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County launches Citizens Planning Academy; data handbook part 2 to follow for commissioners
Summary
Planners announced a six-session Citizens Planning Academy to run from March through May to educate residents about planning, zoning, permitting and the master plan; staff also introduced a 100-page data handbook part 2 and will schedule a follow-up presentation after commissioners review the document.
Carroll County planning staff introduced a new Citizens Planning Academy and distributed the second part of a master-plan data handbook to the planning commissioners on Feb. 5.
Mr. Gray described the Citizens Planning Academy as a six-session course running from mid/late March through early May. The curriculum will include department overviews, comprehensive planning, zoning law (with case examples such as Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty and Penn Central), development review and permitting, a site visit with a local developer, and a graduation session with certificates. The program aims to produce informed citizens, community advocates, potential volunteer board members, and future elected officials. Applications open the next day and will remain available for roughly two weeks; staff said they may run additional cohorts if demand is high.
Secretary Daley noted that the data handbook part 2 (roughly 100 pages of charts and graphs) focuses on county services and functions to support the master plan, including transportation, public safety, infrastructure and farm demographics. Daley proposed an initial overview at the Feb. 5 meeting and a fuller presentation later so commissioners can first review the handbook. "This is an easy way for you to get some kinda highlights of those areas," Daley said.
The commission set no formal action on the academy or handbook at this meeting but staff said they will return with an outline for subcommittee scopes (housing, economic development, agriculture) and candidate names for workgroups for consideration at the March meeting. Applications for the Citizens Planning Academy will be posted on the county website, and staff encouraged commissioners to participate in sessions and to suggest candidates for future cohorts.
