Carroll County, MD Carroll County Planning and Zoning Commission, 19 Jan 2021

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From YouTube: Planning and Zoning Commission January 19, 2021

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https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/government/boards-commissions/planning-zoning-commission/

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Everybody I'm gonna call to order the february 3rd 2021 meeting of the carroll county planning.

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Zoning commission can we establish a quorum. Please miss cheatwood here, mr huff.

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Here, mr canale, here, mr wathers, yes here, ms kirkner.

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Mr lester, here mr gosnell.

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Commissioner, wamp.

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Sorry, I'm here laura.

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um Secretary eisenberg here.

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Mr chair, please let the record reflect that six members are present and we do have a quorum.

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Thank you, uh please stand for the pledge of allegiance.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america, the general.

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Republic, for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

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Moving on, we do have a revised agenda. Do we have any other changes to the agenda? Laura.

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Linda, I'm sorry, no uh just the revision of removing the mount airy annexation, 43.

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Hairspray, sheer um and replacing it with the fy 22 preliminary recommended cip bond.

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Authorization discussion that is I'll, make a motion for approval. Second, all in favor.

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Aye aye, uh we'll move on to item number five. Our administrative report secretary, eisenhower, good.

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Evening, everyone um and a special good evening to commissioner wentz, who is now our newest.

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Officio welcome back to planning commission! um You haven't been with us in quite some time so.

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We're happy to have you and your expertise and knowledge and have great discussions with you.

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And also want to welcome our newest member pete lester. um He is from the freedom area.

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And he is replacing uh planning commission member soy sin whose last meeting was in january with us.

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So welcome pete. um He and I had a great discussion on monday talking about his onboarding process and.

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Trying to get him up to speed, so I'm sure he'll do a quick study and we'll call right into place.

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With this planning commission pete did you want to say anything while we have a moment.

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I think at this point uh my uh less is more and um uh I'll just say that uh most.

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Of my success is due to an uncluttered mind and right now it's pretty full of.

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All the stuff you sent me so uh thank you for that.

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All right um well again welcome aboard thanks for being here this evening.

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I also want to make an announcement, um because I'm sure you all will hear about this soon enough- that.

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Tom double biss, who is the director of landon resource management, will be retiring march 31st.

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He comes before the board a lot with a lot of development review projects and he is in charge of.

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The development review bureau so we'll be sad to see tom bill with all his institutional knowledge.

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So if you know him and want to reach out, I'm sure he would love to hear from you it's going to be.

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A huge loss to the county and I'm going to be very upset because I work very closely with him.

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And collaborate on a lot of projects, so tom will be greatly missed by the county and the planning.

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Department, especially, and actually just he just arrived, I didn't know he was going to.

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Be here so thank you, tom for being here um tom did you want to say anything with regard to that.

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Hey one second: what were you discussing? I apologize I just got on I'm sorry. I did not.

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Know you were going to be here, didn't mean to steal your thunder, but I was letting them know.

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That you will be retiring march 31st as part of my administrative updates. Is there anything.

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You want to add: no that's pretty much it just march. 31St is my last day here. That's correct.

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So I thank you all for for everything you've done over the years you and your predecessors to.

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Support our department and everything we've done and look forward to working.

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With you here, the next few months over one of the agenda items we have here tonight.

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So, thank you all very much tom will miss you. Congratulations! Yeah! Congratulations!.

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Yeah it was a challenging decision, but but one I'm ready. I was ready to make so thanks again.

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um And then really quickly, the change in the agenda. I just want to give you a little bit.

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Of explanation about why the non-area annexation number 43 here so my shear.

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Was pulled from the agenda at this time, um the decision was made to not move forward with that.

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Annexation so, therefore that was removed from this evening's agenda, so I just wanted to let you know.

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Why that was happening um so don't expect it on any future agendas unless something changes so.

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Just wanted to make you aware of that as well. um So that's all I have for you towards.

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My administrative report are there any questions or comments, so was that the decision of the town.

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Not to move forward with the annexation of the property manager, um that was the decision of the.

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Property owner who, at this time is the industrial development authority or known as our ida.

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They chose at this time to no longer move forward with that annexation.

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Okay, thank you you're welcome, so we replaced that with our new item number six, which is the fy.

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22 the preliminary recommended cip and bond authorization discussion. I had added this to our.

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Agenda because I wanted linda to kind of present the the items that the planning.

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Department have put in there that are that. I think we have all kind of noticed going through.

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The master plan and all the rezoning and the freedom plan how important some of these things.

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Are- and I just wanted to see what linda had put forth so that when we go, have a discussion with.

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Ted and um discuss whether it's consistent with the master plan, I think we really need to see.

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What planning thought was important, also important to us to implement the plan.

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So, did you want to, did you have a presentation or anything.

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You're on mute yep, so I do. I do have a presentation prepared just to show you a.

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Couple of highlights um that really pertains to planning, commission um and planning. So if you.

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Recall at the last meeting in january to celestia came before the planning commission giving you his.

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Presentation that he had presented the thursday before to the board of county commissioners.

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With the two peach and yellow documents- binders notebooks, you should have these.

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In your possession we did distribute them, so you do have these um presented to you. The highlights.

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Of this document so uh cynthia and I had a quite a conversation, so I'm going to.

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Present to you tonight are just a couple key things that have um direct planning.

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I wouldn't say implications but direct planning relevance, especially to the.

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Planning commission, so I don't know if I can share my screen control room. Thank you.

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So can you all see my screen? Okay, so I'm going to go ahead and go into presentation mode.

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And can you still see that, okay, all right so again, I'm going to go over just a few slides.

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Regarding the uh fy 22 to fy27, um what we call the cip or the community investment plan,.

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um And then there is a link to that. I put in here for those documents on budget and.

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Management's website and if we need to pull it up, I can do that as well.

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So annually planning does prepare items for the annual cip and we do that. Based on the adopted.

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Plans that we have- and the idea is that we want to continue to implement our plans. One of the steps.

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Of implementation, other than the comprehensive reasoning or rezoning efforts is actually to.

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Start construction and get these into the capital program, so these are projects that have been.

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Directly discussed um in our various plans, so the freedom avenue sidewalk that was on in the not.

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Only freedom, 2018 community comprehensive plan, but also the biped pedestrian plan that you all.

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Approved last year we were looking for an 80 20 grant that would that this cip.

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Project would be contingent upon and that great one's going to be for state groups to schools.

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And this was a new request brought forward in fy 2022 um for this sidewalk extension.

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And this would be a long freedom avenue um that would give access to freedom elementary school.

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The next and I'm going in order in which they are presented in the um vip uh requested, the.

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Peach booklet, georgetown boulevard extension. Now this is a historic project and this was something.

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That um this cheat would wanted me to uh look at. Is these projects have been put in the past.

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And what the outcome was so doing a little bit of research with our budget and management liaison so.

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The georgetown boulevard extension does have a history. um It was originally introduced in.

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2003. and our public works department does have a plymouth what's the primary design. I'm sorry.

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30, I think at least a 30, maybe even greater percentage design of this segment of roadway.

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um And then this project was removed from the cip and fiscal year. 11., um I'm not 100 sure of.

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The rationale behind the removal of this project, maybe because things aren't moving forward and if.

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It was budgetary, but it was removed at fy 11.. Then um two fiscal years ago in fy20. This was requested.

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Again by the planning department, knowing that uh the freedom plan had just been adopted and that.

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There was the beginning of the science plan review for the um london town boulevard, the hotel, that's.

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Being planned there with the subsequent pad sites there, and that request was for 2.3 million dollars.

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The next was johnsville road and karen drive sidewalk again. This was a great contingent project.

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um 80 20- and this was a new request for fy22, and this was 644 thousand dollar request.

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The reason in the discrepancy between freedom, avenue and johnsville um has to do with land.

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Acquisition and possible utility replacement uh freedom on the side that has the right of way.

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There's a ton of utilities that are underground and above ground, so that would have to be moved.

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In or for the sidewalk to be put in um and if not, then we would have to go on the other side.

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Of the road, since we do not own right-of-way and that stretch, we would actually have to work out.

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A right-of-way perhaps purchase agreement from the properties of the sidewalk or to move forward.

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Johnsville, we did not have um that constraint, so that would be more for the sidewalk construction.

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And any drainage um and stormwater known as that was needed, so I just wanted to explain why the.

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Big difference in price for the sidewalk next is the monroe avenue extension, and this is monroe.

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From oklahoma to bennett, not from bennett to maryland 32, if you recall that stretch was removed.

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Out of the 2018 freedom plan, to not connect monroe all the way to 32, but rather have it stop.

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um At that senate road- and so this was originally introduced in 2002 um because by fiscal year, 2009.

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No action had been taken by the developer, so this would be on what is now known as.

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The hobie wolf property that this would be that portion that goes from, um I think it's called.

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Oak creek estates or oak creek, um the county, took over a portion that would.

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Require a bridge with that development, so we did not require the developer of the northern.

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Portion to have to design develop the bridge now we would be requiring the developer of the.

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Southern portion to extend the road, but it would terminate where the county owns the property.

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And the county would need to construct the bridge, and that estimate is at 1.3 million dollars.

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Then the final is the ryden hour away extension. um This was originally requested in 2018, and this.

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Would take right now away, that's already developed from um where the nellis acres property is in.

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Fallon drive taking it and using the existing roadway on old liberty. Road extending ride now.

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To panorama, and that would be for a cost of 1.4 million and again these are all cost estimates.

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um So this is what was proposed in the budget for this year, and these are the requested items.

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And these are all from directly from our various plans. Other requested items that are plan related.

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Or planned supportive are the ag preservation, because that is one of the goals within the.

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Master plan itself is a hundred thousand acres of ag land. I also put in there things like the angler.

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Road roundabout, um the bark hill trail giggles falls trail, northwest area regional park, master.

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Plan those types of projects help forward either the land preservation park and recreation plan.

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Help support our growth areas where we want to see developments, visual, supporting services.

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To those areas such as the north carol, library, renovation, the north carol senior center.

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Another one and I'm apologize that it's in this section it should have actually been in.

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The section above the sheriff's office for the eldersburg precinct that is mentioned actually.

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In the freedom plan is that it's not necessary to meet the concurrency management standards or.

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Any adequacy to have the sheriff's office, but it was something that was desired and wanted.

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um And would be enhancing to the area uh again. The tiny town, senior center um freedom, water.

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And sewer treatment upgrades uh across the board there's many of those outlined in the requested.

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And then also the psycho pump station expansion, so these are all supportive of the goals and.

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Objectives of the various planes that we have created in the academy, so this slide represents.

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The highlighted represents what actually went into the recommended budget as opposed to the requested.

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Budget so the recommended kind of made it to that next stage. So the first items and I'm just going.

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To go back to what we requested freedom, avenue, georgetown, johnson, monroe and ryden hour, none of.

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Those projects made it into the recommended budget and the recommended budget, and I don't want to.

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Go and misinterpret what: how ted does things so, basically, that's the budgetary constraint.

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That we have in the county, you know we have many more projects and much more funding requests than.

