[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6525426,"mediaKeyId","3445642-96943963e8a7cd5e52a79410568fd1d7","parentId",3445642,"title","Carroll County commissioners ask planning commission to reexamine Employment Campus zoning","audioSeconds",1375,"startMs",3201000,"endMs",4576000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3445642-96943963e8a7cd5e52a79410568fd1d7&start=3201&end=4576","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3445642-96943963e8a7cd5e52a79410568fd1d7/thumbnail_3201000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6525426/Carroll-County/Maryland/Carroll-County-commissioners-ask-planning-commission-to-reexamine-Employment-Campus-zoning","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6525426-aba78db3d3bbea74a80cdb4a78a84e30/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061639&Signature=nbp328AMEZiiKII~grR0J1bTKboY5~lL8CfJJ1mHTh-zoxmjsjDku1Zh-hrLLqRJJWSBu3ipAP3L21ux5Y1DquxfN6Awl-iv4oEIEDraA~vkbF2~7VlznQS-YINflySVdN053fjrmDWJpFksn9fNa1EO5VY4tpDdAj1VwCorc6rHkrvSwxmhIxUIVXaAH0c0vflnvtFVVKd4D5hprySpQgET7QJRhoLzEvzn5F-A-8P8qQiAgBUN9Wkid56EvJbvLGV1BtDb-mN~UGuUVXTqBFzgvKU5nA9b~nnnXzt968MlUxTG08cpLimW1o0VTci0kOtmWfZrrV6N3Ix5vDrFug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Carroll County, MD","date","2025-05-22T00:00:00Z","article","Carroll County commissioners on May 22 voted to ask the Planning and Zoning Commission to reexamine the county\u0000\b\bEmployment Campus zoning district, focusing on the development review process and the uses allowed while maintaining the district\u0000\b\bpurpose in the master plan.

The reexamination was requested by the Department of Planning and Land Management and the Department of Economic Development after staff said the 2019 zoning district has drawn little developer interest and that the market for office space has shifted since the district\u0000\bwas adopted. \"The Employment Campus was created as a zoning district in 2019,\" said Daphne, Department of Planning and Land Management staff, describing the district\u0000\bintent to promote campus-like settings for research and development, institutional office and limited light manufacturing.

County staff and economic development said one practical barrier is the district\u0000\breview process, which requires a comprehensive master-plan style submittal up front\u0000\bincluding building locations, ingress/egress, parking, architecture and landscaping. Denise, Department of Economic Development staff, told the board that the upfront cost and time of that comprehensive process has discouraged potential developers and contributed to a lack of activity on two properties rezoned to Employment Campus in 2020.

Commissioner Rothstein questioned the notion of easing requirements solely to attract development: \"Just because you can doesn't mean you should,\" he said, adding that revisions should protect the county\u0000\bvision. Staff said the request to the Planning and Zoning Commission is not a rewrite of the district\u0000\bpurpose but rather a targeted review of the review process, allowable uses and some bulk/design standards so the district can respond to contemporary market demand while retaining the campus intent.

The board\u0000\bmotion (which cited section 158.081a of the county zoning code) instructs staff to bring the matter to the Planning and Zoning Commission for education and deliberation, allow the commission to develop recommendations and then return those recommendations to the board; if the board chooses to proceed, a public hearing would follow. Staff said the Planning and Zoning Commission discussion could begin as early as June or July and that members of the public will be able to attend and comment at the commission meetings and at any later county public hearing.

Staff noted two areas currently zoned Employment Campus\u0000\bone adjacent to the county landfill along MD 140 and the Delaney property off Clees Mill Road\u0000\bbut said the county has not had the right market conditions or proposals for either site.

Next steps: staff will place the review on a Planning and Zoning Commission agenda, begin an education phase for commissioners, and return to the Board of Commissioners with recommended text amendments and a public hearing schedule if the board wishes to proceed.

