On Thursday, May 28, 2026, the Carroll County Board of Commissioners held an open session meeting starting at 9:00 a.m. in Room 311 of the County Office Building. The 20-item agenda included a public hearing on proposed zoning amendments, a discussion on cluster subdivisions, approval of the five-year Transportation Development Plan, multiple contract awards and spending authorities, and commissioner reports during Priority Carroll. All votes were unanimous unless otherwise noted.
Commissioners shared reports on events from the previous week:
County Attorney Tim Burke opened the hearing, with Planning Director Chris Heyn and Deputy Director Daphne Daly presenting the proposal to prohibit new residential uses in planned commercial centers (PCCs). The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended removal of the accessory residential use after prior discussions.
Public Comments (five speakers):
Commissioner Discussion: Commissioner Vigliotti explained the deferral was not a moratorium and highlighted the lack of design standards for PCCs – the two existing projects are not affordable ($2,000/month) and have parking/safety issues. Commissioner Kiler opposed removing the use entirely, arguing it would reduce options for younger residents and teachers. Commissioner Guerin also opposed permanent removal, stating he wants to improve regulations quickly. The board agreed to conclude the hearing and keep the record open for 10 calendar days.
Motion: I move the Board conclude the public hearing and keep the record open for ten calendar days. Vote: Unanimous (5-0).
Chris Heyn presented options for cluster subdivisions in residential and historic zoning districts. The three options were: no change, removal of §155.036(A), or modification. Staff recommended a stop-gap change to return to pre-2022 code (when cluster subdivisions allowed no minimum lot size and required a conventional plan for lot yield). Commissioner Viglietti emphasized the need for purpose clauses and design standards. After debate, the board directed staff to coordinate with the Planning and Zoning Commission on text amendments based on the 1993 code, with a target to bring recommendations back by August 1, 2026.
Motion: I move the Board of County Commissioners direct staff to coordinate potential text amendments or modifications to 155.036(A) – Cluster subdivision in residential and historic zoning districts, in accordance with the interests discussed by the board, using the 1993 code as a basis. Vote: Unanimous.
Lib Rood of KFH Group presented the draft five-year Transportation Development Plan (TDP) for Carroll Transit. Key recommendations included: real-time transit information (already contracted), security cameras on vehicles (for FY2028), marketing improvements (website, brochures, Spanish translation), earlier weekday morning hours for demand response (5 a.m. vs. 7 a.m.) starting FY2028, a second vehicle for the North Carroll Trailblazer, expanded evening hours (to 6 p.m.) in the mid-term, and evaluation of lower fares. The financial plan projected operating costs rising from $3.4 million in FY2027 to nearly $5 million by FY2031, with expansions locally funded. The plan was approved unanimously.
Motion: I move the Board of Commissioners approve the five-year Transportation Development Plan. Vote: Unanimous.
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the open session for the Board of Carroll County Commissioners for Thursday, May twenty eighth, two thousand twenty-six. As we always do, we'll begin with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silent reflection. And uh, Commissioner Collar will kick off with you today. Thank you. Um it's interesting. I love being in Carroll County with people that know exactly what a corn crib is, a smokehouse is and other other things you see on a farm because a lot of people don't. Um there's there's me with the people running the show out there, and uh I think there's a picture of the volunteers too. Um and yes, um, and uh it's great, and uh some of them had many, many hours, um, a great group, um, does a lot of work out there, and this is so similar to uh Wreckin' Parks, uh the volunteer fire companies, so many things in Carroll County. If we had to pay all those people to do everything they do out there, we couldn't afford it. So I want to thank you, guys at the Farm Museum and thank the volunteers throughout Carroll County. Um Memorial Day, I got to uh speak at Hampstead's Memorial, and uh it for all the uh forecast of rain and and tough weather over the holiday weekend, um still over a hundred people showed up to uh to uh listen to the uh farm museum. Um yeah, farm museum. I'm still on old notes. Um the commander of uh American Legion Post 200 in Hampstead, Chris McLean opened it. Um Jack Bowersocks, a past commander, um did the prayer, and Laurie Young, a past commander, sang the National Anthers. So it's awesome. What a great group. Um American Legion Post 200 is. Um Mayor uh Chris Nevins spoke, I spoke, and uh there was just a great bunch of people there. It was a fun, a fun day. Um Rhonda and I went to uh their FFA Umquet. There's a there's some of their officers, and uh it it was so great, and uh I I don't think people not involved in the Ag Center or FFA in school um understand. Oh, let me digress. Um Aaron Guiman's on the left. Um he spent nine years at Westminster High School after he was at North Carroll High School, and now he's back in our area at Man Valley, and and he's he's awesome. Teacher, awesome advisor for them. Um, and uh it was nice seeing him in the group. The principal was there, assistant principals were there, it was a very act active group, and back to where I was. Um don't understand, they're not about just animals. They do judging, they do speaking, they do writing, and uh so many of these. I I think half to three quarters of them stopped by where we were sitting, said hi, thanked us for being there. Um we thanked them for all they do, um, talked about where they were headed to college and what decisions they were making. It's just an awesome, awesome night, awesome group. And uh went to uh Carroll Community College graduation, um always a great event. They now have incorporated the uh more tech side of things, the more career side of things into the graduation and in past years, just uh the math English and reading group were at the graduation now. They all are, and and I think that's that that really shows what all they do out there. Um it was great to see the uh the faculty, the um the speakers were great, both the student and the lady that spoke, and uh it was a great great graduation. Um after graduation, I went to Winter's Mill. They call it community award ceremony. Um, and again, the principal assistant principals were there, advisors. Um they gave over 41 scholarships in about an hour that night. Um everything from rec councils to legacy septic to uh in memory of different um young people who passed, um delegates, senators. Um it was a great night. And I I just want to encourage everybody. It it's probably not too late for some this year, but for most it is. You you got to go to your guidance office and ask for the uh scholarship list and uh apply for them. It's it's uh a lot of people don't apply for these. Um for uh McDaniel, I almost said Western Maryland, probably are worth a hundred grand each. And then it's it's a lot from the community groups, 1,500, 2,000, 3,000.