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Than we can pay for so this three recommended is my understanding within that fiscal constraint.

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Of what we have in the budget for the cash, so these projects did not move forward to that. Next.

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Level of budget, um so aglam preservation was the request, was fully funded for 4.6 million dollars.

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uh The bark hill trail, the gillis, falls in the northwest area regional park master plan.

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Those were all fully funded and I would say a lot of that money about all of it. Fully comes from.

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Program open space, which is the state funding mechanism for park and recreation and six fifty.

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Percent of that needs to be for acquisition of new parkland and fifty percent needs to be for park.

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Development, so that comes from a separate pot of funding and that's what's reflected in our budget.

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The sheriff's office for the eldersburg precinct was fully funded at 8.7 million.

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As well as freedom, water and sewer treatment, upgrades were fully funded for the request of 1.1.

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As well as the sykesville pump station, expansion was fully funded for 4.3 million dollars and again.

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That's what's right now, they're recommended. None of this is approved until it makes it.

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Through the commissioner's process and um the commissioners begin their processes, I think this.

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Month, starting on tuesdays, they will be having budget discussions on the recommended budget.

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So what our role in planning commissions- and this is not for the decision at all.

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This evening, but what um you all typically do is I draft a letter for your review.

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And your submittal, um what we would be saying in this year's letter is that it is consistent.

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Because that's something that the land use article requires under maryland, law.

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For the county, cip projects to be consistent with the master and applicable functional.

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Plans within the jurisdiction, so we would say that it is consistent with our ad.

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Land preservation, goals and objectives, funding for trail and parks, the sheriff's office and the.

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Freedom wastewater sewer system improvements are all directly consistent with the plans and then I.

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Wanted to mention- because this is what we had done in the past- is that there are several critical.

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Roads projects that were not included from the wreck up from the requested to the recommended.

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So I did mention georgetown monroe ryden hour and that the freedom avenue and johnsville.

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uh Sidewalk projects would be majority, grant funded and would not be requested to move forward.

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And they would be great contingent if any safe routes to school grant was um procured.

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So that's just the highlights of what is in our cip and the projects that I had seen that.

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We put in directly and that did not carry over and then the ones that did and that that are.

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Consistent with the plan, so with that, are there any questions and I'm gonna leave it here for now.

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Any more details on that precinct, uh I'm surprised that the cost is 8.7 million dollars.

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um So I am pulling what's in the requested budget, so I can just reach you. I don't have.

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Any more information that than what is in the actual budget that we have so.

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So the details that we have are to provide planned funding for construction of a of an.

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11 000 square foot sheriff's office precinct to be located on west hemlock drive in eldersburg.

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Operating impacts begin in fiscal year 25 and may include administrative position, utilities.

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Insurance trash removal, janitorial services etc. So um because we do our budget in six year,.

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Increments many times when we put in new projects, we put them in the outer years and then have them.

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Carry forward so this project was put in um several years ago in the outer years to begin.

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For engineering and design and fy 2013 for eight hundred and ten thousand dollars.

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And then starting in fy24, we begin the site, work, construction, equipment, furnishings and.

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Other expenses, so that's all the details that I have regarding that project. Okay, thank you linda.

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So uh linda this is jeff. I'm uh I'm curious. How? How do you wreck how staff recommend that we.

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Address the issue, as I understand it, the question before us is: does this cip as presented? Is it.

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Consistent with the master plan, is that really the only issue that we're addressing in our letter.

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Correct so you're addressing if it's consistent with the master plan and not contrary to and.

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That's really, I think more, what what the role is is to make sure that nothing in here is.

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Something out of the ordinary that is not that was never mentioned in the plan and everything. That's.

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In here does fulfill the goals and objectives as outlined in our plans. um Some may not. We don't.

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Always specifically lay out everything, um but it is supportive of the plans and nothing in here.

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Is contrary and the example of contrary would be that the county were looking to build something.

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Let's say like a new word that was never mentioned in a plan well and it's not fulfilling any goal.

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And objective of the planet that could consist, I think that those are the things that would.

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Be the red flags, um so what we're looking for is just that letter of consistency that would go to.

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Them to see if it would be consistent with their not contrary to our plans. So if the master plan.

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Calls for extending roads, for example, to deal with planned congestion and over the next five.

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Years, the the cip says we're not funding any of that. How do we say that's consistent with.

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The master plan, it seems to be inconsistent with the master plan to me, if we're not funding moving.

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Forward with those aspects of the uh of the master plan, so how do we, how do we, how do we reconcile.

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um So I think that's a very good question and I think um you know these budgets are.

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Very constrained and everyone does the best they can to move them forward. um We wouldn't, I would.

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Suggest not saying that this is inconsistent, but rather you would like to see these other projects.

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Move forward to be even more consistent um with the plants. Nothing in here is contrary.

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To to what is in the plan so to speak, um and I think that's the discussion for you all to have.

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Of how you would like to um proceed forward, if that and how you want to proceed forward.

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That was exactly why I kind of brought this up. I feel what we've seen now, especially with the.

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Rezoning as we're trying to implement our plan, we've noticed, you know part our plan to me kind.

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Of seems, the preservation of land. The ag prez is a huge part of our plan, but another huge part of.

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Our plan is in order to have an effective past prez. We have to make sure that our growth areas.

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Are also being met too, so that's why you know with the roadways that was one of the biggest thing I.

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Was thinking because those were constantly brought up in their freedom plan as huge parts of it.

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I don't know how anybody else feels it just. It feels like we're always fully funding.

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Our act pres, but then, when we're talking about other parts of the plan, those don't get.

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Totally they don't get a part of the pot so cynthia. What would you like to to- and I stepped.

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Away real quick, sorry! But what would you like the letter to say at this point? What are what are.

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Your thoughts, where are you going with it? This is what at least I wanted to have a discussion.

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Between all of us, because I think we've really become a lot more in you know we had the master.

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Plan for a while, but now that we're actually doing the implementation stuff, I think the cip.

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Is really coming into more play from what we see so um once again, if we're going to keep going to.

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Our growth areas and say you've got to take you've got to take this. It seems to me that, though, some.

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Something has to happen to help the growth areas. um To me, it's a little bit more level played.

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Playing guild, I'm not really sure how we would say in the letter, but it just seems that the egg prez.

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Is taking president precedence over everything else, and I know that's not popular. That's the.

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Thing to say, um but it feels like that that is our main goal, at the detriment of our growth.

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Well, the other thing that crosses my mind is why why are we required to we're, given the opportunity.

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But I think it's required to sign this letter. My limited understanding of this is because it gives.

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Us the ability to make sure that, if there's a master plan in place that it has some effect.

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um That we don't work on a master plan and then we have no ability to make sure that.

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Resources are being allocated in in accordance with the priorities of that master plan.

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And look I totally get a budget is, is at its core competing priorities and what those priorities.

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Are depends upon the leadership of the of the county and the various administrations, and you.

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Know I mean I understand all that, um but here we are with this statutory obligation to sign.

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Or to provide a letter that puts the reputation of this commission forward. That says.

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The cip, as we've seen, it is consistent with master plan, I.e at least the priorities that relate.

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To the master plan are in line as we see those priorities through the lens of the master plan.

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And if, for example, the roads which I agree with cynthia, that's something that's very much on my.

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Mind because we've heard a lot of public comment from our community around frustration over.

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Congestion of roads and traffic studies and making sure that the master plan takes that into account.

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And um we have a cip that, at least for the next five years funds, none of it.

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It's hard to say that's consistent that those priorities are in any way aligned.

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With the priorities of the master plan, as it relates to those roads.

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You know if it showed some funding some funding the fifth year out, it's at least something that.

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Says there's some priority given to this, but I think, as far as I read this every column, I see.

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uh Whether it's freedom out of avenue, sidewalk, georgetown, boulevard, extension, highway safety.

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Improvement johnsville road monroe avenue on and on and on they all have zeros next to them.

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Every year for five years, and they and some of these has been in this plan-.

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Going as far back, I think you said it's 2003 or something um and they're still at zero. So.

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If we're going to say it's consistent with the master plan, when we don't think it is, I'm not.

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Sure we want to sign a letter that says that if we think it should be consistent at some level.

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Then it seems to me that it should be, and again I'm not saying it trumps all other priorities or.

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Should trump all other priorities, but we're being asked to sign a letter on behalf of the commission.

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That says that the priorities reflect consistency with our master plan and at least in these areas.

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That we're talking about it doesn't seem like it doesn't seem like they do and maybe there's a.

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There's another way I'm looking at it I'd be happy to do that. I just right now it looks like.

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It isn't to me at least well jeff, and I'm just you know talking off of my head, but.

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Like I, I totally understand what you're saying um and get the argument with roads.

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That everybody just keep on kicking the can down the road when it comes to the roads. But you know.

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The issue is: there's just not enough money to fund all of this, so you know there's a decision.

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That's being made, that's not being made by us that these are the priorities and, of course,.

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That goes to the county. Commissioners, I understand what you all are saying, but.

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Is it you know, it is consistent in the sense that you know the money that's being spent as part of.

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This cip lines up with some of the goals of the master plan, but it doesn't line up with the goals.

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We maybe would not make the same decision as our commission, of where you know, because you could.

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Say the thing about ag preservation, I'd say: well, why are we spending 8.7 and I'm not saying you.

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Know don't call me sheriff louise, uh you know, why are we spending 8.7 million on um the eldersburg.

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Police station, why don't we put that towards roads? So I I get what you're saying but but we're not.

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The ones I get the frustration and believe me, I get the frustrations. I have a lot of frustration.

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When it comes to our master plans and how things are done and don't get me started there, but.

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But is it truly inconsistent, it's just that the priorities that they're making.

B

Are maybe not the priorities that we would make, but that's not.

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The position that we're in to make those decisions- I guess I I and again I'm just talking.

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Off the top of my head, but I understand the point you're making and it's valid.

B

But I don't know that it if I'm thinking it through that it leads me to the point of saying.

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That the cip is inconsistent, but I haven't thought about it. A whole lot.

B

So I'm just talking off the top of my head, though, and did I think that was I'm sorry.

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This jeff, I was just going to say you know, to your point dan. It seems like to the extent it's funded.

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The funding seems to be consistent with the master plan another. There are other aspects of our master.

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Plan that are receiving no funding- I don't know if receiving no funding, is inconsistent with the.

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Master plan, um I'm just trying to figure out how we honor our obligations and make truthful.

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Statements, I mean I'd, be happy to say to the extent things are funded in here. They seem to.

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Be consistent with the master plan, I don't see things that are funded that are inconsistent.

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With the master plan, but there are elements of the master plan that are not being funded.

F

And, and I would think that we could, we could comfortably say.

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That we agree with what's presented, with the caveat that.

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You know if it were our call, we might, you know, elevate a few of these projects. These.

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Road projects, if it were our decision- and I would simply say too to be specific to me- it makes no.

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Sense to spend money on monroe or even georgetown when, when when, basically those are those are roads.

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To nowhere at this point, because the there's there's going to be development, you know on that.

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Hobie worth property in um the beatty property along bennett. So when those are developed, then.

