Showing posts with label Westminster Planning Zoning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Westminster Planning Zoning. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Current configuration of the Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission

Current configuration of the Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission:

There have recently been some changes to the Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission…



Information retrieved February 13, 2018

Planning & Zoning Commission Meetings 7 p.m. 2nd Thursday of each month City Hall

All meetings are open to the public.

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to meetings. Minutes are available following approval.


Members

The Commission consists of five members appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council. The members of the Commission must reside in the City and are appointed for five year terms, with the exception of the council member, who serves a term corresponding with the member’s official tenure on the Council.

Ross W. Albers, Esq.
Kevin W. Beaver
Tom Herb
Thomas J. Rio
Councilmember Benjamin Yingling, Ex-Officio

About the Commission

The Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission educates the public, cooperates and coordinates with local and county governmental agencies on all aspects of planning, including the Comprehensive Plan and Capital Improvement Program, and makes recommendations on proposed zoning ordinances and amendments, and land use regulations. The Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission acts in a decision-making capacity with respect to site plans, subdivision plans, and sign applications pursuant to State Law and City Code.

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Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
Baltimore Sun - Carroll County Times - The Carroll Eagle: www.explorecarroll.com: http://www.explorecarroll.com/search/?s=Dayhoff&action=GO

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Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Peggy Bair and Lori Graham recognized at Westminster Common Council meeting


Peggy Bair (in the left picture,) and Lori Graham (in the right picture,) were presented with a token of appreciation by Westminster Mayor Joe Dominick at the Feb. 12, 2018 Westminster Common Council meeting, for their years of service on the Westminster Planning Commission. Kevin Dayhoff photo
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Peggy Bair and Lori Graham recognized at Westminster Common Council meeting

Monday, February 12, 2018

Two longstanding Westminster Planning Commissioners were recognized at Monday night’s meeting of the Westminster Common Council.

Mayor Joe Dominick presented each with a token of appreciation for their years of service. In a recent surprise development, neither were reappointed to continue serving on the board.

Bair had served since 1989 and I appointed Graham in 2004.


I wanted to go to the meeting and pay my respects to these two great Westminster citizens who have given of their time so selflessly for the benefit of the greater community. Both individuals took time away from their families to contribute to Westminster and Carroll County and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude. - Kevin Dayhoff 
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Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: 
Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:
Baltimore Sun - Carroll County Times - The Carroll Eagle: www.explorecarroll.com: http://www.explorecarroll.com/search/?s=Dayhoff&action=GO

Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Friday, January 16, 2015

January 1991 Report of the Governor’s Commission on Growth in the Chesapeake Bay Region

January 1991 Report of the Governor’s Commission on Growth in the Chesapeake Bay Region

Protecting the Future

A Vision for Maryland

Report of the Governor’s Commission on Growth in the Chesapeake Bay Region

January 1991

SUMMARY OF THE COMMISSION'S PROPOSAL

Since October 1989, the Governor's Commission on Growth in the Chesapeake Bay Region has worked to develop a vision for Maryland's growth over the next 30 years. Answering a charge from Governor William Donald Schaefer, the Commission has made recommendations for reconciling rapid economic growth and development with the conservation of Maryland's natural resources and the preservation of the State's unique quality of life.
The Commission recognized an opportunity to change the way land-use has been managed in the past, and crafted recommendations which carefully consider the challenge of the Visions prepared by the 2020 Panel of Experts.2 Each Vision was considered, and the responses blended into five basic recommendations that are the subject of this report.

1. Designate suitable areas for growth. Sprawl development devours land, harms the environment and the Chesapeake Bay, and uses infrastructure inefficiently. The Commission's proposal would have local governments direct new development to areas they believe can most efficiently accommodate it.

2. Protect sensitive areas. From a list of more than 40 environmentally-sensitive areas, such as den or breeding sites and large contiguous tracts of forest, the Commission focused on four as being most critical to protect from the impact of individual development projects. On steep slopes and in stream buffers, in habitats for endangered species and 100-year floodplains, virtually no development should be permitted.

