve the town-specific entries. Chair summarized those three edit directions and commissioners signaled agreement.

PFAS remediation and system updates
Barney and Swanson also updated the commission on PFAS remediation and other near-term water projects. Barney said design work for treatment at Stations 1 and 5 was about \"99% complete\" and that site-plan drawings had been submitted for county review. Design work for Stations 2 and 3 and a connection to a local mobile-home park are underway. He said monitoring continues and that past maximum readings were not exceeded in subsequent tests: \"27, I think, was 27 or 28 was the highest level on Well 7 and that's, I don't think anything succeeded that,\" he said.

Commissioners and staff also discussed other water-supply options identified in the town and county planning documents: increased appropriation under the Brinkley process for Well 9, drilling and development of wells on nearby properties (including a tested Harrison/LeShire site that showed potential), and the possibility of interjurisdictional water partnerships or piped connections to neighboring systems. Swanson said the Water & Sewer Commission is working on long-range planning and is likely to recommend that council direct staff to develop a long-term plan for water, wastewater and stormwater.

Why it matters
The WRE is part of a required county-level three-year update and feeds into state review. The commissions'questions are substantive: how the WRE frames solutions will affect future municipal planning, developer expectations and capital planning for water and wastewater infrastructure.

Next steps
Commission staff will forward the planning commission's requested edits and clarifying language to Carroll County. The county will compile municipal comments and send a consolidated draft to the state for a 60-day review; the final WRE will later be introduced and subject to a public hearing at the Mount Airy Town Council.","Mount Airy's Planning Commission on June 30 reviewed a draft Carroll County Water Resource Element and asked the county to clarify or remove a recommendation that a wastewater treatment plant expansion would address the town's water-supply shortfall.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6656948,"Mount Airy planning commissioners unanimously approve three commercial sign packages",1423,883000,2306000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5108604-5fb6eeb57b367a6ea564650254cdcd74&start=883&end=2306","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5108604-5fb6eeb57b367a6ea564650254cdcd74/thumbnail_883000.jpg","/articles/6656948/Maryland/Mount-Airy-planning-commissioners-unanimously-approve-three-commercial-sign-packages","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656948-e9e16eb4fcd3649e9603ab420b94ffbc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149894&Signature=KMnMXtL7qQR1f--vcXKMMgWjWIKRmROdMTdWybduT2JqdW-IWKUqzozsuC~~rNXdyzOCSMXM7~0O1MINF8KDIfaBxzAn1IFL42br0bC7B7Tu5BmO4e-XwO3WvV0pSEFhXVfhKRlGqDIzzlwOHwr6Ffo7XgFGfJUveduJ9sKPfG-yye8cz98iAf3yYBtJSlc~M8W-0ng7dLymPhWMfrpNX9Y-wQdZIesM2WewuWt9FzixqtidMwnHNO3ILuuH5j5JxYd0LgxLp2PrdNtjENWwcIVl41mYaxoeLoOuheooMEeKF892LOqezZCMwsmSgYFDAIIf1FlVaXd7X7WnBG8w-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mount Airy Planning Commission on June 30 unanimously approved three commercial sign applications for businesses in town, concluding that the proposed replacements met the town's sign-size and placement rules.

Commissioners approved sign packages submitted by Beltway Sign Service for the Haircuttery, Mattress Warehouse and an AT&T store following staff reviews showing the proposed panel sizes and locations comply with Town Code §112-11 (sign regulations). John, a town planning/zoning staff member, presented the reports and said the applications met the square-footage limits for their frontages.

The Haircuttery application was for two replacement signs (front and secondary/side frontage). John reported the front sign would be about 29.33 square feet and the side sign about 29.38 square feet, both within the ordinance limits. Gary Bridal, the permit expediter representing the installer, said the business was updating branding and that the overall lettering size would shrink slightly to accommodate a new circular logo. Chair moved approval; Commissioner Butts made the motion and Commissioner Abita seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

The Mattress Warehouse package included three elements: a façade (fascia) sign of 62 square feet, a two-sided monument sign at the shopping-center entrance, and a smaller hanging sign under the covered walkway. John said the building frontage measures 74.5 linear feet, which allows up to 74 square feet of signage; the submitted fascia is within that allowance. The commission approved the application without public comment; the motion passed unanimously with a second from Commissioner Binax.

The AT&T application covered a main façade sign, a two-sided hanging sign under the covered walkway and vinyl lettering on the entry door. John advised the primary signage totaled about 19.1 square feet and that the secondary pedestrian signs and door vinyl do not count against the primary calculation. Commissioners approved all three elements; the motion passed unanimously.

Commissioners discussed whether small door or window vinyl lettering (hours of operation, phone numbers, logos) should continue to come before the Planning Commission or be handled administratively at permitting. Chair said the zoning administrator can handle straightforward door lettering at permitting, but several commissioners asked that particularly prominent window or door decals still be brought to the commission for review. \"I kinda would like to see it just to make sure that it's standard,\" said Commissioner Hatley, who asked to review such cases when they appear to be large or nonstandard.

Votes at a glance
- Haircuttery (Beltway Sign Service / installer Beltway Sign Service Inc.): motion to approve replacement front and side signs — approved unanimously (mover: Commissioner Butts; second: Commissioner Abita). Staff: John (planning/zoning). Applicant rep: Gary Bridal, MG Permits.
- Mattress Warehouse (Beltway Sign Service): motion to approve monument sign, façade sign (62 sq ft) and pedestrian hanging sign — approved unanimously (mover: Chair; second: Commissioner Binax). Staff: John.
- AT&T (Beltway Sign Service): motion to approve façade sign (19.1 sq ft), two-sided pedestrian sign and door vinyl — approved unanimously (mover: Commissioner [moved from bench]; second: Commissioner Hadley). Staff: John.

Why it matters
Commercial signage affects the town's streetscape and pedestrian environment; the commission cited §112-11 criteria (safety/sight lines, visibility of neighboring signs, and design/aesthetic fit) when reviewing each application. Staff said the three submissions were adjusted to comply with the code before approval.

What happens next
Approved applicants will complete permitting with the town's zoning/permit office. Commissioners indicated they expect routine vinyl door lettering to be handled at permitting but asked staff to bring cases forward if decals are large, obstructive or atypical. The Planning Commission's next meeting is scheduled for July 28.","The Mount Airy Planning Commission on June 30 approved replacement sign packages for the Haircuttery, Mattress Warehouse and an AT&T storefront, finding each application consistent with the town's sign rules in code §112-11. Commissioners also discussed when minor door or window vinyl should be handled administratively.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Frederick County planner briefs Mount Airy commission on proposed data-center overlay and Newmarket rezoning talks

Mount Airy planners question wastewater-expansion entry in draft county Water Resource Element

Mount Airy planning commissioners unanimously approve three commercial sign packages