The Carroll County Board of Supervisors is expected to take action next week that would abolish any existing 28E zoning agreements within Carroll County. Currently, Carroll and Glidden are the only two cities in the county that maintain zoning control in the two miles surrounding their communities. For nearly two years, some residents inside the affected areas, particularly those living in Carroll’s two-mile area, have urged the supervisors to update the agreement over concerns regarding high fees for building permits and lack of representation in zoning disputes, among other issues. Zoning Administrator Sarah Haberl says the Carroll County Planning and Zoning Commission met last week and recommended the supervisors do away with the existing 28E agreements.
If approved by the supervisors, zoning control in the area would revert back to the county, excluding the quarter-mile minimum mandated by state code. Haberl says that upon the dissolution of the 28E agreements, some properties may be reclassified to better reflect the county’s zoning regulations.
The county will notify affected property owners if the supervisors opt to end the agreements. The board accepted receipt of the recommendation at this (Monday) morning’s meeting and is scheduled to vote on the issue at the Feb. 3 meeting. Supervisors Gene Meiners and Mark McCrea expressed frustration with how negotiations with the City of Carroll have gone leading up to this point.
Board Chair Scott Johnson notes that the county would be willing to at least hear proposals for new zoning agreements from the affected cities, but that would come after the Feb. 3 vote.