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All of a sudden we have we, we have a reason to make that connection and to make that expenditure.

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Until that happens, it's it's a cul-de-sac and it will be a cul-de-sac, and so you know why.

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Why spend the money on that? um So so that's my thought on on two of the road improvements that.

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One's a bridge- and it seems pretty expensive and that's a reason for it right, because we've.

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Got to cross some water but to the extent that we could maybe dial back the ag preservation.

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And maybe spend money to to fund a road project or two that might be worth consideration.

A

Well, it sounds like what what exactly like dan and jeff had said. You know nothing in the plan.

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Is inconsistent with our master plan, however, as a commission and what we the experience.

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That we've gone through in trying to implement the plan. I think we need to maybe come up with.

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What do we feel our priorities too? So um exactly like peter said in the letter you.

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Know everything that's funded is consistent with the plan. However,.

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We would consider these immediate or or well, or I don't think we can immediately.

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Immediate or other priorities that should start to the county should start to take into account.

B

I I'm okay like if, if you know between jeff and you there's some massaging, you want to do on what.

B

We want to say and that we can bring that back and and talk as a planning commission about doing.

B

That I guess where I'm at at the end of the day or the two things that occur to me, is number one.

B

I understand the point and the concern, but I don't think I don't know how we say this cip is not.

B

Is inconsistent um because I don't feel it's inconsistent, I feel like there's just not enough.

B

Money um and number two like, while I certainly think we could, you know, make a comment on what.

B

We think is more important if we choose to do that. um Is you know? At the end of the day, the budgetary.

B

Authorities not doesn't play with us, it lays with the county commissioner. So, at the end of the day,.

B

You know we can suggest whatever we want, but it's not our call um so.

B

You know, and I would argue you know and I and cynthia you're talking about aggress.

B

You know there's other ways you could get that money besides ag press because I'm you know, I have.

B

A soft spot for ag preservation, but I mean I get your point, but you know there could be other ways.

B

You could look at it um too, so I I don't know I I maybe it's something we can think about a little.

B

Bit and come back to is that the idea here linda, you don't need something tonight. No, I do not need.

E

Anything this evening we just wanted to have the discussion, um so I do have a draft letter.

E

Written for your approval, I can send that out prior to the meetings when we have our next.

E

Meeting if you'd like to change the wording, we can discuss it at that meeting and make a decision.

E

Again, I wouldn't, I would not suggest not saying that this is inconsistent. However, maybe I think.

E

I love how you both articulated priorities. We understand. There's a ton of parties we'd like you.

E

To consider these road projects a higher priority for inclusion um because of their importance for.

E

You know x, y and z, so just something to consider. I think we can work on the language there, but.

E

And I would say the cip is not inconsistent by not having included those projects. Just those projects.

E

Didn't make the cut for the fiscally constrained priorities that the county has and again the.

E

Commissioners, haven't even made their priorities yet so they could look at this recommending that.

E

You know what these are parties, let's swap it out, and those are the policy and budgetary decisions.

E

That they have under the under the direction linda when you send this draft out, there's nothing to.

B

Stop cynthia or jeff from making a suggestion, even via email, because we're not going to decide.

B

Anything via email but hey. This is how I would you know here. Here's another stab at it is that okay.

B

For them, any open meetings um just to simply review something and give some suggested language.

E

I would defer to our attorney jim if he um heard the conversation and just wouldn't chime in.

B

Yeah I agree with um linda. I don't see how um that would violate any open meetings. um Standards. Okay,.

B

Yeah, because we're gonna discuss it when we're back in the meeting, it's just that they want to throw something out as an idea. They could. Okay right. Is it possible to get.

I

um Whatever the statutory provision is, that has this requirement that we're supposed to.

I

Sign this letter I mean: does it give us any guidance in terms of what our statement that.

I

It's consistent with the master plan, what that means or what the context is or anything cool.

E

That statute for you would you cite the statute in the letter and I will pull that for inclusion.

I

Okay, yeah that'd be helpful to me at least I'd like to see it, I'm not suggesting we should that.

I

We trump the commissioners or we should we don't and we and we shouldn't it's just we.

I

Have an obligation here, I'm just kind of curious, exactly what the statute says, we're supposed to be.

I

Representing what we're doing and making sure we we carry that out um as we're supposed to.

A

Yeah I mean that was one of the main reasons why I wanted to add to our.

A

Agenda because well, first of all, we got the documents pretty late anyhow and, like I said.

A

The stuff we've been going through the past couple years and actually implementing our master plan.

A

And the freedom plan, I think, has given us much more insight even more than than before so yeah. I.

J

Agree, yeah, the implementation part. It's one thing to put the master plan together. The part we're.

A

Doing now, the implementation gives us so much more insight that I think it was worth this discussion.

I

Yeah, thank you cynthia, linda for putting this together. Thank you, linda. That was very helpful.

E

All right good, well um any other questions, but I will go ahead and pour the letter and.

E

The statutory requirements to you all for your review, so that's all I have for you for this topic.

A

Hey with that, we'll uh move on to.

A

Item number: seven: the community solar zoning text, amendment the discussion, brenda.

A

Good evening I am going to share my screen. If I can, um I wanted to start off with.

K

Some a background give you a little bit more information.

K

Can you see that okay.

K

Right so I wanted to first just give a reminder again what the community solar facility is so.

K

Based on the maryland code, definition, which is in the public utilities, article.

K

Is two or more subscribers? It's going to be connected to the electrical grid, a community solar.

K

Project needs to be in the same service territory if you're going to subscribe to it. So you need.

K

To be in bge's territory, if you're a vge customer customer, you need to subscribe to a solar facility.

K

In that territory, the power that's generated then reduces the subscribers electric bill.

K

The maximum uh size of a community solar system is 2 megawatts, it can be less, but that's the.

K

Largest, it can be at this time it can be owned by pretty much anybody and the statewide cap.

K

For community solar facilities is 414 megawatts at this time. That could change.

K

So I also wanted to just reiterate that you know the text is proposing that all remaining portions.

K

That are five acres or greater in the ag district are would be eligible, but that doesn't mean they'd.

K

Be suitable and there's a lot of variables that are up to the solar developer, to determine to.

K

Decide whether or not any given site is actually suitable, and that could be anything and most of.

K

This is actually done on a case-by-case basis that you can't decide ahead of time, because.

K

The developer needs to contact the utility company on any given project to see what.

K

To see what things apply to that property, so the proximity of the lines, two lines, the.

K

The three-phase distribution length that they need to connect into and how far they are.

K

From those the capacity of the lines, all lines have a certain capacity that they can actually.

K

Facilitate and if they've met that capacity, they can't add any more solar projects to it. Individual.

K

Site constraints such as slopes sun exposure, if you're facing on a property that faces north.

K

Likely you know it's not going to be quite as beneficial the cost of the project and, of course,.

K

The maryland public service commission and the utility company, either bge or the allegheny power.

K

In carroll, county would actually need to approve the project, there's also state policies that would.

K

Come into play and you have, they cannot be a joint. You cannot have community solar facilities on two.

K

Adjoining properties, you cannot put a community solar facility on a property that was subdivided.

K

Within the last five years, and of course it can't exceed two megawatts in capacity. So with that in.

K

Mind I wanted to show you. uh We have some maps we put together. So what you're looking at here is the.

K

Brown is the agricultural zone in carroll county. The orange properties are all of the remaining.

K

Portions in the agricultural zone that are over 5 acres, so there are a total of 724 parcels on 22.

K

871 acres, so all of those would be eligible but again based on all those variables variables.

K

Probably the majority of them wouldn't necessarily be suitable, but we can't. We can't tell that.

K

So what I've done here is I've added the current.

K

Preserved acreage to the map, so all of the green parcels are those parcels that are under easement.

K

So that's seven! Well as of the end of fiscal year, 20 that was 74 211., but I can tell you.

K

That we have exceeded a major milestone, and in october we exceeded 75, 000 acres preserved. So.

K

um But this was data we had as of the end of fiscal year 20., so you can see on this map that.

K

Of course, the orange and the green do not overlap, because remaining portions are not eligible for.

K

The agricultural land preservation program, so you can see where the orange would fill in the green.

K

I could just roll my thing right direction, all right and then what you're looking at here is the.

K

Sort of what color, that is, orangish brown corridors. Those are two mile corridors, so.

K

A mile on either side of what would be potential three-phase distribution lines that the facilities.

K

Could connect into that information came from uh department department of natural resources.

K

uh Website they have a call smart dg plus where they map this kind of information, and we use the.

K

Information on there to map this- and this is where we think those lines would be so you can see that.

K

Of course, the the develop solar developers are going to seek out properties that are closer to.

K

The three-phase distribution lines, because that would cost less to connect into than.

K

Ones that are further away, so any of the orange remaining portions that are within these corridors.

K

Would be closer to those lines and then conceivably less expensive and you can.

K

See there most of them actually fall within the quarter, so out of the 724 parcels, 647 parcels are.

K

Inside you know, within a mile of the three-phase distribution line, only 77 of the parcels are not.

K

So this just gives you a little bit of breakout on the size of the remaining portions that you.

K

Saw on those maps, a significant number of them are actually smaller between 5 and 40 acres. So I think.

K

It's almost just about half that are actually 20 acres or less.

K

And that you know just keep that in the back your mind as we're going through the text.

K

So you know the the larger you get the fewer parcels there are in that size.

K

So I wanted to give you that background. I mean if you have any questions on what I.

K

Showed you I can take, I can, you know, work answer that, but um I wanted to actually.

K

Bring up the text that was sent to you, so we can just review the text and I will have it.

K

Share my screen and actually make changes as we go, because the idea is that you'll want to make a.

K

Recommendation to the board county commissioners and I can make the changes on the screen.

K

As we discuss it, so that it would reflect what your recommendation to the board will be.

K

I just I think that might be uh the easiest most efficient way to do it. So I'm going to switch.

K

Over if I can figure out how to um which email where we receive the actual text, because I must.

B

Have missed that I got you know I did not. I got other things, but I did not get the actual text.

K

I think laura would have sent it out last week, sometime.

A

Yeah, I think all I saw was the presentation.

B

Yeah I didn't receive any text. Did anyone else receive text.

I

I don't think so. If I did, I didn't recognize it yeah. I I we have not received any texts and.

B

And- and I really and I so I don't know how constructive it's gonna be for us to go through.

B

The text tonight um because we haven't seen it and um I guess now I'll kind of bring up something.

B

Else, real quick is- and I actually want to you- know, see the text and digest it, but I got a lot.

B

Of concerns about this, I I totally get why there's some desire to do this, but you know I've heard a.

B

Lot of rumblings from people in the farming community that are not real happy about this.

B

And I kind of feel like as a planning commission for us to you know, make a recommendation.

B

To the county commissioners, I would like to get a little bit more educated or some feedback.

B

From you know, either the ad commission or the farm bureau as to exactly what their concerns.

B

Are in detail as well as I would not mind hearing from somebody that.

B

Is involved in the solar industry to get a better sense of what truly are the types.

