Carroll County's new residential growth-control ordinance will share center stage this week during a statewide gathering of county government officials in Ocean City.

Commissioner W. Benjamin Brown plans to speak about the county's concurrency management ordinance before the 600 government officials who are expected to attend the Maryland Association of Counties annual summer convention.

The much-touted ordinance limits residential building to 6,000 lots over the next six years.

The measure allows the commissioners to direct developments to areas where schools, roads and public services are adequate, and restrict it elsewhere.

For most local governments, growth continues to be a highly divisive issue, so other counties are watching how the ordinance fares, Brown said.

"At this point, they are intrigued by the amount of support we've been able to summon from all members of the community," said Brown, who will address the convention Friday morning.

Commissioners Richard T. Yates and Donald I. Dell and a number of county department heads will attend the convention, which begins tomorrow and ends Saturday.

The convention sessions tackle local government concerns such as road rage, food safety, tourism and farmland preservation.

Between sessions, officials from the counties will be treated to ice cream, coffee breaks and lunches sponsored by such companies as Bell Atlantic, Legg Mason, Cellular One and Giant Food Inc.

Gov. Parris N. Glendening will address the convention Saturday morning.

The formal sessions are part of the attraction, said David S. Bliden, executive director of the Maryland Association of Counties.

"As much as sitting at a panel, what's equally helpful is the Carroll County Commissioners meeting with colleagues from Wicomico County or St. Mary's County," Bliden said. "It provides a way for them to brag about their ideas."

Pub Date: 8/05/98