After nearly two years of work, the Carroll County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the Freedom Area Comprehensive Plan this week after making a few changes based on feedback it received from the public involving two large tracts of land, the Beatty and Gibson properties.
The residential portion of the Beatty property is designated high density residential. Gibson, meanwhile, which at one point during the planning process was designated for high density residential, was approved as medium density. This is still higher than the low density designation of the previous 2001 Freedom Plan.
While citizens of the Freedom area had argued against the so-called up-zoning of these properties, it makes sense to include some higher density development in this area of the county, one of few places where water and sewer infrastructure exist to support it. Future development here also balances agricultural preservation efforts elsewhere in Carroll.
Of course, the process isnt over quite yet. The plan now moves to the Board of County Commissioners, who have the ability to make significant changes to it prior to final approval, thanks to a state law that went into effect in 2015.
The law gives elected officials in non-charter governments, like Carroll, the ability to modify the plans themselves and remand master planning documents back to the planning commission for specific changes. Previously , county commissioners could only adopt or reject plans, with the latter choice restarting the process.
Thats what happened back in 2009 when the previous board of commissioners rejected the countywide master plan, known as the Pathways Plan. It wasnt until five years later, in 2014, that the countys master plan was finally sent to the commissioners and adopted.
Now, the commissioners have the ability to make minor changes they could simply substitute one word for another or major ones striking the entire document and rewriting it themselves. The planning commission has no power to counter any changes the commissioners may make to the plan, although any modifications would have to go through a public hearing process.
When the law was passed, there was some consternation from planning commission members that giving the county commissioners so much latitude could not only render the planning commissions work futile, but it would also allow elected officials to interject politics into what should be an apolitical document.
One of the final changes the planning commission made prior to approving the 2014 county master plan was to remove a letter outlining the Board of County Commissioners stance on property rights, after speakers at the final public hearing vehemently spoke out against its inclusion, saying it politicized the growth plan.
Theres no question the Freedom Plan was controversial, with hundreds of public comments submitted to the planning commission, many opposing land-use changes included in the plan.
Since Doug Howard, the commissioner who represents the Freedom area, has declared he is not seeking re-election, and presumably the constituents of the four other districts wont be swayed much by what happens in the Eldersburg/Sykesville area, there arent many brownie points to be gained with voters by politicizing the plan.
Still, we are hopeful that even with their newfound powers our elected officials leave politics out of the plan and, save for some minor alterations, respect the months of work of the planning commission in developing a blueprint for growth that is good for both the Freedom area and the county as a whole without making sweeping changes.
Link:
- Free Download MP3 Album Sublime - Sublime To Freedom [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2010]
- Braveheart In Defiance Of The English Tyranny! BRAVO [Last Updated On: April 2nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: April 2nd, 2011]
- rage against the machine - freedom [Last Updated On: April 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: April 3rd, 2011]
- Richie Havens, Freedom, (Woodstock) [Last Updated On: April 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: April 8th, 2011]
- Dodge Challenger Freedom Commercial [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Twelve Girls Band - Freedom [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Akon "Freedom" 2009 [Last Updated On: May 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 22nd, 2011]
- Paul McCartney - Freedom (Nobel Peace Prize '2001) [Last Updated On: May 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 23rd, 2011]
- Jimi Hendrix- Freedom [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2011]
- Braveheart freedom speech -- Matt [Last Updated On: June 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 3rd, 2011]
- freedom 101 [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2011]
- Dj Andi and Stella-Freedom(Summer Hit)+lyrics [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2011]
- Braveheart Freedom Short [Last Updated On: June 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 18th, 2011]
- LOVE PSYCHEDELICO - Freedom, featuring Christopher Yates [Last Updated On: June 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 24th, 2011]
- Alice Cooper - Freedom [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2011]
- "Freedom Rallies" Honored in Williamston — North Carolina Public Radio WUNC [Last Updated On: July 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 11th, 2011]
- Looking For Freedom - David Hasselhoff [Last Updated On: July 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 14th, 2011]
- Braveheart - FREEDOM scene [Last Updated On: July 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 22nd, 2011]
- Amanda Knox: 'Another Day Closer to Freedom' [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2011]
- Sugababes - Freedom [Last Updated On: September 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 4th, 2011]
- Freedom River [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Wham! - Freedom [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Sistars - Freedom [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2011]
- All Stars - Freedom (Theme from Panther) [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2011]
- Richie Havens Sings "Freedom" [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2011]
- Nokia N8 Pink - Freedom [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Wham! - Freedom with Lyrics [Last Updated On: October 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 12th, 2011]