B

Of properties that they are looking for and and what motivates that, um because you know we have.

B

Preserved a lot of farmland and that's one of our goals, and I get I'm all for solar. I get it.

B

All that, but I am concerned that by allowing these solar facilities in an ag district.

B

That we are changing the character and tone of the ag district, and I want us to be very careful about.

B

What we do with that, so I don't know linda whether um that is something that we could. You know at.

B

A future meeting at one of our night meetings where we could have somebody come from the farm.

B

Bureau or the farming industry and kind of give us their perspective of what their concerns are and.

B

Also someone from the solar industry to better understand because I think, there's a pathway.

B

Through to this, but I'm right now like and I of course haven't seen the text but right now I feel.

B

Like a little bit uncomfortable being okay with it, and I want to be okay with it, but I'm not there.

B

And I don't think I'm going to be there without hearing from some other people, so I'm working with.

E

See marianna our disconnect was because um she sent what she had so we're just trying to retrace.

E

What had happened um with regards to that? So I apologize if it was sent us and we did not.

E

Forward that lara is very good at affording what she has in front of her. So we do apologize um and.

E

As far as having others come to me, that's up to you. We are happy to make that time on the agenda.

E

If you want to have those others uh participate to get more insight into the discussion that.

E

Then I can work with brenda if she can help us. How does everybody else feel about that.

F

You know dan, I you you're, raising some great questions and- and I have some basic questions.

F

Too, like I would like to know what one megawatts of solar powers power panels looks like you know,.

F

I mean: what are we, how many acres would that take how many panels would that be.

F

And then two I mean if we're spending money to to put land in agricultural preservation.

F

You know how does this work with that or against it right, because there's there's an integrity.

F

There that we're trying to preserve and and are we flying, does this fly in the face of that.

F

I I honestly don't I'm not I'm ill-equipped, um because they're too they're too, you know.

F

Again, I'm for solar, um I mean my you know, that's my daughter-in-law works for the.

F

Department of energy- and this is her thing, and so you know I'm I'm all ears on this.

F

But, um being you know those positions, preserving agricultural land and encouraging uh solar power.

F

You know on contiguous properties like this. I I've got questions about it as well,.

K

Can I suggest uh that could be that I somehow managed to forget to send this when I sent it.

K

With the when I sent the, uh I forgot to attach it when I sent the powerpoint as possible, uh but.

K

Since I have it on the screen, I could possibly go through it tonight just to get you familiar.

K

With it um I do apologize, I didn't find it, and I was that was the week when we were sending.

C

Lots of different things- and I was waiting to have everything at once- to send it off and it.

L

Didn't slip through the cracks. I apologize that it's my fault. I did just send it to everyone. I.

C

Know that short notice for tonight's discussion, but you should have it now. I I really think it'd.

B

Be more beneficial to go through it after we've had a chance to you know, look at it.

B

Ourselves, because to just scroll through the screen and point things out, it's not really.

B

Going to be at least from my standpoint, very productive, I don't know how the other members.

B

Feel, but I kind of would rather and and again also, I really I kind of want some additional.

B

Input from people that are more qualified to have opinions about this than I am.

A

A letter um did you guys also get, I think it went to the whole.

A

Whole board from um I don't have enough, but I have the letter up.

A

That had some excellent points in it about long-term maintenance who.

A

A

Let me find out who sent this letter, but also some excellent questions about about this.

B

I just feel like we need to be better educated about.

B

This particular subject: it is something new. It is something different and before we're.

B

Sitting here making a recommendation that I'm afraid that you know 10 years down the road.

B

You know I'm driving by and going why the hell did. I ever say yes to this.

D

If, if I could, if I could chime in here for a minute, I've been kind of quiet through these.

D

Last two conversations uh on this particular one: uh we are just in the beginning stages of.

D

Getting the ideas on what this would mean and what it would look like for our county and I'll.

D

Tell you uh in my role down at the maryland association of counties, we've got that lovely.

D

Little city of annapolis that tells us a lot of what to do here and currently there is a bill.

D

uh That we need to be, uh you know not. We need to be more green efficient by the year of 2030.

D

So if we don't do something now and do it in the right place here, annapolis is going to.

D

Tell us where to put solar panels and I'm not a fan of that. So that's why we tried to inject this.

D

uh And get some ideas on where we could put them. That would best suit us and not do it.

D

Where we're told to put them so we're just in the beginning stages of doing this, I encourage.

D

You to get all of the presentations that you can actually that's what we're doing we're hearing.

D

You know we're hearing from the from the farming community uh we're hearing from a lot of folks.

D

But the bottom line for me and I'm kind of the one that brought this up about a year or so ago,.

D

um Along with commissioner frazier, uh I I just I do not want to be forced to put something.

D

Somewhere, because somebody down in a seat in annapolis, told me where, to put it I'd rather put.

D

It where I want to put it- and this is kind of the way, the beginning stages of being able to do that.

D

I don't know if that helps your conversation, uh but I wanted to throw that in there.

B

Commissioner rants, no, I I totally understand believe me. I understand where you're coming.

B

From dealing with annapolis as well um but um yeah, I I I get you and I think that this.

B

Is possible, I just feel, like you know, from our standpoint, we do need to get a little.

B

Bit better educated and just the fact that I there seems to be a lot of concerns out.

B

There in the farming community, I kind of want to understand what those concerns are better.

B

So that maybe there's ways we can mitigate it through, whatever we come up with here so.

I

I um this is joe, I agree with everything that's been said, and I certainly.

I

um Appreciate the commissioners informing us about that, this is really an opportunity for us to.

I

Sort of control our own destiny, a bit as opposed to uh having it uh prescribed for us.

I

And uh so I I approach this subject with that appreciation.

I

Along that line, I think it would help me if I had a better understanding of.

I

What sort of solar capacity already exists in the industrial zones and in the commercial zones.

I

Because my understanding is that solar can be used in industrial and commercial.

I

Already, maybe I don't remember off top my head: if they're I'm sure there are some limitations to it,.

I

um But you know how much, how much capacity do we have in industrial and commercial and then um I.

I

Know from the presentation you know we're getting some good data here and and brenda. I appreciate.

I

The data about the you know, there's about 724 parcels and 22. 871 acres are eligible, but.

I

It sounds like a fairly small subset of that would be suitable and then, of course, that gets.

I

To the question I mean, in my view, my bias by the way is I I don't really like these black glass.

I

Things out on agricultural land, I said that in the last meeting, I'm I'm open-minded and.

I

I'm persuadable, but I think they're ugly, but nevertheless I understand the need for solar.

I

And so I balance that against the fact that I think they don't look like a cornfield, but.

I

At the same time, if a very small subset of this acreage is suitable, then it seems to me the solar.

I

Benefit is negligible and if I'm wrong about that, then I'd like to get about that too. So I think.

I

To dan's point I'd like a lot more information, I have a lot of questions uh last time we heard from.

I

The farm bureau and I know that they said that their whole membership- I think it was them.

I

Was against letting this on ag land? That's an important voice to me um and if they're, I'm sure.

I

There are voices on the other side that say they want to let it on all of the ag land and I'd like.

I

To hear their views and understand their position as well, I'm persuadable, um so I just like to I'd.

I

Like to be able to hear from these folks as usual, we have competing interests and I'd like to make.

I

Sure I understand the various views and be able to ask questions, and then I can work with uh linda to.

K

You know make sure that we get some people who can provide you more information like that.

K

And I'm pretty sure that I mean there's only a couple callers on, but I'm pretty sure that.

K

There were at least three seller developers who were planning to be in attendance, which would be.

K

By phone, so they may even be able to um provide you some information in their comments tonight.

G

um If I could, if you allow me to say a few words here, I think I'd like to.

G

I think first thing you have to realize is that um the staff worked with the board of commissioners.

G

To get to the point where we are right now, uh so we are are following their direction as far as.

G

You know looking into the ag zone and and where would it most or best fit in the ag zone and.

G

So when we did that approach to minimize that we looked at several things, we did not want.

G

To take up any lands that could be potentially preservable in the ag zone, these lands are not.

G

Preservable that you saw they have already had their development rights taking in all senses,.

G

There they are developed lands, so in that sense they are not preservable.

G

The other thing we wanted to do is look: how could they blend in with the with the surroundings? There.

G

So, in that sense, we looked at making them ag friendly. As far as like pollinator friendly.

G

uh The ability to have to have some type of ag use associated with the solar development.

G

uh The final thing we did is we wanted to look at landscaping.

G

And trying to stream it you know, that's that's other than the fact that maybe people don't.

G

Like the appearance of them, they're, one of the most benign uses that you could stick somewhere.

G

I mean other than the appearance, they don't generate dust, they don't generate noise, they.

G

Don't generate traffic, they don't generate people who complain that are living there so to speak.

G

So you know it is one of those uses that, aside from the aesthetics, there is no real true impact.

G

On the land, and but we want to make sure that the landscaping was addressed and the decommissioning.

G

And abandonment of them in some future time, which most likely will happen, is addressed. So the reason.

G

I bring up some of these things. Is we met with the commissioners twice to kind of get on board from.

G

A staff perspective we've been working for six months now, pretty much staff with the.

G

Solar community and our staff met with the ag ag commission uh the farm bureau, the soil.

G

Conservation district and the ag advisory board here at the county and, as I I think, indicated.

G

Last time we heard loud and clear from them that they do not want it all right and- and we conveyed.

G

That to the commissioners, uh but we were charged to keep keep moving forward with this concept.

G

To see where it would go, so what you, what brenda has that she was going to present this evening to.

G

You was a conglomeration of all those things put together, so I don't want you to think that we just.

G

um Are before you with something here that we haven't had a lot of time, a lot of effort in uh to.

G

Accommodate what we've heard feedback from people to this point? Because we've heard quite a bit.

G

um So you know, I understand you want to get uh feedback from those individuals who are directly.

G

Involved in this, which is a good thing, uh but I would say I would ask possibly that.

G

You look at the proposal first because a lot of the questions that you have that I've heard right.

G

Now are going to be answered with this draft and with things that we can answer, and then you take.

G

Some comments from folks on the various sides in response to that, because I think a lot of things.

G

That you have concerns about, or interest in, might be incorporated into this draft, which I say, we've.

G

Taken quite a bit of time, many iterations at the staff level um and actually even working with.

G

Linda's staff to review this to get to this point with you again, this is nowhere a final product.

G

At all, um but you know, we think it's it's worth a consideration here and then having some input from.

G

Folks um who are involved in this so with that you know we certainly will we'll go back to and.

G

And come back to you when you're ready. uh But I hate to miss an opportunity to have an educational.

G

Moment here and for you to take a look at this either now or at your next meeting. Thank you.

B

Yeah the issue with looking at the draft tonight is just that we haven't seen it.

B

And you know, that's the whole point is that you know with the mix up and all with the emails. None.

B

Of us have seen this, and I just I not that I don't not that time, you don't have a valid point. That'd.

B

Be nice to sit down and go through it, but it's just not beneficial, because I've had no time to.

B

Look at it for me trying to read something on the screen is non-productive for me. um I need.

