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FREEDOM
AREA CITIZENS’ COUNCIL
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| A Publication
of FACC / Freedom Area Citizens’ Council |
June 2003
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The
Board of Commissioners formally signified their support for
the redevelopment of Route 26 at a briefing in Westminster
on May 1st. Representatives from FACC, Delegate Susan Krebs
and Senator Bob Kittleman were all present to give their support
for this important road project. Final engineering and design
for the more than $20 million project will be sought from
the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA). In addition,
as the project is not currently funded, supporters suggested
that interim repairs, like the construction of right turning
lanes and the timing of traffic lights be investigated.
Since
that meeting, the County and the SHA have been struggling
with scheduling. Therefore, little progress has been made
in reviewing project status or in planning and engineering.
In an effort to bring everyone together, FACC has invited
all the concerned parties to a "Route 26 Summit"
on Tuesday, June 17th at 7:30 pm at Oklahoma Road Middle School.
Project engineer, Wes Mitchell, and other SHA officials will
be on hand to brief County planning personnel, elected officials
and the general public on this significant road project.
Preliminary
planning and design were completed  on
the Route 26 redevelopment project in the latter part of 2002
as part of a comprehensive planning exercise with the state,
county, FACC and concerned citizens all participating. Although
not required to do so, Carroll County contributed half of
the $400,000 cost of the planning in an effort to raise the
priority of the project with the SHA. The concept of the redevelopment
called for the creation of a "boulevard district",
which would limit the number of access points and streamline
traffic flow. In addition, every effort was made to create
pedestrian and bicycle access along the route, which runs
east from the intersection at Routes 26 and 32 to the bridge
over Liberty Reservoir. Unfortunately, at the conclusion of
the planning process the project was shelved by the last Board
of Commissioners.
Few
dispute the fact that commercial development along Route 26
has outstripped the capacity of the road to be an effective
and safely traveled road in our community. Numerous left turns,
failing intersections and partial right turning lanes with
abrupt ends have made Route 26 a disaster area. Traffic accidents
are on the rise. During peak commuting hours and on weekends,
the route can be virtually impassable, taking as much as 15
minutes to traverse less than a 2-mile stretch of road. Until
recently, little or nothing has been done by the County to
reduce or even limit the number of entry points (known as
"cuts") in the road. Currently there are over 100
"cuts" on Route 26 - a road that was designed for
no more than thirty.
During
construction, which will not be funded until engineering is
complete, it is expected that State and County officials would
seek to limit any business disruption or related delays along
Route 26. Progress will take time and patience. This project
is clearly vital to our community, and as aesthetics are of
paramount concern to those involved in planning this project,
FACC is confident that a redeveloped Route 26 will effectively
serve and beautify the Freedom community for future generations.
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NEXT FACC MEETING
"Route 26 Summit"
Tuesday June 17 @ 7:30p.m.
Oklahoma Middle School Cafeteria
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Growth
Task Force Update
| New
Developments
Eldersburg
will soon be adding an Applebee's. You can expect
to see it next to
Wal-Mart.
Don't expect to stop for cash at the proposed 1st
Mariner Bank at Routes 26 and 32 on your way to dine.
The bank pulled out of the deal to build on the site
of the Korner Karry-Out, and may now be looking at
space near the former Liberty Med.
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The
Infrastructure Subcommittee of the Growth Task Force met
on May 14th and made the following recommendations for roads,
water and sewer, and parks.
ROADS
That new commercial and industrial development usually introduces
the heaviest tonnage and most congestion to roads in the
form of trucks and therefore should be subject to a threshold
for roads.
That
a policy similar to Hampstead's be adopted under which the
local government hires a traffic engineer to prepare the
traffic impact study for a development project and the developer
pays for the study. The County should prepare a list of
competent and acceptable engineers to choose from. In cases
where a proposed development adds recognized benefits to
the County, the fees can be negotiated between the parties.
That
a two-tiered threshold for roads be adopted: Level of Service
(LOS) "D" inside Community Planning Areas (CPAs)
and level of Service (LOS) "C" in the remaining
rural areas of the County.
That
the County may allow the developer to mitigate the roads
threshold by including anegotiated payment-in-lieu of threshold
compliance.
That
the County create a position for one or more transportation
planners.
That
the County should do more research on the legal liability
of setting thresholds on State roads. If legally sound,
the County should establish a threshold for State roads.