Ending: The board approved the direction without recorded opposition and asked staff to present a timetable for Planning and Zoning review and public outreach.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners Open Session May 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Carroll County commissioners on May 22 voted to ask the Planning and Zoning Commission to reexamine the county\u0000\bEmployment Campus zoning district, focusing on the development review process and the uses allowed while maintaining the district\u0000\bpurpose in the master plan.","taxTitle","Carroll County, Maryland","taxId",7748,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6525416,"Votes at a glance: Carroll County board approves budget, rates, procurement and annexation actions",2137,2879000,5016000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3445642-96943963e8a7cd5e52a79410568fd1d7&start=2879&end=5016","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3445642-96943963e8a7cd5e52a79410568fd1d7/thumbnail_2879000.jpg","/articles/6525416/Carroll-County/Maryland/Votes-at-a-glance-Carroll-County-board-approves-budget-rates-procurement-and-annexation-actions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6525416-e09823ddfcab92df1a9df5476fd33d8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061639&Signature=DxXaFI0y8r~2hJfpO~8wW0LGrrVxUfxcye22MQvazGghCxSjAnpF25loT1ARFIy8Rfxr0FQt9ZJPsBitK7gwX6GeG7ik9O6cZhY1OKufQMysIwAcMd9vJ-x2oOcqxiy8HtkIastv8ii~S2b2HnylXZinieCMyHwtnEUNCjWMib3iF9px-KIL7HbCIBzT7A9~JJD5T9FMY1JD7bYFeyeYiY2oeVKe5LNQa8rgK3s8oaGJnmNkrbBlV-J2xnoXiqwgiNrAoz75bc0cFIcR7Dbw-JnLa6FtYDCErdC1wBreunKKnhN8sjXhOvT7dWgW1UqJhbm1AOvMU9aEpiFEuM8Fgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Carroll County Board of Commissioners took a series of formal actions on May 22, including adoption of the fiscal year 2026 budget, approval of utility rates, several procurement awards and a recommendation about a municipal annexation. Below is a concise summary of each voted item and key details.

Taneytown annexation No. 49 (3300 Harney Road)
- Motion: Approve, sign and forward a comment letter to the City of Taneytown regarding Annexation No. 49 (3300 Harney Road).
- Key details: The annexation merges two parcels (Parcel 1: 0.46 acres; Parcel 2: 0.11 acres; total 0.5805 acres) to allow connection to Taneytown sewer because the property\u0000\bcontiguous to city limits\u0000\bhas a failing septic system. Current county zoning: R-10,000; Taneytown plans to keep R-10,000; no zoning waiver requested. City public hearing scheduled 06/04/2025.
- Outcome: Approved (voice vote).

Employment Campus zoning district (referral)
- Motion: Request Planning & Zoning Commission reexamine Employment Campus district (process, allowed uses) while maintaining the district purpose in section 158.081a.
- Outcome: Approved; referral for P&Z review and public input.

Budget and rates
- Motion: Approve water and sewer usage rates for FY26. Outcome: Approved (voice vote).
- Motion: Approve solid waste rates for FY26. Outcome: Approved (voice vote).
- Motion: Approve diversion of 1.49 cents of the property tax rate to the Watershed Protection and Restoration Fund (often referred to publicly as the \"rain tax\" but the formal name is the Watershed Protection and Restoration Fund). Outcome: Approved (voice vote).
- Motion: Adopt the FY26 budget. Outcome: Approved (board confirmed vote; reported as unanimous on passage).

Procurements and change orders (selected)
- Vista Protect disaster recovery add-on services: Approve purchase from Personal Data Systems in the amount of $31,750 (budgeted FY25). Outcome: Approved.
- Cisco phone system replacement: Approve change order to Verizon for additional circuits in the amount of $46,008.80 (exceeds 10% of original contract; still within budget). Outcome: Approved.
- HTI Contractors change order (Freedom District water service laterals): Approve additional work for $17,690 due to as-built discrepancies affecting mains and services. Outcome: Approved.
- Safe Haven Building roof replacement: Award turnkey contract for standing seam metal roof and associated work to Garland DBS Inc. (installed by JVK Contracting) in the amount of $559,973 (within FY25 budget). Outcome: Approved.
- Kohler diesel generator (Taylorsville Tower): Approve purchase and installation from Fidelity Power Systems in the amount of $98,543.70 (budgeted FY25). Outcome: Approved.

Other items
- Carroll Transit System operations: See separate article. FY26 contract $2,579,336.38 awarded to Ride With Us LLC (only respondent).

