First Round Listening Session - March 1, 2018
Concerns Over Previous Mandates ♦ Concern Over Growth Tier Map Requirements ♦ Economic Development ♦ Housing ♦ Infrastructure ♦ Community Engagement and Volunteerism ♦ Training and Education ♦ Transportation ♦ Environment ♦ Community ♦ Funding ♦ Neighboring Jurisdictions ♦ Communication ♦ State Agencies ♦ Technical Assistance ♦ Planning ♦ General
The comments below represent the statements or points of view of one or more individuals who participated in the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) “A Better Maryland” Development Plan Listening Sessions. These comments do not represent any official position or policy of MDP or any other State agency, nor do they represent any official position or policy of any local jurisdiction or local planning agency.
Concerns Over Previous Mandates
Challenges with the Maryland Historical Trust
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) does not always give clear answers on its stormwater requirements
For example, we develop a facility using previous state funding to the specifications at the time. Then, when we go for a permit, we hear there is now another phase or requirement, previously unexplained, without available funding
The previous state administration’s regulations prevented the development of large Planned Unit Developments in Carroll
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Concern Over Growth Tier Map Requirements
Lack of clarity on technical details of SB 236
For example, what happens when a parcel in a County without an adopted tier map is annexed into a Town with an adopted tier map? What tier does it join the town as?
Tier maps seem redundant when a water and sewer master plan (WSP) is so detailed
The County currently completes a triennial water and sewer plan update that is closely coordinated with its municipalities
This law haunts the County
7 lot subdivisions (minor) that are allowed in County will result in scattered, smaller developments in the rural areas of the County
It would be better to have one larger, coordinated, and focused subdivision
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Economic Development
Interested in a State Economic Development Plan that includes a land use perspective. Including market studies, emerging trends, and adaptive reuse strategies for areas such as intended employment campuses
Tourism is a statewide goal that A Better Maryland should address
Carroll needs more jobs and appropriate local job training
Good paying jobs
Schools are the largest employer in the County, and they are shrinking
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Housing
Nationwide housing inventory problem arising in Maryland will lead to an affordability issue. This is partially a symptom of ever increasing development regulations
Housing affordability is an issue
Schools and housing are closely intertwined
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Infrastructure
Need assistance with high speed fiber development, which is required for attracting employers. Broadband is the 21st century utility. The State must help with this (reiterated many times)
Only have Comcast, would like Fios to be available
What kind of technologies does a municipality need to offer to attract jobs and employers?
What is currently and will be relevant in an age of rapidly changing technology?
Need to think of infrastructure beyond the standard examples
This should be a component of economic development in comprehensive plans
Occasionally, to address failing community septic systems, community sewer systems are built. For poorer communities, the monthly costs of these systems are too high and they opt to keep their failing septic systems despite the negative effect on our water resources. Are there creative solutions to reduce the high monthly costs per household?
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Community Engagement and Volunteerism
More transparency needed
Commuters don’t have time to volunteer in their community
Individuals and citizen groups are very determined in Carroll
A small organized group opposed an incinerator project
Strong citizen involvement
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Training and Education
Workforce development centers needed
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Transportation
Would like assistance with bike paths
A trail traversing the State would be a great asset
Road improvements very important for a County like Carroll
Need to improve Route 140
The Board is trying to put aside some road funding so it can contribute to State funds
Traffic is a big problem in the Eldersburg area
Roads are not designed to handle the volume they currently do
MD-32 is critical to the region (including Howard County)
A Better Maryland should address transportation
Models for and assistance with rural transit services are needed
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Environment
Very proud of agricultural preservation in Carroll County, but also need to balance this with business development
Would like to use greywater systems
They could cut amount of wastewater that needs to be treated
Need help getting legislation through
A Better Maryland should address the environment, as water flows between jurisdictions
Maryland should help with storm drain mapping and compile local efforts into a statewide database
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Community
Thousands of All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) enthusiasts in Maryland have no place to ride. This results in the State outsourcing this recreation to neighboring states
State could receive taxes and fees on this recreation if it approached it differently
The impact of these vehicles on the environment is very minimal and exaggerated by some
We aspire to be more than a bedroom community
County closed three schools last year, and maybe more this year
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Funding
Funding is always helpful
Carroll shouldn’t be denied funding because it wants to grow outside of a Priority Funding Area
We are underrepresented in our share of state funding
Small towns don’t have enough money
Cooperative purchasing should be considered
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Neighboring Jurisdictions
Carroll provides a great deal of support to municipalities
Would be helpful to know what is going on around the region
More communication between municipalities is needed
The Maryland Planning Commissioners Association could help with this
Need to work with Howard County on Route 32 widening project
Neighbors always compete for funding
Counties need to talk to each other more
Large flow of commuters from Pennsylvania pass through Carroll County
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Communication
A Better Maryland should address communication and collaboration between State and County government
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State Agencies
Would like to see better coordination between regulatory (Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE)) and planning (Maryland Department of Planning (MDP)) agencies
County used its Water Resources Element (WRE) from its comprehensive plan to craft its last triennial WSP update
The WRE and WSP should not counteract each other
MDE’s permitting processes sometime contradict local and state planning objections and best practices
As a project works its way across state agencies, there are always hiccups and conflicting information
Need assistance with developing water sources. Lack of reliable sources is holding the County back and slowed its growth
For example, can only use the Medford Quarry as a water source in a state of emergency. Using it for other purposes would assist with development
State government has been very easy to work with
Best Available Technology systems have been very helpful
Happy the state came to talk about A Better Maryland before initiating a plan
Different agencies and their plans should be linked together
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Technical Assistance
Need assistance with responding to and preparing for declining student populations and the impact on Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances (APFOs)
Assistance for Citizen Planners
Linking similar issues across multiple jurisdictions
Pilot programs and projects
They do the work, but are the least educated in planning areas
More regional input, planning, and infrastructure development assistance is needed. Particularly from the State Highway Administration
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Planning
County would like legal advice about planning bike and pedestrian improvements for a dangerous intersection
Examples of what other jurisdictions have done in a similar situation
Objective is to balance development and agricultural preservation. People moved to County for its rural setting
We are a rural county and want to stay that way
Working on the Freedom Plan
Trying to arrive at the proper amount of density that will support the tax base
County is in a fragile situation
Need to grow sensibly to maintain a high quality of life
Sensible, controlled, and focused on preservation
Can’t assume some growth templates are good, while others are bad
One size does not fit all
Municipalities have very small planning departments
Carroll County needs more growth
Need more multi-use zoning in County
Southern part of County is facing greater growth pressure
Overdevelopment in the southern portion of the County has taken away the reason why some people moved there
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General
A Better Maryland should be dynamic and web-based and get ahead of emerging trends
Concerned with proposed SB 610, which would require reforestation within PFAs following a development
Assets
Carroll has high quality of life metrics, specifically in high school graduation rates, manufacturing, employment, and library circulation
Thoughtful and involved people
Mt Airy has a great downtown
Main Street revival in Sykesville
Liberty Reservoir
Carroll Arts Center
Proximity to Patapsco Trails
Challenges
Funding
Jobs
Commutes. This is a quality of life issue
Overdevelopment is leading to a crowded County
This is true for some parts of the County, but not all. Freedom Area mentioned as planned for too much density
Traffic and infrastructure
Changing zoning midstream
Athletic fields and other recreational opportunities
Lack of open and honest government and poor communication
Declining school enrollment
Urgent care centers
Workforce development centers
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