3. Conserve natural resources. Sprawl development encourages inefficient use of resources. Natural resources such as farmland and forests, once developed, are difficult to restore. Under the Commission's proposal, development will be directed away from farms and forests.

4. Make stewardship of the environment a universal ethic. Mary landers must understand that each individual's actions have a direct effect on the Bay and the environment. The Commission has asked that a statewide Stewardship Council be charged with coordinating existing educational programs and increasing opportunities for individuals to protect the environment.

5. Provide funds to achieve the recommendations. Concentrating development depends on the ability of local governments to fund the planning and infrastructure.  Although local

The 2020 Panel of Experts was convened at the request of the signatories of the 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement to study the consequences of population growth and development for the Chesapeake Bay watershed to the year 2020.  Their report described six detailed "visions" and "actions."

[…]

From far western Garrett County to the Eastern Shore, the importance of the Bay to Maryland is virtually inestimable. Each year it gives us millions of dollars of seafood, billions of dollars of commerce flow through its major ports, and it is a recreation center for the East Coast. In 1989, the Maryland Department of Economic and Employment Development estimated the economic value of the Bay to Maryland and Virginia to be $678 billion.

Saving the Chesapeake Bay MUST be an overriding priority for all Marylanders and their governments.  Economic Importance of the Chesapeake Bay. 1989.
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Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoffTwitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff
Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net

Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/
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February 5, 1971: Carroll County Maryland Board of Commissioners meet with Town Officials


January 15, 2015 update: I noticed today that the Carroll County Commissioners scheduled a meeting today with the Carroll County Mayors: “Thursday ~ January 15, 2015 7:00 p.m. Joint Board of County Commissioners/Mayors Meeting County Office Building ~ Reagan Room Commissioners Howard, Wantz, Weaver, Frazier & Rothschild”

I would have like to have attended but got behind… Anyway it reminded me of this news brief from February 5, 1971…. If I am not mistaken – I attended this meeting… The commissioners were G. Herbert Rice, Norman Graham, and John Meyer.



Commissioners Meet With Town Officials - The County Commissioners of Carroll County during the week of January 18th scheduled a meeting with the Mayors and Representatives of the incorporated towns of Carroll County to discuss several matters pertaining to the two general governmental units within the county.

Included in the discussions were procedures which could be implemented by town and county in establishing coordination between planning and zoning programs, the development and implementation of the county wide water and sewer plan and cooperation in further studies involving the financing of facilities of joint concern within and without the incorporated area.

General agreement was expressed at the meeting that periodic meetings should be scheduled and that the programs proposed would be given further study, and discussion would be continued at such further meetings.

Community Reporter, February 5, 1971


19710205 CCBOC Meet Town Officials planning and zoning coordination
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Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoffTwitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff
Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net

Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/
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Saturday, October 30, 2010

The City of Westminster 2009 Comprehensive Plan was adopted on September 28, 2009.

The City of Westminster 2009 Comprehensive Plan was adopted on September 28, 2009.


~As a result of the feedback from Westminster residents in the development of the 2008 Westminster Community Visions Survey and the 2009 Comprehensive Plan, the city of Westminster is continuing to move forward with a series of zoning changes and enhancements.


~~ October 30, 2010 / Kevin Dayhoff

Comprehensive Plan

What is the purpose of the Comprehensive Plan?

The Comprehensive Plan is a master long-range plan intended to guide the growth and development of Westminster. The plan includes inventory and analytic sections leading to recommendations for the community's land use, economic development, housing, transportation, community facilities, water resources, urban design and resource allocation: all related to the community's goals and objectives.

What is the 2009 Comprehensive Plan?

The 2009 Comprehensive Plan is a document that can be used as an everyday tool for the City of Westminster administration. The public, local officials and City staff can refer to the 2009 Comprehensive Plan to not only better understand the community vision for the future but to also understand how planning can facilitate creating that vision.

The 2009 Comprehensive Plan embraces the principles of Smart Growth, and the State of Maryland’s 12 State planning visions, to serve as guidelines for future growth and development. The plan also gives recognition to Westminster’s partners in State, County and local organizations and agencies. As a small city, Westminster depends on these partnerships to build a sustainable and vibrant community.

