Westminster, MD, Monday, January 13, 2020 –Carroll County Department of Planning is embarking on two new stages of the comprehensive rezoning effort. 

Stage 1:

The first stage is the by-request follow-up stage of the Commercial/Industrial/Employment Campus rezoning process. Owners of relevant properties (having an existing zoning that differs from its future land use designation of Commercial/Industrial/Employment Campus) were sent letters inviting them to participate. Relevant properties are those identified in the 2018 Freedom Community Comprehensive Plan or 2014 Carroll County Master Plan Amendment, and not rezoned as part of the Phase I rezoning effort. Other property owners may also apply.   Applications will be accepted until February 7, 2020. The fee for the rezoning application is $800 and the timeline for processing is as follows:

 

On or before February 7th:              Application submittal

February – April 2020:                    Staff review

April 2020:                                    Presentation to Planning Commission

May 2020:                                     Planning Commission recommendation

June 2020:                                     Board of County Commissioners Adoption

 

Applying for the comprehensive rezoning DOES NOT guarantee the new zoning will be granted.  A thorough review process will occur for each application in accordance with state law.  A copy of the newly approved zoning text, as well as a map of all properties identified for rezoning as part of this process, are located at carrollrezoning.org .

Stage 2:

In the second stage, the Department of Planning is also resuming the residential zoning review.  Started in the spring of 2018, Planning worked with a citizen focus group to review planning concepts and master plans; taking feedback from this group to develop draft revisions of the residential zoning districts.  A county team will expand on the focus group’s recommendations to complete the process.  Meetings will be held on the 4th Friday of the month from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Room 003 of the County Office Building.  These meetings will be open to the public and there will be time for questions and answers at the end of each meeting. The first meeting will be January 24, 2020.  The Department of Planning encourages more and continuous public engagement into the zoning ordinance review process.

For the latest news and developments on this effort please go to: carrollrezoning.org.