B

To be able to sit down and read it myself a couple times to make sure I really digest it, especially.

B

With something that's so unique and new like this, so to me you know it's the issue with my.

B

Issues about wanting feedback have nothing about to do with wanting to go through this tonight. I.

B

Don't want to go through this thing because I haven't seen it. I want to see it first.

B

And and then- and I understand that you know but we're being asked to make a recommendation.

B

Back to the county, commissioners, and I think from our perspective to be able to do that.

B

At some point in time, I want a more detailed uh opportunity for certain leadership, whether that be.

B

Within the solar industry itself, or whether that be in the farming community itself, to not just.

B

Make a three-minute comment where I want to be able to have a like a back and forth, which is not.

B

What public comment is for um so that's my thought. I my suggestion is that we, you know.

B

Come back after we have had time to digest this draft, then we can go through it with you all.

B

But then, at the next step have some dialogue with somebody from the industry and somebody that can.

B

Represent the farming community, to kind of so that we can have a little bit of back and forth.

B

So that we feel more confident in what we're going to recommend back to the commissioners.

H

I agree this is gene. I agree with what dan said and his uh as far as jeffrey's mark uh I sort of.

H

Agree with them too, that I, I don't think they're ugly but they're, very industrial. Looking as.

H

I guess a better term that I'd like to use but- uh and I certainly wouldn't want to have that next.

H

Next to my house, but- and maybe maybe this will come out in our review, but I think it's it's.

H

General, I think everybody on the board wants to wait and review it later after we have a chance.

H

To review it ourselves, but the basic question at the end of the day that I always come back to.

H

In looking in this is I'm asking myself: what is the need? Who is who is pushing this and.

H

Do we have a defined solution if there is a need, how do we get it and what is the cost.

H

And I know I I when I was working, I dealt with these with this quite a bit because.

H

There are a lot of companies out there that will come in and sell you on solar energy.

H

Not really based on a need that you may have, but a need that they have is to sell solar.

H

And there's no doubt about it: we're going to have to get there because.

H

Not only annapolis, but the federal government continues to push for renewable sources, but.

H

I don't think we're going to get there with with solar. That's just my basic opinion and until we.

H

Can find a better solution? I think it's just going to be continue to kick down the ground, but anyhow.

H

I rambled on here but I'll say I'd like to know what the need is.

H

Who's pushing it what the cost is and what guarantee that we we have that.

H

We do define a need, what guarantee the solar is going to get us there.

A

So if we don't have any more discussion at this time, I know there are callers. I think.

A

You know we do have a time on our schedule for the public comment on this, so um I'm going to go.

A

Ahead, I think and move on to the public comment. Part linda. Do you want to do the public comment.

E

So we are just going to call the callers um we do not have them signed up in any particular order.

E

um For this topic, so um I think it looks like with three collars on the line, so um I guess.

E

The control room can unmute them. That would be great, and if you can just announce your name.

E

And give us your comments for the evening, so I guess caller caller one introduce yourself. Please.

M

My name is time: oh.

N

Not sure how you want to structure the order here, but this is jake spring with next stamp. I'm I'm happy to talk first.

E

Okay, go ahead. Can you repeat that please.

E

What is your name again? Yes, this is jake springer and I'm with nexamp.

A

Okay, go ahead; jake great! Thank you! uh So again, jake springer with nexsamp. uh We.

N

Are a developer and long-term owner and operator of community solar in maryland.

N

As well as across the northeast currently have one operating community solar project on the.

N

Eastern shore that serves over half half of its customers are low to moderate income.

N

With multiple other projects in or proceeding to construction, so obviously there's been a lot of.

N

Discussion today that I think is great and you know, came to prepare to talk about some of the.

N

Specifics to the amendment, but I think uh more generally, um you know I would love to work with.

O

You all and bring some more constructive feedback so that you all can make an.

N

Informed decision about what to do with this amendment, but I would like to talk.

N

Briefly, while I am here about some of the what we do and and the benefits you know, community.

N

Solar can bring a lot of value to carroll county and by opening the door to community solar. The.

N

Council can generate new tax revenue uh sort of as discussed already without new demands for services.

N

Great opportunity for local jobs to provide a new option for carroll county residents to save.

N

Money on their electricity through energy, that's actually generated within their own communities,.

N

Particularly for low-income residents, community solar may be their only means to invest in solar.

N

And to save money on electricity that isn't through uh benefit programs and this option.

N

Really, I feel, is important to be available for carroll county residents as far as the sighting.

N

Of these facilities goes, you know, I disagree. I think, with the concept that community solar.

N

In agricultural zones should be specifically limited to the remaining.

N

Portions, obviously, the staff has looked and to consider the viability of these specific parcels.

N

But I think far less far more could be done with far less acreage if developers are allowed.

N

To work with landowners who are interested rather than having these sites sort of picked.

N

The landowners and the sites picked via the zta as currently would be structured with the remaining.

N

Portions language and I can understand that there may be concerns about protecting agricultural land.

N

Share those community solar is not inconsistent with those goals. In my mind, for many landowners.

N

Hosting community solar is a revenue stream that allows them to resist permanent development.

N

Pressure and keeps the nature of the land intact. Lease payments from hosting community solar are an.

N

Important revenue stream that balances their more traditional revenues, which might be more volatile.

N

And community solar can provide direct agricultural benefits either through.

N

Sheep or other animal grazing or providing important pollinator habitat and community.

N

Cell can keep farms working and when the posts are removed, a future generation has an opportunity.

N

To decide what to do with the land again so, as you know, there's there's questions to be to be.

N

Asked and hopefully those of us in development community can have the answers for you um as we.

N

Continue to work forward and I look forward to being able to do that and getting a zoning text.

N

Amendment here that can work for everybody, so thank you. I really appreciate the time.

E

All right, thank you so much if we can have the uh now three other callers on the line so.

E

If you can just get your name and here with and where you're calling from that would be helpful,.

J

Yeah hi, my name is mike borkowski, I'm with community power group.

J

We're a maryland based company and we think that you guys have done a really good and thoughtful.

J

Job of of going through um the code uh and kind of it's your county and identifying land that.

J

You think works for you. um We've reviewed every single one of the sites. That's on your map.

J

And, as somebody indicated earlier, we see a maximum of 29 parcels of land out of that whole giant map.

J

That could potentially host solar, given the different parameters. We'd be happy to.

J

Share that come in there and share that in person which exact parcels there are.

J

uh We've we've actually talked to several of those landowners. um Some of them are in a financial.

J

Situation where um you know they it's difficult for them uh to keep solar you know or that land.

J

In their house, you know in their families uh based on you know fifty dollars an acre for hay or you.

J

Know a bit more couple hundred dollars. For you know, corn um solar provides an opportunity for.

J

uh You know thousand plus uh well over a thousand dollars an acre per year for that farmer and.

J

We actually talked to some pretty big farmers in the county and, interestingly, one of the reasons.

J

They said they didn't want. Farmer, you know. Regular people to have solar on their farms is.

J

uh Because then they can't keep the land and they have to sell it. It's the way, they're worried.

J

That uh farms won't come on the market as much, because people want to put solar on it and won't.

J

Be able to pick up as much cheap land uh but at the same time there's somebody else who.

J

Is losing farm in their family and they can't pass it down and pass it along.

J

Anymore because they're having trouble affording it that way, so it's just a.

J

Little bit of an interesting anecdote on on the some of what we heard out there.

J

But to answer some of the quick questions, one megawatt equals about five acres of solar, so.

J

You could never have more in about 10-15 acres on a on a particular parcel. Just given the 2 megawatt.

J

Limitation, solar can't go on preserved land, so you don't have to worry about that. Other states.

J

Are using solar as a way to augment agricultural preservation? Because now this land is not going to.

J

Have homes on it, it's not going to get developed with commercial. It's actually going to be able to.

J

Be used in 35 years for farming purposes when the solar gets removed, so it actually you're talking.

J

Earlier in the meeting about a budget shortfall on preserving land well put solar out there and.

J

It'll actually preserve the land for you, um so these are just a couple of things highlight happy.

J

To come in anytime, you guys want we're right here in maryland, coming and talk to you, but.

J

Lastly, and most importantly, I'd like to point out that this only addresses community solar 7-306 is.

J

The law for net metering that addresses community solar, but what the county has left out is within.

J

7-306 there is a net metering program. The community of solar just addresses the residential.

J

There's another component that benefits the ag industry, governments and non-profits.

J

And the way the law is written right now is governments. Nonprofits cannot benefit from these.

J

Solar facilities- and all you have to do- is in the definition of solar energy, solar energy, generating.

J

System, all you have to do in that paragraph is add and shall include meteoratic aggregation.

J

Under comar 20-50-10-7 and then governments will be able to get discounted power. Schools will be.

J

Able to get discounted encounter agricultural communities that farmers will actually be able.

J

To benefit from discounted power, it's a very small change, all the same parameters, all the.

J

Same land, but the governments and everybody else can actually get additional financial benefits.

J

Beyond the tax revenue and everything else by adding those six seven, eight words into the text.

J

That you already have- and I think that's really important- we see many other governments, washington.

J

A lot of other counties, schools and other things that are taking advantage of the discounted power.

J

That net metering can do. uh We think it's an important change and again we'd be happy to come.

J

In any time to talk to somebody walk them through those different parcels and walk through these.

J

Kind of seven or eight words that should get added to the text to make sure the agricultural industry.

J

Governments and nonprofits can participate in the financial benefits of solar. Thank you.

E

All right, thank you for your time and just again as a friendly reminder, we're trying to.

E

Stick to a three-minute time limit um for discussion purposes, we can just keep the.

E

Media moving this evening, so the next caller, um if you can state your name who you're with.

P

Sure I'll I'll go, this is uh my name is francis uh and I'm with the turning point. Energy and I.

P

Am a lifelong maryland resident has been working in the solar energy industry since 2005.. When I.

P

Had the opportunity to put a little rooftop system on on my roof, but it has become apparent that.

P

Not everyone is fortunate to put solar on their own roof, so community solar really does.

P

Allow people allows everyone to participate in solar energy and the green energy economy.

P

And therefore we need to support maryland's. You know there was a lot of discussion about annapolis.

P

Dictating where this goes well, the many of the legislative maryland legislature, you know, put a.

P

Very ambitious renewable energy goal in place and I think every county needs to help support that.

P

And so, first of all I want to applaud um the staff, and, and tom is right he went you know they've been.

P

Working on us for six months and brenda um in particular just really appreciate her keeping.

P

You know keeping up with everything: she's become a community solar expert and keeping.

P

The website up to date so that there's transparency and everyone can see.

P

How this process is playing out, but I want to echo with the previous speakers mentioned and just say.

P

That we would be happy to come and visit or you know virtually visit and share the information.

P

What do these projects look like once they're built? How do we handle decommissioning? How do.

P

We mitigate neighbors concerns and collaborate with the farming community to make this a win-win.

P

Situation for everyone, because the county really will benefit from the economic benefits from the.

P

Increased tax revenue, the job creation during the development and construction process, as well as.