Why did we update the Comprehensive Plan?

The State of Maryland requires comprehensive plans to be updated every six years. The 2009 Comprehensive Plan Update began in October 2007 followed by the coordination of the first Westminster resident survey in the summer of 2008. The City hosted a series of community workshops in the fall of 2008 that offered residents the opportunity to voice their ideas about the future of their community. In the winter of 2009, the planning staff combined the results of the survey and the feedback from the workshops, to create the 2008 Community Vision Report. This report served as the base of the Comprehensive Plan Update process. Each element in the 2009 Comprehensive Plan begins with a description from the 2008 Community Vision Report.

The City of Westminster 2009 Comprehensive Plan was adopted on September 28, 2009.











































Contact:

Melissa Hynes mhynes@westgov.com 410-848-7967

20090000 Comp Plan index with links

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My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

Monday, October 5, 2009

Tom Beyard explains comprehensive plan at council meeting

Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/kfmn9

Westminster director of planning Tom Beyard explains comprehensive plan at recent Westminster Common Council meeting

At the September 28, 2009 meeting of the Westminster mayor and Common Council, Mayor Kevin Utz conducted a public hearing on the 2009 Comprehensive Plan for Westminster. Planning director Tom Beyard explained that the comprehensive plan was the culmination of two years of work and that it was due to be adopted by October 1, 2009 in order to conform with Maryland State law.

The development of the plan, which began in earnest in October 2007, was broken into three phases, Beyard said. The first phase was a citizen survey, followed by additional public outreach, followed by the drafting phase.

Beyard advised that the municipal planned growth footprint and the planned water and sewer service area had not changed since its boundaries were agreed upon with the county government two years ago.

The plan did incorporate for the first time a water resource and municipal growth element. Both of which are new mandates from the Maryland General Assembly.

The city was “probably one of the first (municipalities in the state) to submit the water resources element… many municipalities had asked for an extension,” said Beyard.

Council president Damian Halstad remarked, “I’d just like to highlight that the state found it to be an incredibly thorough plan… very detailed…”

Later in the meeting the council voted to adopt the plan after more discussion of how proud the council and staff were to have received such good feedback from the state on how well the plan was developed and written.

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Photo caption: At the September 28, 2009 meeting of the Westminster mayor and Common Council, Mayor Kevin Utz conducted a public hearing on the 2009 Comprehensive Plan for Westminster. Planning director Tom Beyard explained that the comprehensive plan was the culmination of two years of work and that it was due to be adopted by October 1, 2009 in order to conform with Maryland State law.

From left to right: Westminster planning director Tom Beyard, Westminster public works director Jeff Glass, Westminster recreation and parks director Ron Schroers, Westminster Common Council members Dr. Robert Wack and Tony Chiavacci. (Photo by Kevin Dayhoff)

20090928 sdosm Tom Beyard explains comprehensive plan at council meeting

Westminster Planning Dir Tom Beyard, Westminster Council Mtgs, Westminster Planning Zoning, Planning, Dayhoff writing essays land planning, Westminster PW Dir Jeff Glass, People Chiavacci Tony,

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Recent Explore Carroll articles by Kevin Dayhoff

Recent Explore Carroll articles by Kevin Dayhoff

DAYHOFF: Hoffa Field and the Sheathing of the Sword
Published June 23, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle
... . Lightner and the June 1922 American Sentinel newspaper article have left us with an extensive and fascinating account of the “The Sheathing of the Sword.” Kevin Dayhoff may reached at kevindayhoff AT gmail.com or visit him at http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/....

'Year without summer' killed crops ... and created a monster
Published June 21, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle
... village folk that it's not a bad idea to keep a torch handy on these cool summer nights. When he is not playing with laboratory-harnessed lightning, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at ...

Historic Blue Ridge College bell dedicated In Union Bridge
Published June 20, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
UNION BRIDGE — Several hundred folks braved threatening weather June 20 to witness the unveiling and dedication of the historic 1900 Blue Ridge College bell in Lehigh Square, the original site of the college which had thrived in Union Bridge from 1898 to ... ...

