Zoning Commission

A decision on the Promenade, a proposed $32 shopping and theater complex in Eldersburg, once again falls to the Carroll County Planning and Zoning Commission.The county commissioners discussed the Promenade briefly yesterday but deferred comment to the planning commission, which must decide whether to appeal a circuit judge's opinion. Last week, the judge upheld a county zoning board decision allowing construction of the complex.The developer is preparing for the planning commission's review of a site plan for the 36-acre industrial site at Route 32 and Londontown Boulevard.

The New Windsor Planning and Zoning Commission will not meet as scheduled on Tuesday because of the Christmas holidays.The next meeting will be at 7: 30 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Town Office, 211 High St.Information: 410-635-6575.Pub Date: 12/16/98

The Carroll County Planning and Zoning Commission decided yesterday to update the comprehensive plan for the area surrounding Westminster, a plan that was last reviewed 13 years ago.The decision means that members of the commission will meet with residents of the area and members of the city planning commission to review the Westminster and Environs Comprehensive Plan of 1985.The meeting is expected to be held in February. It typically takes about 18 months to update a comprehensive plan, said Barbara C. Moser, the county's comprehensive planner.

The Carroll County Planning and Zoning Commission gave approval yesterday for an Eldersburg commercial center that will house a Pizza Hut restaurant.The vote to approve the site plan for the $1 million project at Route 32 and MacBeth Way was unanimous."

The Mount Airy Planning and Zoning Commission will continue its review of the site plan for expanding a 20-year-old shopping center on Route 27 today.After a nearly four-hour meeting last month that included a lengthy presentation on traffic issues, two items, both concerning the Mount Airy Shopping Center, remain unsettled.The developer has presented plans for expanding the center by about 38,000 square feet, including enlarging the Safeway Supermarket, the anchor store. The plan also includes adding an 85,000-square-foot discount store, such as Wal-Mart, on 14 acres behind the grocery.

Mount Airy residents will get their first real look today at plans for a Wal-Mart store at a Route 27 shopping center.The Mount Airy Planning and Zoning Commission will review site plans for the store today -- the beginning of a process that could bring an 85,000-square-foot Wal-Mart to the town of 5,000.A citizens group opposed to the project complains it will be ill prepared to comment at the planning commission meeting because members have been denied access to information.Town officials have refused residents' requests to see a detailed traffic study and the staff reports on the project.

Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission has subdivided a downtown parcel of land in hopes of transforming it into a focal point of the business district, complete with a kiosk and a directory of local shops.City officials plan to buy the parcel, at the foot of Locust Lane, from the Rosenberg family this fall, said Thomas B. Beyard, the city's director of planning and public works. The Rosenberg family was the former owner of Hub Furniture Center in Carroll Plaza."It's one of the last green spaces in the downtown area," Beyard said of the grassy, 2,100-square-foot parcel off Main Street across from Carroll County Public Library.

Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a work session on the proposed Neighborhood Commercial Zoning Text Amendment on Thursday, after the regular 7 p.m. monthly meeting.The regular meeting is expected to be short, allowing time for the work session.The meeting, at City Hall off Longwell Avenue, is open to the public.Information: 410-848-9002 or 410-848-4363.PoliceWestminster: A resident of Stacy Lee Drive reported Wednesday that someone damaged the door frame on her house. Damage is estimated at $300.

The Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended that the mayor and Common Council adopt a zoning amendment to regulate telecommunications towers. The city has no regulations regarding such facilities.The commission has suggested that the amendment outline several restrictions:Signs may not be hung on the towers.Towers may not be installed in a residential zone.Towers may not be taller than 199 feet.Towers may not be placed within 300 feet of a historic property.If the amendment is adopted, anyone wishing to place a tower in Westminster first would have to receive a special exception from the city's Board of Zoning Appeals.

The Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission approved plans yesterday for a Safeway supermarket and a new Lowe's hardware store on the city's west side, where residents are many but retailers are few.The commission unanimously approved site plans for a 150,000-square-foot Lowe's home improvement superstore and the 88,000-square-foot College Square shopping center, which will house the Safeway food and drug store and several other businesses.Construction on both projects is expected to begin next month.