The Carroll County Commissioners voted 2-1 yesterday to expand the Planning Commission, adding two seats to the zoning review panel despite the opposition of residents and builders who spoke out at a public hearing on Tuesday.
Commissioners W. Benjamin Brown and Richard T. Yates said they voted to increase the commission to seven members because they want to show county voters they are serious about controlling development.
"There was the perception that the commission was not doing enough for the people," Mr. Yates said. "The perception is, growth is uncontrolled."
Mr. Brown said the Planning Commission needs "to get beyond lip service to growth control. I don't think the present commission has gone beyond the concept of 'Let's keep it country.' "
"Keep it Country" was Commissioner Donald I. Dell's slogan during his campaigns for commissioner in 1986 and 1990. Mr. Brown has said the Planning Commission is "stacked" with members who agree with Mr. Dell.
Asked to explain his comment, Mr. Brown said the county has talked about controlling growth but has not implemented enough specific measures. The commission needs people who realize growth has occurred and will continue, he said.
"There's no way to go back. We have to get a Planning Commission focused on now and the future," he said.
At a public hearing Tuesday, residents said they did not want government to get any bigger, and several builders testified that they did not think adding two members was necessary.
During the election last fall, Mr. Brown and Mr. Yates promised to work to control growth. They said they would try to ease crowding in schools and on major roads.
Mr. Dell said the change in the Planning Commission was premature.
"I feel you should have taken the opportunity to work with the board that's there and get to know the people," he said.
Mr. Dell, the only incumbent, was the commissioners' representative on the Planning Commission during his previous term. Mr. Yates now holds the seat on the planning panel.
All three commissioners wanted the seat on the commission that approves all residential and commercial projects in Carroll.
Mr. Brown said it was his idea to add two members. He said he agreed in December to support Mr. Yates as the commissioner representative if Mr. Yates would allow Mr. Brown to appoint the two new members.
"That's not what I remember," Mr. Yates said.
Mr. Yates said he agreed to let Mr. Brown appoint one member and that the board would discuss the second appointment. They also will appoint an alternate member.
Mr. Dell would not comment on the agreement.
The commissioners said they will not name the two new members until after Feb. 13, when Mr. Yates returns from vacation.
Mr. Brown said it is important to have more representation on the panel from South Carroll. He said he is considering someone from the western part of the county for one seat. Asked whether he is thinking of David Duree of New Windsor, the alternate on the commission, Mr. Brown would not comment.
In a late-afternoon session yesterday, local homebuilders disputed statements that growth is out of control in Carroll.
"There's no runaway growth," said Martin K.P. Hill of Manchester, one of the area's main builders.
"It all depends on where you live," replied Mr. Yates.
Richard Hull of Carroll Land Services, a Westminster engineering company, said builders are following the county master plan, which directs housing development around the county's eight municipalities.
"We're doing what we're told," he said.
South Carroll builder Greg Dorsey said, "The plans are all there and set up in a logical fashion, but the [county and state] money's not there" to build schools and other facilities.
Mr. Dell said the county has not caught up from losses suffered in the recession. Carroll lost $18 million in state revenue in the past three years, which hindered its ability to build schools and roads, he said.
After a discussion on affordable housing, Mr. Dell and Mr. Yates voted to appoint a seven-member committee to study the issue and make recommendations to the commissioners about what can be done to bring more affordable homes to Carroll. Members will be named later.
Mr. Brown was ill and did not attend the afternoon meeting.