When city got 'sole' in the 1920s, it was cause for a celebration
Published June 14, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... be the guest speaker. There will be a retirement ceremony for worn flags. Guests may bring old flags for retirement. When he is not waving the flag, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at … or visit him at http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/....

Remember when you could walk to work in Westminster?
Published June 7, 2009 by Carroll Eagle

Company H: from the Frizellburg greenhouses to the sands of Omaha Beach
Published June 3, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
. (have) come a long way from the old parade field in Frizellburg.”

Dayhoff: New councilmember tackles alleged hit and run driver
Published June 1, 2009 by Westminster Eagle, Carroll Eagle
... Westminster city police arrived and took control of the situation The accident is under investigation. All in a day’s work. Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster.

In 1925, planting the seeds of employment, production
Published May 31, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
Mayor Dorsey of Mount Airy… When he's not roaming the streets of historic Westminster looking for old factories ....

Celebration of memory and change
Published May 26, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
This year’s Westminster Memorial Day ceremonies witnessed many changes over the past — although the solemn tradition of 142 years continued. On Memorial Day the normal hustle and bustle of downtown Westminster paused to remember fallen veterans, and ... ...

Dayhoff: Maryland National Guard Company H, had its beginnings in the flower business
Published May 22, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
... We are deeply indebted to those who fought and died to give us the unalienable right to live free and cherish liberty in the pursuit of happiness.

20090623 SDOSM Recent Explore Carroll articles by Kevin Dayhoff

Monday, June 8, 2009

Recent Explore Carroll Columns by Kevin Dayhoff

Recent Explore Carroll Columns by Kevin Dayhoff

Remember when you could walk to work in Westminster?
Published June 7, 2009 by Carroll Eagle

Company H: from the Frizellburg greenhouses to the sands of Omaha Beach
Published June 3, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
... (have) come a long way from the old parade field in Frizellburg.”

Dayhoff: New councilmember tackles alleged hit and run driver
Published June 1, 2009 by Westminster Eagle, Carroll Eagle
... Westminster city police arrived and took control of the situation The accident is under investigation. All in a day’s work.

In 1925, planting the seeds of employment, production
Published May 31, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
When he's not roaming the streets of historic Westminster looking for old factories,

Celebration of memory and change
Published May 26, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
This year’s Westminster Memorial Day ceremonies witnessed many changes over the past — although the solemn tradition of 142 years continued. On Memorial Day the normal hustle and bustle of downtown Westminster paused to remember fallen veterans, and ... ...

Dayhoff: Maryland National Guard Company H, had its beginnings in the flower business
Published May 22, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
... We are deeply indebted to those who fought and died to give us the unalienable right to live free and cherish liberty in the pursuit of happiness. Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster.

Mulkey is one of many, yet a special son of Carroll County
Published May 22, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle
... thanks to Mount Airy councilwoman Wendi Peters and American Legion Post 191 commander Roy True for their help with this column.

Celebrating Cockey's Tavern, birthplace of Carroll County
Published May 18, 2009 by Carroll Eagle

Utz elected as new mayor of Westminster
Published May 18, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... with 130 votes; Eleanor DeMario, 105; William Gill, 130; and William Hughes, 58. — compiled by Kevin Dayhoff Incumbent, two newcomers elected council Hampstead … Hampstead Town Councilman Wayne Thomas won election along with newcomers Jamey Ayers and ... ...

Dayhoff: The rebirth of the Cockey's Tavern building in Westminster
Published May 12, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
column in the Carroll Eagle of The Baltimore Sun for more of the rich history of Cockey’s. Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster.

20090608 SDOSM Recent Explore Carroll Columns by Kevin Dayhoff



Friday, September 19, 2008

Survey results to be presented at Monday Westminster common council meeting

Survey results to be presented at Monday Westminster common council meeting

Carroll County Times News Briefs for Friday September 19, 2008

Survey results to be presented by Bryan Schutt

During the upcoming Westminster Common Council meeting Sept. 22, the planning department will present the results of a resident survey to the council.