P

You know the benefits to the rate payers who can subscribe to solar energy by giving us.

P

Light rate rate savings, so I wanted to just offer that, um yes, we would suggest some modifications.

P

To the zta, as it is written to allow projects to actually be built to satisfy, I think the.

P

Intent of the zta- and I do have some questions that I would like clarified, but at this point.

P

In time, I think it's fair to give the planning and zoning commission time to read the zta is drafted.

P

And then I would like the opportunity to come back and address some of these questions and.

P

Have that one-on-one dialogue to collaborate and see how we might come to a happy medium.

P

Thank you so much hey, linda. I just wanted to interject just to remind all the callers.

B

That that we do have an email address and so there's you know, several people have mentioned.

B

Different things, if you have anything to submit, please email it to us so that we receive it.

B

um Because if you have additional background information that would be very informative for.

B

Us to have so I just wanted to remind everybody that we do have an email address and please.

B

You know if you have information share. Please email it to us. Sorry, linda.

E

Yes- and that is uh just for everyone's reference- um the email for planning commission is plancom.

E

P-L-A-N-C-O-M-M at carrollcountymdalltogether.gov, and so we have one more caller for this topic on.

E

The lines if you can announce yourself please and who you're with thank you so much. Thank you so.

L

Much for the opportunity to speak tonight, my name is leslie elder and I'm the mid-atlantic director.

L

For the coalition for community solar access, where I'm charged with implementing.

L

And maintaining community solar markets in maryland, new jersey, pennsylvania and virginia.

L

I'm also a fifth generation farm owner, so ccsa is a coalition of businesses and non-profits.

L

Working to expand customer choice and access to solar for all maryland households and businesses.

L

Through community solar programs based off of the conversation that has been going on tonight,.

L

I thought it would be better to provide some basics in community solar, rather than going into.

L

My specific comments on the zta so today nearly 75 percent of american households.

L

And businesses do not have access to solar because they either rent or live in multi-tenant buildings.

L

Or have roofs that are unable to host a solar system, so community solar provides anyone who.

L

Pays an electric bill equal access to the economic and environmental benefits of solar energy without.

L

The need to install a solar system on site, it expands solar for all by providing energy choice.

L

For customers and it injects critical economic stimulus into local communities like yours,.

L

Community solar facilities are small that work directly with land owners.

L

In a manner to preserve the land throughout the development process,.

L

Through responsible installation, maintenance and agricultural uses, essentially, once the facility.

L

Is built the land lays fallow for the lifetime of the project and once it's decommissioned the land.

L

Returns to its original condition, and often that soil is in better condition than it was before.

L

um So, as I said, I have specific comments, but I will submit them through that email address that.

L

You just provided, and I'm really pleased to hear all of the conversation that you guys have had and.

L

Are interested in learning more about community solar as a whole, I'm happy to share lots of.

L

Materials with you, so you can see what facilities look like, how they work in conjunction with the.

L

Agricultural industry and really who they serve so, if you're interested, I would be happy to continue.

L

These conversations with you, local farmers, other constituencies in a manner that you all see fat.

L

But overall we really appreciate that carroll county is looking to address.

L

Zoning for community solar and I look forward to partnering with the with you and the council.

L

To finding the best ways to bring this economic driver to your community, thank you for your time.

E

Okay- and I don't think, there's any other callers for this item.

A

Thank you. I wish that was very helpful to hear from the developer side so.

A

So our next step, I guess, is we'll review the text.

A

And then they'll be back on our agenda in a coming meeting. Is that is that what we'll do linda.

E

Yeah, so lauren did send out that text to you and we again apologize burn. I'm sorry that back out.

E

Mixed in the shuffle- but you all should have that in your inbox now, but she was presenting for this.

E

Evening and I will work with her to get down the appropriate agenda and um move forward, so you know.

E

I'll work with brennan to see, if that's works, would it make sense that so I you know cynthia.

B

Linda everybody else like we're, gonna get the text and then the next time or whenever we're gonna.

B

Meet again on this, we're gonna go through the text with staff. Get their comments, get their feedback.

B

um About why they did things a certain way and then maybe we can decide what other additional.

B

Information we need um whether that's hearing from the farm bureau or hearing from different solar.

B

Representatives does that make sense, as far as I think we need to have some conversation regarding.

B

What's been prepared so far before we jump to have people come and see us, do we agree with that.

A

Yeah, I agree. I think we need to to kind of get the thought process that the county has had. First.

A

As to why it, what what they're all I mean so before we hear from others,.

B

Okay, just wanted to clarify hey interesting um wow.

A

Never a dull moment.

A

So I think I think we've got a lot to do with that too wow I'll move on now.

A

To item number nine, the comprehensive rezoning commercial industrial, employment campus, the by.

A

Request recap: I think this recap of the commissioner's decisions correct, linda.

E

Correct so um you all had asked us at the last name to have a quick recap of the commissioner's.

E

Decisions for the buy request, math amendments for the commercial industrial, employment, campus.

E

um It is 7 30, so we also have one more agenda item after this I'm going to roll through this quickly.

E

So we can try to stick to our 8 o'clock end time for the meeting and please just stop meeting me.

E

Tell me if you have any questions so just to let you know we had 28 requests come forward with.

E

Applications for change um for the rezoning from what their current zoning is to a new zoning.

E

Most of the requests were consistent with the comprehensive plans, the freedom plan and the.

E

Carol county master plan out of that the board of county commissioners after they.

E

Heard your recommendations and held their own listening sessions and public hearing 18 of the.

E

28 requests ended up being adopted, I'm going to go over, which ones were adopted and which ones.

E

Were not adopted and this changed 13 zoning maps in the county, so I can show maps but um maybe.

E

For just to go through it quickly, I'm just going to name the properties for you all and you need.

E

Me to describe it more show the map, I'm happy. Well, I'm they're going to share my screen. Okay,.

A

A

E

I'm just gonna go ahead and do this. I apologize all right um so this map here.

E

This represents all 18 properties that were adopted by the board of county commissioners.

E

Those maps have been signed and it is official as of ordinance 2021-01. So.

E

Basically, the first ordinance of the new year was the approval of these properties.

E

And this is the list of the commissioner for each of the properties and.

E

Following through the staff recommendation, um the commissioner's recommend the planning commission's.

E

Recommendation and the commissioner's provisional votes and then their final votes and this kind of.

E

Shows you, the history of each property of property number their name, what their current zoning is.

E

What they're requesting zoning is whether it's consistent or not with the plan and then the.

E

Recommendations and final votes moving forward, so the first property um was 001, which is the abar.

E

Property, or also known as the legacy school, this is in the freedom district and is on tax map. 68.

E

So the request was from ad to employment campus and this was approved by the.

E

Adopted by the board of county commissioners, the next property was 003. This is known as wedikin.

E

And this property is along old washington road in the wood vine area on map 77, and the request is ag.

E

To i2, this property is located along um the topsail river area and completes that.

E

Entire area of industrially zoned land for that section, you've seen a lot of development review.

E

Projects come forward on what it can drive recently for that industrial type, complex.

E

The next was the 1 c2 20, 2004 or stockdale, and this was a request for three.

E

uh Personals to be rezoned from um r 20 000 to c2, and this is directly across.

E

From liberty exchange, so this was also adopted by the commissioners. The next one was d20722005. This.

E

Is known as the stones before property, and this is located on east main street um in westminster,.

E

And the request was r10 000 to c2. This was already in some ways having some commercial uses on the.

E

Property, it's within the county, but just outside the actual corporation of the city of westminster,.

E

The next was the 006, the evelerf property. This was on that 77 again in that wood buying.

E

Area now this was reserved from dnr, which was part of the earlier compressions, where we had.

E

To move properties from their bnr and bg to be appropriate, c1 or c2 and c3. So this moves into.

E

The c1 district, the property owner, came back again as an applicant requesting the c2 designation. The.

E

Main reason behind the request is they wanted to see vehicle repair as opposed to just auto service.

E

Centers, so they could do more of the heavier uses associated with the official repair shop.

E

The next one, our linda, our final recommendation, was unfavorable and then the the border county.

B

Commissioners did favorable, and I remember that was a little bit of a one where there was a.

B

Lot of debate, so I I can get how they got there. Okay go on correct, so um staff gave it favorable.

E

Pc had an unfavorable and then the board decided to put it with a favorite.

E

Recommendation, um the next was zero: zero, zero, nine kmp resource recovery. So if you recall there was a.

E

Swap of kmp resource recovery properties that came forward for requesting rezoning, there are five.

E

Properties in total, one of the properties behind the landfill, whose request was to go to i1. They.

E

Pulled that application and moved forward with the employment campus, the commercial three and the i2.

E

This property, um the request, was from ag to employment campus. This is in the westminster.

E

Environments, growth area, not quite within the corporate limit, are near the corporate.

E

Limits it's a few properties east of the corporate limits, but within the westminster.

E

Growth area, so this one uh did have a favorable recommendation from staff planning. Commission.

E

um And was adopted by the board of county commissioners, that was the only property and.

E

All of the kennel holdings in that area around the landfill that moved forward and was adopted.

E

And I'll tell you about the other three properties. Once I get through the adopted list,.

E

um The next two I'm going to talk about in together, um 10 and 11, which is southern maryland.

E

Oil, which is the jiffy mart at the intersection of maryland, 140 and suffolk road and then the other.

E

Is the adjacent property that's owned by tempest real estate, which is a current billboard? These.

E

Are on map 53 and the request for our 40 000 to c2, and these had favorable recommendations.

E

From the staff and planning commission to the board of county commissioners.

E

The next was 14. This was mad properties. um These were two um parcels to make up this request along.

E

Old westminster against our old liberty, road- and this is just south of 26th- the request.

E

Was add to c2, um so these did move forward. Staff gave these an unfavorable recommendation.

E

But planning commission gave them a favorable recommendation, moving forward for c2 designation.

E

um The next is 15, this is the mj graft property. This is located off of rhineboro road and.

E

Manchester and is within the line borough world village and the request was ag to c2 and again.

E

That had favorable recommendations from staff and planning commission and the board adopted.

E

The next was the 844 professional center and the request was r10 000, the c2. um This was property.

E

0017 and again this had a favorable recommendation. This was in the westminster um environs area off.

E

Of old washington road- and this is for the whole stretch of dome r10 000, but we have all of those.

E

Medical office complexes so again we all know that the westminster environments plan needs to be.

E

Updated- and that is something that is on our upcoming list of plans that still need.

E

um Further updating we've done freedom with thingsburg and the county master plan, and now we.

E

Need to really work on the westminster plan once we're done with the transportation master plan.

E

The next property is 0016, this is the fogo properties. These are two properties.

E

Just outside the municipal growth area of sykesville, along obrecht road.

E

And the request was conservation to i1. It goes over two zoning maps about 73 and 78.

E

Staff and planning commission both give this an unfavorable recommendation for i1.

E

The board adopted it with a favorable recommendation for the i1 designation.

B

Linda was there? Was there just for our educational benefit? Was there.

B

What was the rationale that was used to get there or or can you succinctly say that or not really.

