The Carroll County Board of Supervisors has delayed approval for the county’s updated comprehensive plan to allow the public and officials to review the 100-page document further. Comprehensive plans serve as a roadmap for county officials and staff, covering everything from zoning and housing to infrastructure and transportation. Interim District 5 Supervisor Mark Beardmore says the plan contains a lot of great ideas and guidance. Still, there are aspects he would rather see removed.
Beardmore is referring to a longstanding agreement between the City of Carroll and Carroll County that gives the city zoning control in the two miles surrounding the community. That agreement dates as far back as 1984, if not longer, and has not been a point of contention until residents in that zone objected to regulation by a council that they have no voice in electing. County officials are currently working with the city to develop a solution that is amenable to residents while maintaining an environment conducive to Carroll’s long-term growth. Board Chair Stephanie Hausman says she understands Beardmore’s hesitation and wouldn’t mind some changes herself.
Carroll County’s comprehensive plan was last updated in 2009, but plans are typically updated every five to 10 years. District 3 Supervisor Gene Meiners, who has been directly involved in many of the county’s previous plans, says it’s important to remember that comprehensive plans are not etched in stone.
Lauren Mortensen from Region XII Council of Governments, who played a central role in developing the comprehensive plan, assured the supervisors that adjustments or amendments are fairly routine for these documents. The supervisors opted to table the plan’s approval until their July 22 meeting, pending further input from the public. A link to the 2024 Carroll County Comprehensive Plan is included below.
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2024 Carroll County Comprehensive Plan