About 6,000 surveys were sent out this summer, according to Thomas Beyard, director of planning and zoning. He said the city had about a 23 percent response rate.

The six-page survey was sent out in June, and it polled city residents on what they thought of city services.

Also at the council meeting, Beyard said the city will also review several utility connection rates detailed in the city code, but it won’t be talking about usage rates.

He said the water and sewer usage rates won’t be discussed until later this year, when there will be a public hearing before any final rate changes are made.

Monday’s discussion will be more of a tool to clean up the city code’s language so utility rates are easier to update on a yearly basis, Beyard said.


Bryan Schutt

20080919 Survey results to be presented at Monday council meeting

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Economic development will revitalize Pennsylvania Avenue in Westminster

Westminster Eagle column by Kevin Dayhoff: Economic development will revitalize Pennsylvania Avenue in Westminster

Economic development will revitalize Pennsylvania Avenue

Is rezoning for business development the right idea for a comeback on Pennsylvania Avenue?

By Kevin Dayhoff
kdayhoff@carr.org Posted on www.explorecarroll.com 8/27/08 (573 words)
At a recent meeting of the Westminster Common Council, it was announced that Councilman Greg Pecoraro will chair another Pennsylvania Avenue initiative, and that Councilwoman Suzanne Albert will serve as vice-chair.

You may recall it was on Sept. 18, 2002, that a previous Pennsylvania Avenue committee announced its findings.

Previously, there had been a number of community-based initiatives to address crime on Pennsylvania Avenue; which had started to become a matter of heightened public discussion in 1999.

One of the immediate impetuses to form the 2002 initiative was the February 2002 groundbreaking for the Carroll Arts Center. At the time, there was enthusiasm to unleash market forces on Pennsylvania Avenue and extend the Westminster business footprint back to the area by encouraging art and cultural venues and businesses.

The 2002 Pennsylvania Avenue initiative resulted in an extensive set of recommendations pertaining to various ways government could stimulate revitalization of this critical area of town. The recommendations addressed public safety, housing and economic development opportunities. It included changing the zoning of the area to open it up to art studios, professional offices, coffee shops, barber shops and beauty parlors and the like.

In short, it aimed to restore the area to what it looked like -- and what made the area of town successful -- before the disastrous November 1979 decision by the then-Westminster mayor and council to rezone this thriving business section of town to strictly residential.

Prior to 1979, Pennsylvania Avenue looked like East Main Street, with a successful mix of residential and business uses of property.
Almost 30 years later, East Main is flourishing with art shops, coffee houses, professional offices, and residential housing -- mixed together in an approach that looks like a traditional town in the 1800s and 1900s. It looks like the very recipe of property uses that made Westminster great.

Most, but not all, of the 2002 committee recommendations were adopted. However, the one proposal recognized as the best long-range systemic solution -- economic development -- never materialized.

As a result, since then, even more opportunities have been lost as constraints in water supply have stopped almost all economic development in Westminster. However, if rezoning efforts had been in place, adaptive reuse of properties on Pennsylvania Avenue could have presented wonderful opportunities for Westminster (because a property's existing water allocation could have been transferred).

Providing Pennsylvania Avenue property owners with the opportunities currently available to East Main Street would give owners alternatives in land use that they have been denied since November 1979.

How we treat an area that needs attention says a great deal about who we are as a community. And one of the best solutions to our budget problems is expanding our business footprint and the commercial tax base.

I recently spoke with Pecoraro, who is considered by many as a national authority on urban planning and public policy analysis. He says he has an open mind on the solutions for Pennsylvania Avenue, and emphasized that he wants to hear from citizens and explore any option that may help.

"I've put a great deal of thought into it. I want to build upon our successes; (and) be honest about what did not work," Pecoraro said.

The time has come to take a fresh look at the job creation and business opportunities on Pennsylvania Avenue. After many years, problems persist. It's time to try a different approach. The stakes are high for all of Westminster.


Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. E-mail him at
kdayhoff@carr.org.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

20070502 Looking up to appreciate local Westminster history


'Looking up' to appreciate local history

May 8th, 2007

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpid=978&show=archivedetails&ArchiveID=1269983&om=1


Contest promotes city's historic architecture

05/02/07 By Jim Joyner

Members of the City of Westminster's Historic District Commission believe preservation efforts in the city are "looking up," and they hope local residents will also look up -- literally -- to participate in a contest designed to promote the community's historic architecture.

This month the commission is conducting its historical scavenger hunt, dubbed "History is Looking Up in Westminster."

The contest challenges local residents -- or anyone -- to identify specific features on a dozen historic buildings in downtown Westminster, and send in an entry that lists the addresses.

"We wanted to figure out some way to spark interest in historical preservation, and at the same time help people appreciate the unique facets of Westminster architecture," said Greg Goodell, chairman of the contest for the commission.

The contest is being conducted in May as part of Historic Preservation Month, and has a deadline for entries of May 31.

Winners will be chosen at random from all those who identify the addresses correctly.

(Photos of all the historic features to be identified, and a list of "clues," appears on the link below.)

First prize is a framed limited edition print depicting 27 historic buildings in Westminster, created last year by artist Connie Ward Woolard.

Other prizes will include gift certificates from area merchants. And beginning May 14, participants who bring their entries to city hall during business hours will receive a commemorative poster.

Goodell has been a member of the Westminster Historic District Commission since 2004, and works in the history business -- he is employed by the National Park Service as superintendent of Museum Services at Gettysburg National Battlefield.

He said the commission thought of the contest as a fun way to pique the curiosity of local residents, and also to get people to walk around Main Street and "rediscover" the downtown area.

"That's certainly the other part of it," he said. "We hope people will go out, look for these buildings and also explore Main Street."

The commission led by example -- Goodell said members toured downtown to look at, and discuss, possible sites to be part of the contest.

"We went out as a group, walked around downtown and took some pictures, then we sat down as a commission and tried to pick the 12 most compelling," he said.

The result is a mix of eras and styles, from ornate iron detailing to chimney pots, and styles that reflect Gothic, Greek Revival and French influences. And here's a clue: All of the sites chosen are along Main Street and its immediate side streets, Goodell said.

"We hope people have fun, and learn a little bit more about their community," he said.

"I think people appreciate history in Westminster -- we know people come out in large numbers to the Memorial Day Parade and for other events," Goodell said.

"We hope that seeing some of the city's historic architecture will help people have a deeper appreciation of it, and feel strongly about wanting to preserve it, and asking, 'How can I help?' "

Mission of preservation

The history contest is part of the current Historic District Commission's goal to raise awareness about the city's rich history -- and its preservation efforts.

The commission is composed of five residents who work with city staff on issues relating to preservation. Some of the members, like Goodell, make history their living; others simply have a keen interest in preservation.

Though it's not a requirement, all of the current members of the commission live within Westminster's Historic District.

It is a requirement that they be city residents.

The current members, in addition to Goodell, are Chairman Dean Camlin, Vice Chair Kristen Stevens, Laurie Walters and Susan Thomas.

Goodell said the commission can review applications for changes in historic properties -- but the city has no ordinance mandating that property owners must comply.

The panel's big focus, he said, is helping to make residents aware of tax credits and other programs that exist to help owners of historic properties improve their homes and businesses.

A recent workshop on the subject resulted in a few new applications for tax credits -- which makes Goodell happy.

"Maryland is really a good state in terms of preservation," he said. "We try to make people more aware of what's out there to help."

For more information on the work of the Historic District Commission, call Tim Rogers at City Hall, at 410-848-4628.

Ready, set, hunt ...

The Westminster Historic District Commission is promoting its "History is Looking Up in Westminster" contest. The contest appears on the link below, and the commission will also have copies of the entry "poster" available at its booth at the Westminster Flower and Jazz Festival on May 12 along Main Street.

In addition to being available below, additional copies of the form are available at the office of The Westminster Eagle, 121 E. Main St. So click away and start looking up -- entries are due at City Hall by May 31.