Support the Republican Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!
Jan. 6, 2011
The Garrett County Planning Commission voted unanimously yesterday to reinstate four paragraphs regarding mountain ridgelines in the county’s Comprehensive Plan. The group had included the language in its April 2008 draft plan, but the previous county commissioners deleted the paragraphs before they approved the plan in October 2008.
Updating the document and its corresponding ordinances was a four-year process, involving the Planning Commission, county officials, and members of the general public. The 216-page plan serves as the policy guide for future growth in the county.
The new county commissioners took office on Dec. 14. One week later they asked Director John Nelson, Garrett County Department of Planning and Land Development, to reintroduce the ridgeline issue to the Planning Commission and see if its members would want to reinstate the paragraphs.
Commissioner Gregan Crawford said at the commissioners’ Dec. 21 meeting that omission of the language ran contrary to the mission statements of both the Heritage Plan and the Comprehensive Plan. It was also noted at the meeting that a third wind power facility is planned for Four-Mile Ridge, and that without changes to the Comprehensive Plan and associated ordinances, the county would have to allow the project to proceed.
Nelson presented the commissioners’ request to the Planning Commission members yesterday afternoon.
“The race is on,” Nelson told them about establishing some type of control before the Four-Mile project begins.
