Westminster's plans to annex and rezone the Roop's Mill property - for a subdivision with up to 200 homes - has taken a major step forward with the county commissioners' approval of a zoning waiver.

The commissioners' decision to grant the waiver expedites the development process for Westminster. Without the waiver, the city would have had to wait five years to rezone all of the property for residential use.

The three-member board's action occurred a month after two commissioners raised concerns about how development on the 93-acre site would affect efforts to control growth. Commissioner Donald I. Dell remained opposed to the waiver, but Commissioner Robin Bartlett Frazier voted in favor. Commissioner Julia Walsh Gouge had supported the waiver.

The city wants to annex the property off Route 140 on its west side because of water. A well there is capable of producing 135,000 gallons of water per day, and, even with development there, would provide Westminster with additional water to augment its supply.