The Carroll County Planning Commission will once again argue the fate of a 20-acre parcel of land in Eldersburg.

On Tuesday, a site plan proposing a 254-unit apartment development on the land located off of Kali Drive and backing to Liberty Road will come before the commission.

The request for approval comes after a June 30 court order by Carroll County Circuit Court Judge Michael M. Galloway. Galloway, who heard the case in April, said in the order that the Planning Commission must approve the site plan in accordance with a previous court order or be held in contempt of court.

Galloway wrote: "The Carroll County Planning and Zoning Commission shall forthwith approve the site plan consistent with Judge [Luke K.] Burns' April 19, 1999, Order or shall be held in contempt of this Court."

Security Development Corporation, who has headed the project for the past decade, wants members of the county's Planning Commission and Carroll County Commissioner Julia Gouge jailed for contempt of court. Last August, the Planning Commission and Gouge denied approval of the developer's plans despite a 1999 court order by retired Judge Luke Burns. Inadequate water facilities, schools and roads were cited as the major factors keeping the development from beginning construction.

The developer's original site plan was presented in 1995 when traffic, water and other infrastructure issues were not prevalent in the area. According to Court documents, the land was included in the Carrolltowne Planned Unit development plan in 1972 making it open to a 'residential dwelling' development.

Earlier this year, residents of surrounding neighborhoods collected more than 780 signatures from people opposed to the plan. Carrolltowne Elementary School Principal Martin Tierney and several neighbors filled the courtroom in April to show their opposition to the residential development of the property.

The site plan is scheduled to come before the Carroll County Planning Commission for approval on Tuesday, July 19, at approximately 1:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and will be held in the public hearing room, 003 and 004, in the Carroll County Office Building located at 225 North Center Street in Westminster. For more information, call 410-386-2145.

The county, represented by Terri Jones, senior assistant count attorney, has the option to appeal Galloway's order. As of Wednesday, the county's decision was not being made public.