That the County will work to reduce the number of curb cuts
and traffic control devices on major roads within planned
growth areas and plan for major collector roads through
adopted comprehensive plans.
WATER
& SEWER
That the current threshold works well in conjunction with
State law that prohibits building permits from being issued
if public water and sewerage capacity is not available.
That
the County explore options for private water and sewerage
systems in the County.
That
the County create a formal Water and Sewerage Board to serve
as an advisory panel to the County concerning community
water and/or sewerage systems that are owned, operated and
maintained by the County, excluding Westminster.
PARKS
That no threshold is needed for parks and recreation in
the Concurrency Management Ordinance.
That
the Department of Recreation and Parks should be involved
earlier in the development review process.
That
the County Department of Recreation and Parks may offer
a developer the option to pay to that Department a fee-in-lieu
of recreation improvements.
That
consideration should be given to using the perimeter drainage
and utility easements for new developments as public trails,
along with green spaces, especially wooded areas.
That
the County and developer should cooperate during the review
process and emphasize the completion of pedestrian walkways
and trails that interconnect with similar facilities in
other residential developments and recreation and park areas.
That
the above recommendations on parks should be adopted as
guidelines to be used as part of the development review
process.
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Public
Hearing on Section 8 Housing
The County
Commissioners will hold a public hearing on June 12 at 2:00
p.m., in Room 300 of the Carroll County Office Building to
hear public comments on the Carroll County Public Housing
Authority One Year and Five Year Plans. The Plans establish
the guidelines and procedures to be followed by the Carroll
County Bureau of Housing in the administration of the Federal
Section 8 Program.
The proposed
plan may be reviewed and copies obtained at the Bureau of
Housing, 10 Distillery Drive, Westminster, Maryland, 21157,
during normal business hours. The proposed plan has been sent
to the Carroll County Library branches and is available for
review there. Written comments may be addressed to the County
Clerk, Office of the County Commissioners, 225 North Center
Street, Westminster, Maryland, 21157, and will be considered
if received prior to the close of the hearing. Both oral and
written comments may be given at the hearing. The proposed
plan is also available on the County website: ccgov.carr.org.
Questions
should be addressed to Jolene G. Sullivan, Director, Department
of Citizen Services, 10 Distillery Drive, Westminster, Maryland,
21157, phone 410-386-3600; TT 410-848-9747. Anyone requiring
accomm-odations, please contact the Americans with Disabilities
Act Coordinator, Jolene G. Sullivan, at 410-386-3600 or 1-888-302-8978
at least five days in advance so that they may make arrangements.
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Contributions
of Articles or Information for The Freedom Informer can be sent
to the attention of the editor at:
FACC, P.O. Box 142, Sykesville, MD 21784. |
Renew
Your Membership Today
The
2003-2004 Membership drive is now underway and it is time to renew
your $10 annual membership in the Freedom Area Citizens' Council,
if you haven't done so already. Please use this form
for your renewal.
We also encourage you to talk to friends and neighbors about joining
the FACC. Together we can make a difference! The FACC is proud to
have had an important part in bringing about several important changes
in our community over the past year including:
- The election
of two new Commissioners who truly care about the Freedom area
- Formal abandonment
of the Piney Run Water Treatment Plant plan; officially "Saving
the Lake"
- Signing of
the Watershed Management agreement; the first step in getting
more water for Freedom
- Creation
of the Carroll County Council of Governments and Growth Task Force
- Pursuit of
new wells on the Springfield property to augment our available
water supply
We
are also happy to have hosted important events and speakers at our
regular monthly membership meetings including:
- The Commissioner
Candidate Forum
- The District
9B Delegate Forum
- Sen. Robert
Kittleman & Del. Susan Krebs
- Schools Superintendent,
Dr. Charles Ecker
- Commissioners
Gouge, Minnich & Jones (April 2003)
We appreciate
your continued support, with which we are able to underwrite scholarships,
publish the Banner newspaper, the Informer newsletter and support
other charitable works in our community.
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The
Freedom Informer
Published monthly by the Freedom Area Citizens'
Council
P.O. Box 142
Sykesville, MD 21784
EDITOR:
Nicole Musgrave-Burdette
PRODUCTION:
Mike Naused
Deborah Dugan
E-MAIL:
editor@freedomareacitizens.org
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