Garrett County approves three property sales, announces industrial projects and housing plans

The Board of Garrett County Commissioners approved three resolutions Jan. 21 authorizing sales of county-owned land in Keizer Ridge Business Park, Southern Garrett Business Park and on Francis Sanders Drive.

Resolution 2025-1 authorizes sale of a 15.2797-acre portion of Keizer Ridge Business Park to SunCap Property Group LLC for $35,000 per acre. Resolution 2025-2 approves sale of Lot 9 (about 4.2 acres) in the Southern Garrett Business Park to Sunrise Sanitation Services Inc. for a total of $63,000. Resolution 2025-3 authorizes sale of approximately 2 acres on Francis Sanders Drive to CHIPS Properties LLC at $15,000 per acre. The board approved all three resolutions as a slate.

County economic development staff framed the sales as part of larger efforts to attract employers and prepare industrial sites. Staff said the county will build a speculative (“spec”) shell building at Keizer Ridge and has received inquiries from prospective tenants even before construction begins. Commissioners also referenced a previously announced agreement for the Medco building in McHenry Industrial Park with a company identified as Canna Barrons.

Steve, a county community development staff member, told commissioners the department expects public announcements of new developments and jobs soon and said three resolutions to sell property would be brought forward in coming days. Connor Norman, business development specialist with Garrett County Business Development, presented a separate recognition during the meeting and remarked on local business milestones; economic-development remarks in the meeting emphasized job creation and the need for attendant housing.

Commissioners connected the land sales and spec building to workforce needs and reiterated ongoing discussion about affordable and attainable housing projects in Grantsville, Accident, McHenry and Oakland. Staff said there are multiple housing efforts at different stages of readiness, including an attainable housing project in Grantsville intended to produce housing “well under market value.” Officials estimated the county could see roughly 100 new jobs associated with the current round of economic-development activity but cautioned the final employment and company details will be announced later.

The sales are intended to clear county-owned parcels for private development in designated industrial and business parks; county staff said southern Garrett’s business park will be filled after the Sunrise Sanitation purchase.