The Carroll County Board of Supervisors approved a letter yesterday (Monday) to the Carroll City Council outlining their proposals for adjustments to the long-standing two-mile zoning agreement between the two entities. Since the 1980s, the City of Carroll has controlled zoning, permit issuance, and inspections within two miles of city limits. Residents have pushed back against the zoning area, arguing they are subject to a government body they have no voice in electing. Board of Supervisors Chair Stephanie Hausman says they have two paths forward.
The other option takes a less black-and-white approach.
The supervisors agree that one of the two options must proceed, but the board is split on which they prefer. Supervisors Mark Beardmore and Mike Andersen would like to see the zoning area dissolved as much as the law allows, while Scott Johnson and Gene Meiners favor cutting the zoning in half and giving the county more say in the decision process. Meiners says the board should be cautious of approving anything too quickly.
There also was some debate among the supervisors if they should wait until the winner of the Nov. 5 District 5 race is sworn in before even considering action on the proposed zoning control changes. The Carroll City Council is expected to discuss the issue further at its Oct. 14 meeting. The earlier the supervisors could vote on the issue would be their next meeting on Oct. 21. The video from this segment of Monday’s Carroll County Board of Supervisors meeting is included below.
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