Hampstead Planning & Zoning hears water‑plant timeline, county moratorium briefing; approves signage and exterior permits

HAMPSTEAD — At its Dec. 17 meeting, the Hampstead Planning & Zoning Commission received a detailed update on the town's water treatment plant and pipeline work, discussed a Carroll County planning deferral affecting the Freedom District and approved several routine permits.

Zoning administrator (speaker 2) told the commission that three bid packages for the water‑system project — two construction contracts and one inspection services contract — were submitted to MDE for review last week and that, once MDE signs off, the town intends to execute contracts with Conewago (construction) and RK&K (inspection). “We plan to issue the notice to proceed to both of those organizations on February 1,” the administrator said, adding the town hopes “we'll be able to break ground on a new water treatment plant sometime in April.” Staff said full construction of the treatment plants is expected to take about two years, with overall project…