Carroll County Board of Commissioners Open Session – June 11, 2026
Carroll County Board of Commissioners Open Session – June 11, 2026
The Carroll County Board of Commissioners held an open session on June 11, 2026, addressing multiple agenda items including consultant recommendations on self-service storage facilities, a public hearing on extending the deferral for retirement villages/retirement homes in the Freedom Designated Growth Area, and approvals for grants and expenditures. The meeting included recognition of staff, a proclamation for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and public testimony on the retirement villages deferral.
Consent Calendar
- Approval to Purchase – Pavement Condition Survey & Analysis: Approved unanimously the purchase from Mott MacDonald, LLC for $135,379, funded in the FY26 budget. This biennial survey covers approximately 932 centerline miles of asphalt roadways.
- Spending Authority – Substance Use Recovery Treatment Services Program Oversight & Monitoring Services: Approved unanimously $55,280 to the Carroll County Health Department for program oversight and monitoring, as per an MOA signed September 2024. The amount is in the FY27 adopted budget.
- Grant – Approval to Submit Application and Acceptance of Award – FY2027 Supporting Older Adults with Resources (SOAR): Approved unanimously the submission and acceptance of $436,744 in state funding (no county match) for the Division of Aging & Disabilities. This program consolidates three existing state programs effective July 1, 2026, serving older adults aged 60+.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public Hearing on Ordinance Extending Deferral of Retirement Villages/Retirement Homes: Five speakers provided testimony:
- Chris Armstrong (Lennar, representing Freedom's Grant project) requested denial of any extension or exemption for projects in process, stating the plan addresses all known concerns and meets code.
- Mike Collinock (JPB Partners, Piney Ridge project) requested grandfathering/exemption, citing a modest 31-unit infill subdivision with amenities and universal design.
- Gus Bauman (Beveridge & Diamond, representing St. John Properties/Long Meadow Farm) opposed extension, arguing it is an illegal moratorium that would cause millions in economic harm and is counter to senior housing needs.
- Kelly Miller (73 E. Main St., Westminster) opposed extension, stating no emergency justifies further delay and that the consultant found no inconsistency between the Freedom Plan and zoning code.
- Kathy Martin (citizen) expressed support for extending the deferral to address specific concerns in the Reservoir Run project, including lack of universal design, inadequate open space, insufficient parking, narrow roads, and safety issues related to emergency vehicle access.
Discussion Items
- Consultant Presentation on Self-Service Storage Facilities: Troy Truax (Michael Baker International) presented findings and best practices for code revisions. Key recommendations included: refining permitted uses and approval pathways (distinguishing drive-up vs. multi-story facilities), adopting clear design standards, improving site access/access management, and establishing use-specific bulk and area standards. The presentation also addressed adaptive reuse trends, outdoor storage of RVs/boats, and prohibition of contractor bays. Commissioners discussed the need for design predictability, consistency with community plans, and the importance of not using industrial land for self-storage due to limited availability. Commissioner Krebs emphasized the need for specific standards rather than vague compatibility language, and noted fire safety concerns regarding battery storage and emergency access.
- Self-Service Storage Deferral Ordinance and Possible Modification: Following the consultant presentation, the Board discussed the existing deferral on self-service storage facilities in the Freedom Designated Growth Area (enacted Dec. 18, 2025, extended to Oct. 9, 2026). Options included leaving deferral as is, amending to exempt projects at a designated stage, or repealing. The Board voted 3-2 to leave the deferral "as is" (Commissioners Krebs, Kiler, and Vigliotti in favor; Commissioners Gordon and Guerin opposed). No exemption was granted.
- Grant – FY2027 Transportation and Land Use Connections (TLC) Grant Program – Preliminary Design of Finksburg Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities: Ethan Strickler (Planner) presented the request for $100,000 (no local match) to complete up to 30% design for a shared-use path along Old Westminster Pike, based on a recent feasibility study. The project addresses recommendations from the Finksburg Corridor Plan and the 2019 Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan. Approved unanimously.
- Public Hearing and Ordinance Extending Temporary Deferral on Final Approval of Retirement Villages/Retirement Homes: The Board held a public hearing (advertised May 30 and June 4) on extending the deferral from June 18, 2026, to October 1, 2026. After hearing testimony, the Board closed the hearing. Following extensive discussion about safety concerns (road widths, emergency access, failing intersections) and the status of five deferred projects, a motion to extend the deferral passed 3-2 (Commissioners Krebs, Kiler, and Vigliotti in favor; Commissioners Gordon and Guerin opposed). Commissioner Vigliotti stated his support was contingent on future consideration of exemptions for projects that have reached certain milestones.
Key Outcomes
- Self-Service Storage Code Amendments: Board directed staff to work with the Planning and Zoning Commission on potential amendments to County Code Chapters 155 and 158, based on consultant recommendations. Vote: unanimous.
- Self-Service Storage Deferral: Board voted to keep the existing deferral in place without modification. Vote: 3-2.
