>Angie Brant
The Cumberland Times-News Fri Jun 03, 2011, 11:25 PM EDT
— OAKLAND — Efforts to change the language in the Garrett County Comprehensive Plan to protect ridge lines have been stalled due to state and local regulations.
The inclusion of language designed to protect certain ridge lines in the county has dominated the time of the county planners for the last several months. The process to make the proposed changes was started at the beginning of this year at the request of the newly elected county commissioners. The commissioners asked the county planning commission to consider changes that had appeared in the original 2008 draft of the plan.
As per local and state law, the planning commission held a public hearing. The proposed changes were hotly contested by a number of residents who felt the language violated their property rights. Other residents felt the change was an important tool to maintain natural beauty of the region. In the end, the Planning Commission voted 3-2 in favor of the change with one abstention and sent the recommendation to the county commissioners for final approval.
While researching the topic, John Nelson, director of Planning and Land Development, discovered a voting procedure that requires motions for recommendation to the commissioners to include four favorable votes from the Planning Commission.
Nelson consulted with the county commissioners and the county attorney and was advised that the issue could be reconsidered, requiring a second public hearing, or the commission could stand by its vote, which would mean it is not endorsing the amendment.
“The previous vote was 3 to 2 with one abstaining and it takes four affirmative votes to pass. With this decision, the amendments to the plan will not be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners,” Nelson said.
Despite this setback, county officials have not abandoned the proposal entirely.
“The Board of County Commissioners will be discussing this matter over the summer months both with county staff and at the appropriate time during public meetings,” said Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator. “The public will be notified of meeting dates and times and commentary will be welcome.
“The board has also scheduled a strategic planning retreat with senior county government staff in July and the board will seek input and insight from these individuals.”
Contact Angie Brant at abrant@times-news.com
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