Carrolltowne development temporarily halted

New community group works on a negotiation with developers

Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005

A controversial plan to construct a 254-unit rental townhouse complex in Eldersburg has been temporarily halted by the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. An Aug. 29 ruling states that the county has the right to delay construction of the development on a 20-acre parcel of land along Liberty Road and backing to Kali Drive. The decision temporarily overrules Carroll County Circuit Court Judge Michael Galloway’s order to the Planning Commission to approve the project or be held in contempt of court.

The project was originally approved by court order in 1995 before water shortages, heavy traffic, and overcrowded schools plagued the area. In June, Galloway concurred with the decade-old decision forcing the Planning Commission to approve or be charged with contempt of court.

In July, just hours after the Planning Commission’s forced approval of the site was read, Carroll County Commissioners vowed to appeal to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. Since the Aug. 29 ruling halted processing of plans, both parties have been ordered to contact the Court of Special Appeals by tomorrow.

Since protesting earlier in the summer at public meetings and forums including the Planning Commission’s July decision, a number of local homeowners have shifted their opposition to the development and focused on coming up with a compromise with the Security Development Corporation.

Carrolltowne United, an informal group created in July to establish a unified voice against the proposed rental townhouse complex will continue to hold biweekly meetings this fall. The group’s goal is to work directly with the county government and Security Development Corporation to seek alternative solutions for development of the 20-acre property that backs to single-family homes and congested Liberty Road.

‘‘We want to sit down with them and come up with a solution that will make everybody happy,” said Cheryle Franceschi, publicity director for the group. ‘‘We know that they have the right to develop their property but we have rights too.”

The public is invited to attend biweekly meetings held on Wednesdays in the Eldersburg Library. Meetings for this month are scheduled for Sept. 14, and Sept. 28, at 7 p.m.

For more information about Carrolltowne United, visit their Web site at www.carrolltowneunited.org.