Mount Airy planning commission forms 5-member panel to update 15-year-old design guidelines; county planners report on master plan and local projects

The Mount Airy Planning Commission opened the meeting by approving January meeting minutes and then moved into staff and county planner updates, followed by a discussion that led commissioners to form a five-person committee to update the town’s design guidelines.

The commission identified two commissioners volunteering to serve on the committee and said the group will include the town Zoning Administrator and town engineer, plus a resident-at-large appointed by the mayor and council. The commission described the guidelines as about 15 years old and said the committee’s job is to revise guidance for facades, roof lines, materials, sidewalks, landscaping and streetscapes to better align new development with Mount Airy’s character.

Why it matters: Updated design guidelines give developers clearer expectations before submitting site plans or preliminary/final plats, which can reduce revision cycles and better protect a town’s built character as the county and region plan for growth.

Commissioner volunteers and committee role

The commission said the committee will be five people: the town zoning administrator, the town engineer, two commissioners and one resident-at-large to be appointed by the mayor and council. Commissioners discussed options for meeting cadence and said the committee may solicit outside architectural advice and review other municipalities’ guidelines as models. The commission emphasized that if the committee’s work extends beyond an initial timeline, staff and the commission will continue to evaluate plans presented in the meantime.

Carroll and Frederick County planner reports

John, the town zoning administrator, said Carroll County is hiring a new municipal liaison and in the interim provided Mount Airy a county fact sheet and invited the town’s input for the county’s master-plan update. “We're always in communication with them,” John said, describing a March 18 presentation the town gave in Westminster that the county planners described as “comprehensive.”

Frederick County planner Vanessa Moreno reported that her office is preparing annual and five-year reports to the Maryland Department of Planning and continuing public outreach on the county’s green infrastructure plan, housing element and an update to the historic preservation plan. Moreno asked commissioners to publicize upcoming outreach and public meetings.

Local projects flagged by county planners

Moreno said the Cherry Run development (off Green Valley Road) is expected to come before Frederick County planning staff in April or early May; she said the project includes 665 single-family units and 164 townhomes, a total of 829 units as calculated during the meeting. She also described a rezoning/amendment application in the Lake Linganore area: an applicant is seeking an amendment to a planned unit development phase 1 to allow approximately 248 villa-style dwelling units (an age-restricted community) and is completing a traffic impact study before a planning commission hearing.

Public comment on small businesses

Council Member Steve Demoter, who identified himself as a Mount Airy council member and Economic Development Commission liaison, used the open public-comment period to urge commissioners and staff to prioritize local small businesses’ recovery from the pandemic. “We are the government for the town and our role is to support the citizens and support our small businesses,” Council Member Steve Demoter said, asking officials to be “customer and assistance oriented” while still following codes and processes.

Town and council items reported to the commission

Councilman Matthew Evans gave a council update for February and March. He reported that the town awarded a three-year sludge-hauling contract to TEM (unanimous), approved Ordinance 2024-24 (a budget amendment moving $95,000 to Rails and Trails East for culvert and paving work, unanimous) and approved Resolution 2025-1 adopting the town’s 2023–2033 comprehensive master plan (unanimous). Evans also said the council approved Ordinance 2025-1 to purchase two police cruisers (vote outcome not specified in the planning commission meeting transcript) and made several appointments to town boards and commissions. The council reported a sworn-in new police lieutenant and announced upcoming community events.

What happens next

Commissioners said the design-guidelines committee will meet, set a work plan and return draft guidance to the full commission for review. Frederick County staff noted Cherry Run and the Lake Linganore rezoning will come through county review in the coming weeks or months; the town will continue to coordinate through its zoning administrator. The Planning Commission’s next regular meeting was scheduled for April 28 at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall.

Votes at a glance

- Sludge-hauling contract (TEM, three years): reported by Councilman Evans as approved unanimously (council action). - Ordinance 2024-24 (budget amendment, move $95,000 to Rails and Trails East for culvert and paving): reported approved unanimously (council action). - Ordinance 2025-1 (purchase two police cruisers): reported approved (vote tally not specified in the planning commission transcript). - Resolution 2025-1 (adopt town comprehensive master plan 2023–2033): reported approved unanimously (council action).

Ending: The commission closed the meeting after brief zoning-permit and staff reports and adjourned at approximately 8:02 p.m.