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An influx of revenue versus maintenance costs.

Those are the two issues that members of the Mount Airy Planning and Zoning Commission weighed as they took their first look at a new annexation petition Monday night.

If approved, the annexation would extend the town's borders by 600 acres south of Interstate 70 and add about 200 households to the tax rolls. But it would also mean added maintenance and water costs to the town budget.

Homeowners on the property were recently in a disagreement with Carroll County officials over zoning. The county had planned to change the area from mostly conservation zoning to office space and employment zoning through the now-rejected Pathways plan.

But residents want to avoid a similar fight in the future, and decided to seek annexation into Mount Airy.

Skip Colvin, one of those homeowners who represented others in asking for the annexation at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, said the long-range intentions of the town are probably more in line with the residents' desire to keep the area zoned conservation.

"We think that as a community, we would be more comfortable under the planning of this group [the Mount Airy Planning and Zoning Commission] ... we want some more stability," he said.

Town Councilman Chris Everich, liaison to the planning commission, said his main concern is the potential cost to the town.

"We can't have this annexation cost the town money at this time," he said citing major budget cuts throughout the state. "I think that's one of the gigantic concerns, it has to be revenue neutral if not revenue positive."

Commission members cited road upgrades, police protection, recycling, snow removal services, trash, water and sewer as potential costs to the town.

"We have to make sure we are not leaving ourselves open to being forced into providing facilities we cannot afford," Everich said.

But possible gains for the town include tax revenue and a water recharge area, a boon for a town that has struggled to provide enough water for residents.

Town Administrator Monika Weierbach said town staff is working on estimating the costs and revenue for the town.

The 596.25 acres are within Carroll County, and include 94 resident property owners, a nursing home, mobile home community and a few businesses.

"It's such a unique situation," Weierbach said of writing the annexation agreement. "Normally we annex in raw property. ... That's going to take a little crafting to get all those conditions down on paper."

Though the agreement would allow property owner's to continue using well and septic, there is concern over the town's obligations should those fail, a concern no one had a quick answer to.

The area is protected by the Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company and the Maryland State Resident Trooper program.

The area has about four miles of road, just more than two of which are maintained by the county.

"If we were taking this area, we would be responsible for what the county currently maintains," Weierbach said.

Weierbach said the area would probably remain zoned as conservation, with room to commercially redevelop the small strip along Old National Pike.

"It's all about matching what's on the ground," Weierbach said. "... don't want to change the nature of what is there."

Colvin said residents in the area feel a particular kinship with Mount Airy.

"We really feel as though we are a part of the town," he said citing schools, clubs and other organizations he and his neighbors are involved in. "Most people over there think they are in the town already."

Colvin estimated that the residents spent a collective $60,000 in the most recent "skirmish" with Carroll County over zoning differences. He said since 1982 he's been involved in four separate differences with the county over the area's conservation zoning.

If annexation into Mount Airy is completed, the area would come under the town's jurisdiction for planning and zoning and other town codes, Weierbach said. If Carroll County officials become interested in the property again, they would have to approach the town with a proposal.

The Planning and Zoning Commission has 120 days to gather information and make a recommendation to the Town Council. A recommendation must be decided by Jan. 21, said town Zoning Administrator Heather Smith.

E-mail Angie Cochrun at acochrun@gazette.net.