As Carroll officials refine a growth plan for Finksburg, county planners again are asking residents for their input.
But less than 10 percent of them have replied to a county survey that would help mesh residents' vision with the county master plan for the unincorporated area along Route 140.
"Now is the time for those of us who live in Finksburg to have the final say in our future," Neil Ridgely, an unsuccessful candidate for county commissioner, said in an e-mail message urging fellow Finksburg residents to complete the survey.
The survey is the second of two seeking opinions on the area's future. As the county began work on a Finksburg comprehensive plan about two years ago, it surveyed 5,300 property owners in the area, which runs along the Route 140 corridor from the Baltimore County line to Bethel Road.
More than 1,700 responded to four pages of questions, and 65 percent of them rated the overall quality of life in their neighborhoods highly. Many attended two county-sponsored workshops about the new plan, the first such effort in more than 20 years.
By the deadline Friday for returning the second survey, fewer than 400 people had replied to the one-page questionnaire. Members of Finksburg Planning Area Council, an unofficial group that serves as a liaison with the county, said the poor response might have been because of indifference, confusion or the approaching holiday season.
"This plan has been dragging on for so long that I think people are getting bored with it," said Doris Edwards, council secretary. "We need answers, not surveys."
The recently elected commissioners won their seats by campaigning for moderate growth, a stance that is popular among many Finksburg council members.
"There probably is a little apathy, especially now that we have new commissioners who have promised to take care of things," said John Lopez, council vice president. "We would like to see everybody take part."
Many of those who responded to the first survey asked that the area maintain its rural appeal, and that new industry be directed to sites along the Route 140 corridor, away from farmland off the highway. They also asked for preservation of farmland, a branch of the public library, bicycle trails near Liberty Reservoir and fewer billboards.
"The first survey was at the beginning of the process for fact-finding, demographics and household data," said Matthew W. Simmont, county planner. "The second is to clarify issues and make sure everyone understands. We gave residents an opportunity to write responses in detail."
Nearly 30 years ago, Carroll County created 10 community planning areas to direct growth to the county's eight municipalities and the unincorporated areas of Finksburg along Route 140 and Freedom in South Carroll. While Freedom's population has tripled to nearly 30,000, Finksburg has not grown as significantly, mainly because it lacks public water and sewer service. Recent census figures put the population at about 18,000.
Unincorporated, without official local government and spread across 28,000 acres, Finksburg is trying to organize to have a say in its future. The council formed about five years ago. If a movement for a council of governments goes forward, organizers have said they will include representatives from Finksburg and Freedom.
"I think Matt is really trying hard to get something that we will all like," said Maureen Ackerman, Finksburg Planning Area Council board member. "There was so much interest initially. I think that interest is still there."
Simmont said the tally and analysis of the survey would take several weeks. The planning department will continue to accept surveys for the next several days. Copies are available by calling the county planning department, 410-386-2145, or online at www.ccgov.carr.org.
The next step will be presentation of a final draft to the planning commission in the spring, Simmont said.