Westminster officials tell Carroll County they now have water capacity and seek closer planning coordination

City of Westminster planning officials told the Carroll County Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 16 that recent changes to the city's water supply have removed a near-term barrier to downtown redevelopment and infill housing, and they urged closer coordination between county and municipal plans to manage growth in the environs.

The presentation, delivered by Westminster planning staff and elected representatives, summarized the city's comprehensive-plan vision for denser downtown infill, design standards for new development, and several near-term projects that officials said will expand capacity. Thomas Baird, chair of Westminster's Planning and Zoning Commission, and Daniel Huff, a Westminster councilman who also serves as the city's ex officio planning member, described recent investments in water and sewer projects and upcoming updates to the city's plan.

Why it matters: Westminster is a primary growth center in Carroll County. Officials said better municipal water capacity makes it easier for the city to accept higher-density housing and mixed-use redevelopment in downtown and near large parcels such as the town mall. County planners said that clearer coordination with municipalities will help direct growth and infrastructure investments into the places the master plan designates as appropriate for development.

Westminster's planners said the city's water picture has improved because of an increase in permitted well yield and a planned advanced water reuse facility. According to the presentation, the city obtained approval from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) that allowed one of its wells to supply about 150,000 gallons per day more than was previously permitted; the city also expects an additional roughly 500,000 gallons per day from a planned potable water-reuse facility when it enters service in 2027. Officials noted that the reuse project required state-level legal changes to allow permitting, and that the reuse facility is the first of its kind in Maryland.

Westminster identified several projects that illustrate the mix of development it is pursuing: a recently approved 64-unit condominium at 222 East Green Street; a planned 'two-over-two' rental product called the Willows (about 42 units in concept review); a 36,000-square-foot medical office project; and infill redevelopment opportunities downtown. Mark Deepa, identified in the presentation as the city's director of community planning and development, said the city is pushing for higher architectural standards and flexibility in zoning (including planned-development or overlay tools) to enable multifamily and mixed-use redevelopment while controlling design quality.

Commissioners pressed Westminster staff on a range of operational issues: redundancy for municipal water supplies and the use of quarry water only for emergency supply; whether wastewater-treatment capacity has kept pace with water improvements; traffic impacts along U.S. 140 and other state roadways; and how the city addresses affordability and housing choice. Westminster officials said wastewater upgrades completed to meet state nutrient-removal requirements did not increase treatment capacity in many cases, and that some future capacity increases would require separate, larger investments. On housing, the city said current suburban single-family projects are market rate while downtown redevelopment and infill projects could introduce more diverse housing products, including condominiums and smaller rental units.

City and county officials repeatedly urged better intergovernmental coordination. Westminster staff said the city prioritizes water service for city residents and uses good-cause waivers and annexation tools to manage water for properties outside municipal boundaries; they said coordination with the county on zoning, water allocation and growth-area designations will be critical if annexation or service extensions occur.

The presentation closed with an invitation for continued collaboration; Westminster and county staff said they are organizing a broader countywide conversation with municipalities and the county commissioners to sustain the relationship.

Ending: Commissioners thanked Westminster for the briefing and asked staff to share the city's design guidelines and materials for follow-up. The planning commission indicated the presentation helped county staff and commissioners better understand municipal capacity and redevelopment priorities going into the county master-plan update.