- Finksburg Bike/Ped Grant: Approved submission and acceptance of FY2027 TLC grant application. Vote: unanimous.
- Retirement Villages/Retirement Homes Deferral Extension: Adopted ordinance extending deferral to October 1, 2026. Vote: 3-2.
- Pavement Condition Survey: Approved purchase. Vote: unanimous.
- Substance Use Recovery Oversight: Approved spending authority. Vote: unanimous.
- SOAR Grant: Approved submission and acceptance. Vote: unanimous.
- Admin Open – Authorized Signer: Approved adding Rachel Graves as an authorized representative on county bank accounts. Vote: unanimous.
- Admin Open – Policy on Distribution of Funds to Outside Organizations: Board requested the County Attorney to propose an enforceable policy or code update to clearly identify accountability processes for approval and distribution of funds to outside organizations, based on a draft outline provided by Commissioner Krebs. Vote: unanimous.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Thursday, June eleventh, two thousand twenty six open session for the Board of Carroll County Commissioners. As we always do, we'll begin with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence. Um at least for the first hour, nobody was showing up. So I think we have too many days and uh already commented on our poor selection of sites and it's uh it's it's a tough thing, but please vote. Early voting. Uh you've got if you haven't done mail in, you've got early voting and you've got uh the election day itself, so please vote. Don't be a no-show. Um I got to go to the law enforcement torch run at uh McDaniel, and uh that's that's a great ceremony and uh a great grant bunch of uh walkers. And I didn't even give you pictures, so thank you very much. Um but uh it was great to see Alan Carver spoke, um, Sheriff Dewey spoke, uh Tony from the the president of City Council spoke, uh Julia Jaskin was there representing the college. And I don't know why she didn't come getting a group picture. She was over talking to some people on the track, but uh it's it's nice that they host it and it's uh a great event and uh was great to see everybody. Thank you. Thank you very much, Commissioner. Commissioner Garrett. Commissioner Krebs. Um very quickly, unless Commissioner Gordon wants to go on. Yeah, we forgot about Commissioner Gordon. Oh no, he uh he's gonna forego. Okay. Okay. Well, Commissioner Gordon, on your behalf, I'm gonna talk about the wine festival very quickly. I know we are both there and go every year, and it's a very nice event for our county. It showcases uh our local Maryland wines and also our farm museum. But I just wanted to point out um the volunteers that make this happen. We wouldn't have the wine festival without the planning that goes on from Jane Sewell and her team at the uh farm museum. And also I was looking at all the volunteers, and I had some pictures, but maybe I didn't get them atherent time of the Sheriff's Department and the volunteer firefighters that are there to make sure everything is safe, make sure people are not um leaving and and shouldn't be driving. Um it's very it's it's a very nice event, and I just wanted to make sure we thank all the volunteers because it would not have ha could not happen without them. So it's uh it's something to be proud of. Yes. Very nice. Very much so. Anything else or that? Okay. Uh so uh I do apologize. I should have mentioned at the beginning that Commissioner Gordon is joining us virtually today, so I uh I do apologize for that, uh, Commissioner. Uh so just a couple quick things for me. Um so first of all, I as always I had the pleasure of attending the regular meeting for the Farm Museum Advisory Board. Uh they are making great progress, not only on working through some budget ideas for next year, but also preparing for all the amazing summer events, camps, and activities that are about to begin, including for the 250th Fourth of July. Additionally, the board is working through the recent heartbreaking passing of board president Tony Richardson. Uh he was a gentleman, a dedicated board member and a ceaseless advocate and volunteer at the Farm Museum. Uh was an honor to get to serve on that board as the ex-officio uh under his stewardship, and I know that the board is looking into a way that his memory and his efforts can be commemorated at the Farm Museum. Uh second of all, I had the privilege of attending this week's City Council meeting in Tawnytown, where Mayor Miller, the council, and myself uh presented proclamations to three employees who have had a tremendous impact not only on Tawnytown, but on the county at large. Uh the first was for police chief Adrian Baker, who after helping to reform and implements uh good positive changes at the department is finally retiring. Uh the chief helped to grow the law enforcement relationship with our Sheriff's Department, and the two agencies routinely work together to protect our citizens. Uh the second, Mackenzie Alban is still relatively new employee for the city, but she's already had an important impact in improving communications with citizens, enhancing the city's social media presence and the information provided through it, uh working to ensure that citizens receive resources that they need, such as food banks, assistance programs and other uh uh resources in the town and in the county. Uh the third but certainly not least is Haley Engels, who works in the police department administration. And with her, whether it's community outreach, organizing events, participating in combined county municipal partnerships such as the Child Safety Seat program or just this week, the Torch Run. Uh Haley has renewed and helped strengthen the community's relationship with the police department and law enforcement in general. So again, I mentioned these individuals because they really do underscore the important relationship that exists between the county and our towns, uh, and which we uh endeavor to continue to grow because at the end of the day, uh not only are they our partners in so many important things, but we serve the same citizens.
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