E

You know they looked at the area, they looked at the property and felt that it was consistent and.

E

That this was favorable for an i1 designation, so I think that's sustainably, as I can, as I can put it.

C

um But they did the board of county commissioners. This was an appropriate reasoning and.

E

um Didn't feel it was consistent with the plans moving forward. Okay um and I apologize, I kind.

E

Of skipped over fogle and went to eight four four professionals, we already talked about that.

E

um The next one is the mt laney property. This was on map 57. This is property 0018.

E

On salem bottom road and the request was add to i1 on both staff and planning commission gave this an.

E

Unfavorable recommendation, but the board of county commissioners uh gave this a favorable vote and.

E

Adopted the change um again using that similar rationale to the global properties and finding.

E

It consistent with the plans next was 020, which is the maryland mallet. This is located on littlestown.

E

Pike just north of westminster um on tax map 21, the request was ag to c2 staff found this.

E

um Unfavorable but planning commission forward a favorable recommendation to the board for c2 and.

E

The board adopted with the c2 designation again, this is on 97 on the southbound side, um southbound.

E

97 side, so the next is the picker property on that 52. This is 0024, and this is located on the kind of.

E

Northeast quadrant of maryland 97 in maryland, 32 at the end, where maryland old, washington.

E

Road becomes maryland 32 just south of the ymca, and the request was added to c2. um This had.

E

Favorable recommendations I'm going to scroll down to the next page. I had a favorable recommendation.

E

From staff and planning commission and was adopted by the board of county commissioners.

E

um The next um property is actually over the board of county commissioners, known as the delaney.

E

Properties, these are uh north of ronsdale um in the freedom area off of please mill road, and this.

E

Had a favorable recommendation from staff and the planning commission for ag to employment campus.

E

And then I'll talk about the last two ones that were adopted by the board.

E

um These are the buckmen and associates and the semino trustees. These are small properties that.

E

Were zoned are 10 000 that are c2. These are consistent with the freedom area plan.

E

And everyone staff and planning commission have a favorable recommendation on the south side of 32.

E

Just um to the west of the princess shopping center.

E

So, as I said, um out of the 28 requests, only 18 moved forward, so that means 10.

E

Did not move forward, um so that was the playtime corporation, that is off of old westminster pike.

E

It is a daycare facility that you can see from maryland 140. it's just north of the reese fire.

E

Department, the request was from act to c1 and c2 again. Staff and planning commission gave.

E

Unfavorable recommendations, as well as the board of county commissioners.

E

The next was the vote for llc. This property's request was added to see.

E

C2- and this is just north of the um industrial area outside of the westminster environs area and.

E

Again, this had an unfavorable following from staff and planning commission. The next was north carol.

E

Community school, their current location- and they are currently zoned ag now and they had a request.

E

For c1 on the alternative, c2 staff gave them an unfavorable recommendation as well as planning.

E

Commission on the board of county commissioners, uh the next properties were the uh request from.

E

The kmp resource recovery, which was 12 and 13., that's part of that whole greater grouping, so.

E

Nine of the employment campuses in the municipal birth area moved forward, but um these ones did not.

E

For the commercial high c3 request and the i2 request, um stop and planning commission booth.

E

Gave them favorable recommendations, but after much discussion by the board, they moved forward.

E

And felt the timing was not right and gave an unfavorable recommendation and did not adopt.

E

Those changes next was the gems property which is located along maryland, with the kmp.

B

Resource the they just felt like it wasn't ready. Yet what was the rationale there.

E

um Yes was not ready uh at this time and um just thought: let's just hold off uh on moving.

E

Forward with those properties, and then there was a lot of public um comments on those properties.

E

And discussion also, so just the decision was made, let's just hold off on that moving forward.

B

Okay thanks, um the next was the gems and again this is at maryland, 140 and old, westminster plank.

E

Right as you cross over the reservoir into carroll county, it is on the south side of maryland. 140.

E

um This had a lot of discussion and the original request was for the entire property to go from.

E

Conservation to c2 um there was a boundary that was put forward that reduced the size of the.

E

Request to match the northbound side's commercial property designation, um however, the commissioners.

E

uh Did not approve this for the new c2 boundary um and the rationale was the reservoir and the.

E

Sensitivity of that in that area, the environmental constraints on the property and, most importantly,.

E

Just the traffic and access to that site, they thought, was really limited and was not appropriate.

Q

For that c2 designation, well, that was one that wasn't unanimous on our part either. So we had.

E

A lot of conversation and discussion from planning commission as well online, that's understandable.

E

The next was finch services 0023 on this property split zoned ag i2 the i2 portion was originally.

E

Zoned ig, with the other comprehensive rezoning where we had to move everyone.

E

Out of the ig and ir to the i1 i2 that portion moved to i2, the rear portion was still zoned at.

E

Stacking with some unfavorable recommendation, as well as planning commission.

E

um During this time, the commissioners have a lot of discussion about this property. There's a lot of.

E

Concern about maryland 31 um and the intersection for this property and traffic issues, as well as.

E

Just the consideration of how that would affect the surrounding ag community, um the applicant.

E

Was asked to consider, I want in the alternative um and to maybe consider a reduction in the boundary.

E

They came forward their applicant finished services with that reduction. um However,.

E

The commissioners did not feel maybe it was a significant amount of enough reduction to make.

E

A substantial change to maybe reconsider having another hearing for the um industrial request.

E

And what was going to put it on hold and host a new hearing, but ultimately.

E

They decided to not move forward at all and did not approve that reason.

E

I'm going to come back to the longmeadow uh farm baby property discussion and go to the roy poll.

E

Which was 4029, this request was ag to i2 staff and planning commission gave this an unfavorable.

E

Recommendation this has been the subject of many board of sending appeal on expansion requests over.

E

The years um and the request was to move to this i2 designation. Ultimately, um the board of county.

E

Commissioners also found that they did not want to make the change and adopt the i2 for this property.

E

And then finally was the colburn colbert bay, um which ties into our original.

E

Agenda for this evening, which was the harrison on my sheer annexation,.

E

It was just timing issues we had received the request from the property owner.

E

At the same time, unknowing to stop at that time that this annexation was going forward um and.

E

I believe staff if they'd reviewed it again, we would have maybe thought the timing was not.

E

Correct with the annexation before first with the planning, commission and board, um did not.

E

Move this property forward and the conservation to employment campus request was not adopted so.

E

That's the synopsis for what was adopted and what was not adopted as part of these requests.

E

The last property is 0028 longmeadow farm baby property, and this request is i1 to c2.

E

If you recall, in the freedom plan, there was a 40 acre future language, designation.

E

Of c3 or commercial high, the applicant came in and requested actually c2, so a low a lesser, intense.

E

Commercial use and reduced the boundary from 40 to 30 acres. However, this was also.

E

Kind of moving um in tandem with the residential text, which you'll be hearing about next and the.

E

Residential mapping request so because of the timing of things the board of county commissioners.

E

Would like to table this property commercial request and move it forward with their residential.

E

Request simultaneously, you have already forwarded the residential math request um to the board of.

E

County commissions, you did that several meetings ago, they we are waiting for now. The text to.

E

Catch up with the map, changes and hear the text and the map in these properties, all at once so.

E

That has not been approved, more denied, it's just going to be on hold until we have the residential.

Q

Discussion with the board of county commissioners and I'll talk about the 30 acres and then the.

E

Balance of their r 20 000 request as part of that hour. So that's just a quick summary.

E

I'm sure you're all we talk about these properties at nauseam for six or seven months. I'm sure you're.

E

Very familiar, but are there any other questions regarding these properties or the outcomes.

E

Okay, well, that is the quick synopsis. Everything is on our website at carol.

E

Rezoning.Org, the ordinances and the official zoning maps have been posted.

E

On our website and the commissioners have signed them, so they are official.

E

And so with that, I'm going to pass it over to mary lane to talk about the comprehensive reasoning.

E

uh The residential text introduction and present to you, where we are with that moving forward.

R

Thank you linda. Could you make me the presenter, or did you want to move the.

R

R

Thank you, um whoops.

R

Okay, I will do my best to get us out of here by eight o'clock, and this is a pretty.

R

Short presentation, because our purpose today is really just to begin. The review.

R

I'm sorry can, can you you can see that can't you.

R

Can you see the the presentation? Yes, okay, thank you. I wasn't sure my screen's kind of.

R

Different, as I said, our purpose is just to begin the review of the residential code sections.

R

Which, as you know, we've been working on for about two and a half years? um You were sent the text.

R

And it's about a 39 page document. At this point um we do have comment bubbles in it. I don't know.

R

If you've had a chance to look at it yet and if that's distracting to anyone, I can send you the.

R

Clean version as well, but that is what starting at the next meeting we'll be working through.

R

I think, hopefully, those comments will help with any questions about some of the minor.

R

Changes that we made without having to go into too much detail about them. um I'm sorry, can you.

B

Send a clean version too, just because that might be nice to just read a clean version as well.

R

Do you mean clean without the comment bubbles or without the strikeouts? Probably not just.

B

Like the final version, without all the you know, I I this is great. I like this, but I also like to be.

B

Able to just read the thing and that'll only be about 10 pages too so you'll really like it. um So.

R

We will be working over the next several months on this over probably multiple work sessions, as.

R

We did with the commercial and industrial, um but tonight this is just a general review.

R

So the agenda for tonight is just to quickly very quickly review what we talked about at.

R

Our december second update, since we have for the benefit of several new members,.

R

Also, an overview of the zoning administration text, changes which have been made since.

R

Early december talk about next steps and any questions and answers.

R

So again, on december 2nd, we talked about the history of why we are doing this, that the concept.

R

Team, which is our interagency staff group, began in the spring of 2018, with the help of a citizen.

R

Focus group we expanded our public engagement with the concept team meetings open to the public.

R

Unfortunately, with covid, those public meetings turned into webinars, but we did hold three.

R

Webinars in the fall- and they were several of them were fairly well attended, and I think we got.

R

Some of our message out, um we've always had updates posted throughout this on.

R

Carolerezoning.Org with the working draft of the co of the proposal and detailed meeting notes for.

R

Anyone that's interested um and again we've. I think, especially this time around. We have.

R

Gotten a lot of um back and forth with interested parties, we've updated groups, who've asked and.

R

We've probably fielded more phone calls and emails than we did when we were doing.

R

The commercial and industrial, so I do feel like this is out and known by interested parties.

R

Why we are amending the code, the two main reasons. As you know, implementation of our master plan and.

R

The freedom plan um and again all changes that we're making are in furtherance of these plans.

R

And they are consistent with the plans um and also it's necessary to modernize clarify.

R

Eliminate inconsistencies and make the code more user-friendly.

R

We also completed which we talked about at the december meeting. We completed definitions, those.

R

I believe are around on pages one through five of the draft. We deleted obsolete definitions.

R

We clarified, we made consistent, we relocated to other sections and we established new definitions.

R

We made all the purposes of the four residential districts: no new districts.

R

Consistent with the plans- and these were pretty minor changes, but they were necessary for the.

