Taneytown planners debate downtown revitalization, traffic and transit at comprehensive‑plan workshop

Taneytown planning commissioners and city staff spent their workshop reviewing updates to the city’s comprehensive plan, focusing on how to preserve a “small‑town” character while addressing downtown vacancies, heavy traffic on Route 140, limited transit service and constraints on future growth.

Commissioners opened by comparing different definitions of a small town. Barry said he favored “wide streets,” single‑family homes on larger lots and preserving historic buildings: "I like to have wide streets ... single family homes on nice sized lots. I like to preserve the historical buildings," he said. Chris countered that small‑town character is largely an atmosphere created by people: "To me, small town is about atmosphere ... it's something that's created by the people who live there," he said. Commissioners agreed those perspectives both inform land‑use choices for downtown, neighborhood density and housing types.

Why it matters: participants said the choices the plan endorses will shape where housing, businesses and public spaces go, and will affect who feels welcome in Taneytown as the city grows. Multiple speakers tied those choices to infrastructure limits — especially where water and sewer are available — and to surrounding agricultural preservation that increasingly constrains outward expansion.

Downtown activation and events. Commissioners and staff said downtown lacks the open space and attractions to draw visitors and to capture spending from nearby destinations such as Antrim 1844. One participant noted that Antrim 1844’s campus draws steady traffic and “there’s not nowhere here for them to spend their money on here or very little.” Participants suggested better marketing, reusing under‑utilized private spaces (for example, a second‑floor performance space at 1 York Street) and reconstituting the Main Street program to coordinate business recruitment and events. Commissioners discussed limitations to street festivals because many downtown streets are state highways and cannot easily be closed for events.

Traffic, the Antrim Boulevard extension and state involvement. A major discussion centered on a proposed Antrim Boulevard/Worthington Boulevard extension (previously described in background material as a “Greenway”) intended to provide a bypass around the busy downtown segment of Route 140. Jim (staff) said the Maryland State Highway Administration has acknowledged the road would benefit the state highway network and would consider accepting it if built to state specifications, but "there is no commitment of funding." He added that state acceptance carries a requirement that segments be constructed to SHA standards, which raises costs for developers and the city.

Staff and commissioners described ongoing talks with the developer of Mountain Brook Farm about design and who would pay the difference between city and state pavement, drainage and stormwater standards. Jim said the city is "awaiting numbers from the developer's engineer on the cost discrepancy between state standards and city county standards," and that the city may pursue incremental approaches (for example, reserving right‑of‑way and building to a higher subbase now and resurfacing later) while negotiations continue.

Transit and local mobility. Commissioners reviewed public transit service in Taneytown, including Carroll Transit's Trailblazer route. Sydney, a transportation advisory board member, reported that the Trailblazer "comes around a few times a day" and typically ends service by about 5 p.m., limiting its usefulness for return trips from work. She said Taneytown’s Trailblazer ridership has fallen over the last two years. Commissioners discussed options that would require cooperation from the transit provider — routing a short loop through town, adding stops, or documenting demand to request service changes — as well as park‑and‑ride or private commuter services. No service changes were adopted at the workshop; staff said further study and conversations with the transit provider would be needed.

Connectivity, parks and neighborhoods. Participants identified walkability and bike connections as priorities. The parks are about three‑tenths of a mile from downtown and are well‑used, but commissioners said Meadowbrook and some newer subdivisions are physically disconnected from the downtown by topography, railroad cuts and road geometry. Carol Vista (described in the meeting as "about 330 houses") was cited as an example of an enclave that does not easily connect to downtown activities. Commissioners flagged this as an implementation topic for the plan: identify feasible pedestrian and bicycle connections and consider how events and programming could draw residents inward.

Historic preservation and design standards. Commissioners discussed downtown façade standards and historic character. Staff noted that earlier façade/design standards had been softened during adoption and that survey responses show support for historic preservation. Commissioners asked staff to consider whether standards for the historic district should be strengthened, and to look for grants or programs to help property owners with façade improvements.

Water resources, agricultural preservation and growth boundaries. The group reviewed how agricultural preservation around Taneytown is tightening a ring that will constrain outward expansion and influence the city’s growth strategy. Jim said the county’s water‑resources draft is circulating and the city will coordinate with it. Commissioners emphasized that water and sewer service boundaries remain a primary determinant of where development can occur; county rules on septic and private water (including minimum lot sizes mentioned during the meeting) were discussed as constraints on large‑lot development inside the growth area.

Formal actions. The commission approved the minutes of Jan. 24, 2025, after a motion to accept the minutes; the approval was recorded as unanimous. At the meeting’s close, Commissioner Jeremy moved to adjourn; the motion was seconded and the meeting adjourned by unanimous voice vote.

What’s next. Staff said they will revise the plan’s goals and recommended language based on the evening’s discussion, circulate a revised draft before the next meeting and follow up with the State Highway Administration, the Mountain Brook Farm developer’s engineer for cost estimates, and Carroll Transit on service‑change possibilities. Commissioners scheduled further review ahead of a March meeting.