June 2008 - Carroll County Update
  • Planning Staff Developing Age Restricted Housing Legislation - The Carroll County planning staff is concerned that development proposals for age restricted housing are being submitted without community amenities and in rural locations that may not be appropriate for this use. In one instance a subdivision application in an area that does not have adequate school capacity was submitted as 33 single family detached age restricted houses. The subdivision was to be served by individual well and septic and had none of the traditional age restricted community amenities. Planning staff are reviewing requirements in surrounding jurisdictions in advance of preparing legislation.


  • Carroll County Builders for the Bay Roundtable Finishes First Phase – The Carroll County Builders for the Bay Roundtable presented 22 model development principles for development in the county. Five subcommittees comprised of local developers, consultants, county officials and community activists have been meeting since September to reach agreement on basic changes to the county development and zoning regulations aimed at reducing development costs and improving water quality.


  • Chapter Members Oppose Design Standards Requirement – Chapter members and HBAM staff testified in opposition to a requirement that architectural elevations be presented to the planning commission at the site plan stage. The planning commission was to have authorization to make unspecified changes to building design and land planning. Planning Director Steve Horn is reviewing the proposal.


  • Chapter Supports in Impact Fee Waiver Ordinance – Chapter members and staff testified in support of a county ordinance that will waive impact fees for affordable housing projects.


  • Westminster Committee on Growth and Annexation - The City of Westminster has created a Committee on Growth and Annexation. The committee has been formed to advise the city as it revises its land use and water supply plans as required by state law. By 2009 all local governments with planning and zoning authority must include a water resources element in their comprehensive land use plan and municipalities must also include information about long range growth and annexation plans. Jim Mathias of DeMario Design Consultants is the Chapter’s liaison on this committee.


  • County Proposes Slight Loosening of Concurrency Management Requirements - The county commissioners are now considering an ordinance that would make changes to the concurrency management queue, the fire and EMS test and change how elderly housing equivalent dwelling units are counted. The ordinance also would increase the number of permits that can be issued annually for multifamily buildings, allow projects to move forward while a needed capital facility is within 6 months of completion and make changes to the content of the concurrency management report. The changes are the first relaxation of concurrency standards since the package of bills was drafted and passed into law during the moratorium of 2006.
    • Contact
    Michael Harrison
    Director of Policy for Government Affairs
    410-265-7400, ext. 109
    michael@homebuilders.org

    Service Area: Baltimore, Carroll, Howard Counties and State Legislation