Meeting notes on votes
- In several cases the motion received a voice vote with the chair calling for \"Aye\" and no recorded roll call; where staff or commissioners explicitly referenced the budget line or that the item was within an adopted budget, the approvals were documented as consistent with adopted budgets. Several change orders exceeded delegated thresholds and were brought to the board for approval.

Ending: Staff indicated public hearings or further board actions will follow for any code changes and that routine procurements will proceed to contract execution. All motions recorded in the meeting were approved as presented.","At the May 22 meeting the Carroll County Board of Commissioners approved the FY26 budget, utility rates, multiple procurement contracts and a staff recommendation letter on a Taneytown annexation. The board also referred a zoning review of the Employment Campus district to the Planning and Zoning Commission.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6525421,"Carroll County awards FY26 transit operations contract to Ride With Us; commissioners flag grant risk",1103,5966000,7069000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3445642-96943963e8a7cd5e52a79410568fd1d7&start=5966&end=7069","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3445642-96943963e8a7cd5e52a79410568fd1d7/thumbnail_5966000.jpg","/articles/6525421/Carroll-County/Maryland/Carroll-County-awards-FY26-transit-operations-contract-to-Ride-With-Us-commissioners-flag-grant-risk","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6525421-dae61c780b791da5ee66258bffd29298/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061639&Signature=Nlf8Rq9U7jSFiBloPSQVMRKRQy4lNPwRwh-BbjNqolah4~thtPlt-V12tg9~OKUf0-o3BAti6pPHrJnuJuoMYM-owtdXawXMD8UpoismaejJSjC4BzRcXdSc~Z7UFPUp5LPsGG1~belzskMrtrGhptmXIkQnbWhMLSniI0Fu3-hqfPqXLQEqlVXeTxJRHioZPx68UoR6ywTqUuTEhE00UcOD0MAW1ly91Hfed5xIP7kECz3hI2eHXQ9ax1ESGCGvC7ReYr~-Qg2ySEZW6CWgBwdESTRHPI7UT-zJuXP3hDOQZMcos6amcv8-ou8oHXVFgpxp7ZjwMZ8AEYO6vp2Yyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carroll County commissioners on May 22 approved a term contract with Ride With Us LLC to operate the Carroll Transit System for fiscal year 2026 at a cost of $2,579,336.38.

The Department of Public Works said Ride With Us was the only responsive proposer when the contract was solicited in March. The procurement official told commissioners the five-year term includes two one-year renewal options; county staff said the board will be asked to renew funding annually and that the county contract contains a fiscal-availability clause and an explicit right to cancel the contract should grant funding disappear.

\"That is part of the bid documents that is grant funded, and the county has the right to cancel the contract should funding disappear,\" a Department of Public Works representative said, explaining the contract's contingency language.

Commissioners pressed staff on the financial risk if federal or state grants decline. A commissioner asked whether the county would be left to cover the service should those grants evaporate; staff replied that the FY26 amount is budgeted and that the five-year term was sought to provide stability, but that the board would vote each year on renewal and could decline further renewals if fiscal availability changed. Staff said the five-year contract total would be \"just over $15 million\" (company representatives and staff provided the FY26 number; the multi-year total will depend on future budgets and grant availability).

The contract covers all three county services (door-to-door, Trailblazer and veteran transport). Staff also said much of the contract remains grant-funded for FY26; grant funding covered nearly half of current operations and the county expects to use remaining CARES funds in FY26 before those funds expire.

The board approved the award despite a few commissioners expressing reservations about long-term commitment if external grant funding declines; the motion passed on a voice vote.","Commissioners approved a one-year FY26 contract worth $2,579,336.38 to Ride With Us LLC to operate Carroll Transit System, with a multi-year term and options. Staff said about half of funding comes from state/federal grants and the contract includes fiscal-availability protections and an option to cancel if grant funding disappears.","actionData","errors"]

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Carroll County commissioners ask planning commission to reexamine Employment Campus zoning

Votes at a glance: Carroll County board approves budget, rates, procurement and annexation actions

Carroll County awards FY26 transit operations contract to Ride With Us; commissioners flag grant risk