More than 100 people came out to Liberty High School on Thursday evening for the first of two public hearings on the Freedom Plan. More than 30 of those took to one of two microphones in order to read their comments into the official public record.

The majority of those comments were negative in some fashion, criticizing either certain components in the proposed plan, its overall theme or the process by which it had been drafted through the Carroll County planning commission.

"I don't believe this plan promotes a balance of environmental resources it seems biased towards business development," one woman told the planning commission, which was there to listen to comments but did not respond. "We do not need another grocery store or nail salon."

The Freedom Plan creates a guide for future long-term growth in the South Carroll area, in terms of roads, resources and future land use designations, which can then guide future zoning changes. State guidelines require the plan be updated every 10 years, but the Freedom Plan was last updated in 2001 the planning commission spent the past year drafting a new plan, which it accepted in April.

After a second public hearing on Tuesday, June 20, the planning commission will vote and could then approve the plan, which would send it to the County Board of Commissioners for another round of discussion. The commissioners can then reject the plan outright, alter it in some fashion or vote to adopt the plan, which would then be implemented.

Many of those who spoke were concerned about future land use designations for three properties the Wolf, Beatty and Gibson parcels from agricultural, industrial or low-density residential to medium density residential and how those potential additional homes could impact the community. They hoped the commission might take their comments and make changes to the plan before voting to approve it.

Patricia Dorsey, who lives along Md. 32, said she already has to time her walks with her dog around peak traffic times, and worries about how many more homes could lead to even worse traffic. She noted that she has been around long enough that it is not change alone, but the impact of certain changes, that concern her.

"I've lived here since 1976, even before Carrolltowne Mall was here," she said "I have seen a lot of changes."

Traffic was also a concern for George Gray, who lives on Monroe Avenue. He noted that traffic on Md. 32 and Md. 26 were already bad when he first moved to the area 17 years ago, but that the neighborhoods had always been quiet and safe. He worried that some proposed road changes could funnel much more traffic off of Md. 32 and into those same neighborhoods.

But Gray also noted that he had been to many such meetings and heard many of the same comments he was hearing from speakers Thursday.

"You are listening to us, but I am not sure there are a lot of changes being made," he said.

There were some speakers who voiced their support for the plan. Some, like Michael Reeves, were associated with developers he said he was with Williams Quarters LLC.

"I believe it's a good plan," Reeves told those assembled. "I have petitions from other citizens and business that support the plan, and depend on growth to survive."

Reeves passed his petition to the planning commission and also stated that he believed the number of houses some speakers believed would be built on the Wolf, Gibson and Beatty properties if the plan passed, were not realistic.

"The density of 900 units on those three properties can't physically fit," he said.

One of the last people to speak was Heidi Beatty Condon, one-fourth owner of the Beatty property, who spoke of property rights while also acknowledging she was grieving for her father, who had held the property since 1958 and had recently died.

"I know a lot of people are upset because you are not going to have a farm in your backyard anymore and I get that, but it doesn't give you the right to ask that park be built there. You think that doesn't devalue the property for the property owner?" she asked.

"I hear a lot of people wanting to say what happens to other people's property. Well, maybe you should pull your money together and buy it."

jon.kelvey@carrollcountytimes.com

410-857-3317

twitter.com/CCT_Health

What: Last public hearing on the Freedom Plan

When: 8:30 to 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 20, Last call for written comment is 9 a.m.

Where: Reagan Room of the Carroll County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., Westminster.

More here:

Freedom Plan gets load of criticism, some support at hearing - Carroll County Times