- Make Mine Freedom (1948) - Video [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2011]
- Jason Upton - Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2011]
- Devo - Freedom Of Choice (Video) - Video [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2011]
- Michael McDonald - Sweet Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2011]
- DJ BOBO - FREEDOM 1995 - Video [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2011]
- George Michael FREEDOM '90 - Video [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2011]
- Episode One: Economic Freedom [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2011]
- FFVII Crisis Core Soundtrack: The Price of Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2011]
- Alain Clark - For Freedom (Official Video) - Video [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2011]
- Bob Sinclar [Last Updated On: October 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 28th, 2011]
- For Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2011]
- Braveheart Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2011]
- Wyclef Jean - "Freedom" (Song For Egypt) - Video [Last Updated On: November 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 4th, 2011]
- Land And Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2011]
- Dan Balan - Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: November 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 9th, 2011]
- Paul McCartney-Freedom+Let It Be@Concert For New York City - Video [Last Updated On: November 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 14th, 2011]
- New Life Worship - It Was For Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: November 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 26th, 2011]
- Laboratory pups get first taste of freedom in US. - Video [Last Updated On: December 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 7th, 2011]
- Jackson Browne Performs "I Am A Patriot" at Freedom Plaza (12.05.2012) HD - Video [Last Updated On: December 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 7th, 2011]
- Give-Me-Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2011]
- Jesus Culture - Freedom Reigns - Video [Last Updated On: December 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 12th, 2011]
- rage against the machine - Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: December 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 22nd, 2011]
- Doug Stanhope on Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: December 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 26th, 2011]
- The Beautiful Girls - Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: December 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 27th, 2011]
- Michael Heart - "Freedom" - EXCLUSIVE OFFICIAL VIDEO - Video [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2011]
- Wham! - Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: December 31st, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 31st, 2011]
- Richie Havens 1969 Woodstock - Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: January 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 1st, 2012]
- Freedom ! - Video [Last Updated On: January 8th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 8th, 2012]
- Elton John- Philadelphia Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: January 10th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 10th, 2012]
- [M/V] ITAEWON FREEDOM (with JY Park) - Video [Last Updated On: January 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 12th, 2012]
- Pharoah Sanders "You Got To Have Freedom" (1980) - Video [Last Updated On: January 26th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 26th, 2012]
- Freedom Environmental Services, Inc. Signs Service Contracts With 14 Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q Franchisees [Last Updated On: January 28th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 28th, 2012]
- Pope's peace doves slow to taste freedom [Last Updated On: January 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 30th, 2012]
- Why is Feb. 1 designated as National Freedom Day? [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2012]
- Marcia G. Yerman: 'Chimes of Freedom' Celebrates the Power of Music and Activism [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2012]
- Complaints boss urges UK press freedom [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2012]
- New Freedom museum opens Saturday [Last Updated On: February 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 3rd, 2012]
- Underground Railroad Freedom Center battling tough times [Last Updated On: February 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 3rd, 2012]
- Freedom High School boys basketball team beats Easton Area High School [Last Updated On: February 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 3rd, 2012]
- Warship Freedom again breaks down at sea [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2012]
- Freedom gymnasts set school record, win Cedar Run title [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2012]
- Freedom tops FVL, takes hold of EVC [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2012]
- Freedom claims SMAC wrestling tourney title [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2012]
- Freedom Week In Bradley County [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2012]
- Freedom Total Knee(R) System Receives Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Award for "Product Differentiation Excellence ... [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2012]
- Covert to Overt: 'Revolt how-to' earns big for US freedom factory - Video [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2012]
- Ron Paul Interview On Freedom Watch 01/30/12 - Video [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2012]
- Tortured Freedom: Libya's new rulers resort to old tactics - Video [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2012]
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- Were Run by Ruthless, Freedom Hating, Dangerous Scum! 1/3 - Video [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2012]
- Defend our freedom to share (or why SOPA is a bad idea) - Video [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2012]
- Biden on Internet Freedom Anti SOPA - Video [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2012]