The county planning commission approved preliminary plans yesterday for a five-lot subdivision in southwest Carroll County -- a project that likely would have been rejected a few months ago because of school, road and public safety concerns.

In March, the county enacted a growth-control law that allows residential development to proceed in some instances despite certificates of inadequacy from county agencies.

The fact that plans to develop the 170-acre site near John Pickett and Gillis Falls roads, east of Mount Airy, were presented with a staff recommendation to go forward despite those inadequacies took planning commission members by surprise.

"You look at this and say, 'Gee whiz. Everything's inadequate but it's being approved,' " said commission member Maurice E. Wheatley of Eldersburg.

Chairman Thomas G. Hiltz of Woodbine sought an explanation.

Crowding at South Carroll High School cannot be used as a basis for inadequacy in this instance because a few housing allocations are allowed even when schools are crowded, said Frank G. Schaeffer, county development review chief.

Some allocations were available in South Carroll, Schaeffer said.

The public works certificate indicating the 14-foot-wide dirt and gravel road is inadequate doesn't apply because the property is in an agricultural zone, he said.

Pub Date: 6/17/98