R

Furtherance of the master plan implementation, as with commercial industrial for the principal uses.

R

We reformatted to a use table. We restricted the uses that were not consistent with the purposes.

R

Of the zoning districts, and specifically that was changes to the multi-family senior housing.

R

Funeral establishments, medical clinics, country inns and several certain community.

R

And recreational uses which are not prohibited but went from being permitted to conditional uses.

R

We also completed and talked about in december, the accessory uses. We have created no new accessory.

R

Uses but we have eliminated private kennels so that the keeping of pets will no longer be.

R

Regulated by the zoning code, and then we clarified expanded and relocated the requirements that were.

R

In the old definitions to one single new section um for bulk requirements, again, we reformatted it.

R

To a single table with consistent descriptions for ease for everybody's ease, I guess um and then we.

R

Will be incorporating accompanying illustrations, those were not sent to you yet um I'll. Send those.

R

Before our next meeting, there's just several of them at this point, but we do expect to expand on.

R

It if we are able to incorporate them into the code and then the cluster regulations.

R

Which are not a change to the zoning code, but rather chapter 155, and that is that very short.

R

Text amendment that you received, we are not making any changes to the districts where they're allowed.

R

Which is currently for residential, the r40, the r20 and the r10, but we are eliminating.

R

A requirement for submittal of a conventional development plan. um We also are stating that.

R

The yield of the zoning district may not be exceeded and we established minimum lot sizes.

R

So the new things that I'm going to talk very briefly about tonight and jay and brenda can chime.

R

In if you have any questions, because they were the ones that really worked on these necessary.

R

Changes really accomplish five goals: they simplify and streamline the approval processes.

R

They relax certain requirements, they provide consistency and clarity for enforcement.

R

We removed, as I said earlier, non-zoning issues from chapter 158 and it's reformatted to make more.

R

User-Friendly, so in the area of simplifying and streamlining the approval processes.

R

We and you'll see it. I believe it's on page one of the text amendment where differentiating.

R

Between what we're now calling an administrative adjustment, which is something that's approved,.

R

By the zoning administrator and a variance which will be approved by the bza and we'll.

R

Get into a lot more detail on that at the next meeting, we replace the requirement for a public.

R

Hearing for a zoning administrator administrative adjustment with the option of a of a hearing, if.

R

It's requested so that will streamline the process um and we also removed the percentage limitations.

R

On administrative adjustments that are approved by the zoning administrator.

R

In the area of relaxing certain requirements, bulk requirements for properties in the conservation.

R

District that were originally in the ag district have been relaxed, and this is basically a.

R

Grandfathering of properties that were put in the conservation district from the ag district, where.

R

It used to not be as strict as the new conservation district again that will.

R

Make more sense when we go page by page, and we also replace the requirement for.

R

A public hearing for certain accessory uses, specifically home occupations and family day care.

R

With a signed affidavit, instead of the requirement for a public hearing um in the area of providing.

R

Consistency and clarity for enforcement, we codified the animal related requirements.

R

Regarding private, stable and the keeping of foul as an accessory use, these are currently permitted.

R

As accessory uses, but this codifies specifically what the definitions of these are and how many.

R

Of them can be kept, we clarified the process for approval of temporary and seasonal uses.

R

And you'll you'll see we a lot of it is simply relocating it to more logical sections of the code.

R

um And again, we remove non-zoning issues from chapter 158, which is specifically.

R

Private kennels, the keeping of personal pets, will no longer be regulated by the zoning.

R

Chapter and finally, we reformatted the code, this part of the code to make it more user friendly.

R

We consolidated certain definitions: again, we relocated requirements for temporary and.

R

Seasonal uses to a new section and we included all requirements for accessory uses in a single.

R

Subsection, where before they were pretty much all over the chapter, and it was difficult to locate.

R

Them so hopefully, we've made everything again more user-friendly, um our next steps. We are step one.

R

Right now, which is holding planning and zoning commission work sessions on the proposed text,.

R

As I said, we would anticipate least the next few work sessions to talk about this.

R

um Solicit additional input from citizens, property owners, the bza- we have sent them a letter with the.

R

Attached draft so that they can have some input, especially on the sections that specifically.

R

Impact them and other interested parties and we did send out a draft to the realtors association.

R

The bar association, um the building industry association, the freedom, freedom, citizens group.

R

Things for group- I I'm probably missing a few groups, but any of the groups that have.

R

Over the past year or two shown interest in what we're doing, we made sure they knew there's a final.

R

Proposed draft out there right now and again, that's not really a next step. That's going to.

R

Be going on simultaneously with our review, so you will be getting probably input from those.

R

um Parties, as you are reviewing it in the next work sessions and then, as with all zoning text,.

R

Amendments you will forward your recommendations to the board of county commissioners, who will.

R

Schedule work sessions, a public hearing and then adopt the residential code are.

R

There any questions of a general nature without getting too much into the um text. At this point.

B

Thanks for the introduction, mary, okay, you're welcome,.

M

Thank you. So if we don't have any questions, mary.

A

I'm going to go ahead and move on to item number 11 public comment.

A

Do we have any callers on the line.

E

um It looks like we have one caller for public comments. Yes, uh this is john mcguire. uh I'm.

M

Actually, speaking for as an attorney for lennar homes- and uh you know, I understand from mary's.

M

Presentation that this may be a little premature so I'll be very brief, but we did want to uh lenora.

L

As a has a presence and a ongoing interest in the county, and they do retirement communities.

M

And they wanted to express their support for the new retirement village concept that you'll see.

M

In the ordinance, uh as you know, the demographics are showing an aging population and they're, seeing.

M

You know demand for these types of communities and this retirement village concept seems to promote.

M

The kind of creativity that we haven't always had in the past uh I have submitted some.

M

Comments through mary, which I assume will will get to you at the appropriate time, but one thing.

M

I'd like you to think about is uh the potential of increasing the density uh for these retirement.

M

Villages from uh the master plan aspirational maximum of 3.5 units to something more, maybe along.

M

The lines of up to five units, an acre, uh reserving the discretion with the planing commission that.

M

That would be appropriate and the rationale for that. The reason why we think that would.

M

Be consistent with the with the comprehensive plan is that the the impacts of these projects.

M

Are have there are no impacts on schools. The impacts on water and sewer demand is uh probably.

M

50 percent of of what would be in an unrestricted residential setting traffic peak hour traffic is.

M

Less and just the overall impact on neighborhood is less it's a quieter setting. I also point out.

M

That under state law, the aspirational density in priority funding areas which, where many of these.

M

Villages would would take place would be something greater than 3.5 units per acre.

M

And, of course, in the local master plan that seems to have been cited as a maximum density.

M

But nevertheless, I think that in the looking at the impacts that a retirement village would bring.

M

A higher density would be justified and what are the other benefits? A broader mix of units.

M

Which is available to the to our aging public, more affordable units increase in the county tax base.

M

Increase in sales revenue obviously to the developer, but that then becomes available to.

M

Apply to amenities, and also with a larger or higher density, the pool for association dues.

M

Is increases which fortifies the community, uh their fiscal abilities after the developer.

M

Exits, which does you know in fact, happen over time. uh That's the main issue that I think.

M

We'd ask for some special consideration. The.

M

Other issues that I've presented through mary are relatively minor, but the overall concept of the.

M

Retirement village is certainly a positive, and we wanted to make that point. Thank you for your time.

A

John, are there any other callers I'd know.

E

um Looks like we have another caller on the line. If you can, please um state your name.

E

And what you're right, joanne grundy.

A

Can you hear me um so hopefully everyone on the commission received, I sent an email.

O

My name is joe grundy and I'm a resident of the freedom community. Hopefully you all received the.

O

Fact sheet that was sent via email to the group regarding the decision to reallocate public sewer.

O

Commissioner, ross dean suggested a fact sheet would be a good way to summarize the concerns.

O

I was hoping to have a spot on the agenda, but mrs eisenberg informed me that it wasn't going.

O

To happen and that the agenda was full, so it was suggested that I called during the public.

O

Comment period, um as you know, from the fact sheet, I strongly believe that the reallocation of public.

O

Public sewer should be revisited, I don't think the commission and the planning department fully.

O

Understood the impacts of the decision on the existing older property, with small lots.

O

And other constraints since experiencing such impacts. Personally in 2018, I have become more.

O

Involved in community planning and septic issues and have spent countless hours advocating for.

O

Septic owners in maryland and for those in our community just to give you some more information.

O

That wasn't on the fact sheet. We were the second owners of our first home, which was built in 1950.

O

We sold it in 2019 at a loss with its original septic system when we purchased the home in 2002.

O

A new development was being built immediately behind our home, with public water and sewer.

O

And this was the time to connect our property and the five other lots on our street. So using.

O

The original systems, um some from the 1940s as the result of the wettest year on record in 2018.

O

I talked with neighbors, whose systems truly failed. One family had to temporarily relocate.

O

For over nine months, why they sorted out how to pay for a fifty thousand dollar system.

O

And couldn't use their plumbing, they had to take out a second mortgage with a toddler and a baby on.

O

The way to pay for it, their neighbor system also failed, and they couldn't afford to fix it. Another.

O

Neighbor in a different area across the street from 26 had a newer system um and it failed due to.

O

Groundwater infiltration into her leech field, she actually had a bat tank and everything.

O

I really feel that this is very important to take care of your existing residents within the pfa.

O

Before reallocating this limited infrastructure and as correspondence with linda will show.

O

And and part of the fact sheet, it doesn't have to be all on the homeowners and the.

O

County there is grant funding available through the bay restoration program. uh Twenty thousand.

O

Dollars for sewer connection and there's also low interest grant money for for the.

O

County to tap into, and obviously I work in construction, I also have environmental.

O

Background, I do watershed planning, um you could definitely reduce the cost per home per unit.

O

If you did, you know entire streets. I know commissioner rossbean's home was connected.

O

Years ago, before he purchased it, if any of you live in an older home um and you're in the city.

O

Or your home was connected, probably not on its original system. You know it just makes good sense.

O

um It's better for the community, it's good for better for the reservoirs and the environment.

O

And I know we talked a little bit about the budget earlier. You have that on your agenda.

O

I understand the importance of ag preservation. I was formerly I worked briefly in frederick county.

O

In that program, and I understand the need for a sheriff's station due to rapid growth.

O

But when you have raw sewage going into somebody's backyard and these houses have.

O

Been around for decades they're in a priority funding area, they're, surrounded by public sewer.

O

It's the right decision, it's also in accordance with the water resource element.

O

Which is incorporated into the 2018 plan, I would really like to talk about this.

O

Again, when there's more time to have some open dialogue, and um thank you very much for your time.

E

I don't see any other callers um for this evening.

A

Okay, with that, um our next meeting is tuesday february 16th. That's our.

A

Normal business meeting and welcome to our two new members.

A

Hit the ground running got a lot of still going on and a lot to do so with that we're.

A

Not over too bad and I'm gonna go ahead and make a motion for a german, and I will see.

A

You guys in a couple weeks. Thank you. Thank you. All good night have a nice evening. Everybody.

B