Carroll ‘unprepared’ to attract new jobs by Kelsey Volkmann, The Examiner Mar 2, 2007Carroll County - Carroll “is wholly unprepared to take advantage” of opportunities to attract new jobs, a new study reveals.
“Despite its size, location [and] educated and affluent population, Carroll’s economic performance is still that of a rural residential suburb,” according to a report from consultants Parsons Brinckerhoff, an international planning firm that built New York City’s first subway.
“Carroll’s current inventory of zoned industrial land is in the wrong places, too broken up and outside existing sewer and water services areas.”
Consultants presented their findings Thursday to the Economic Development Commission. The county hired them to:
» Evaluate the obstacles blocking new businesses from moving in.
» Offer suggestions on breaking Carroll from its status as a bedroom community.
» Help update the Pathways Plan, or road map for growth.
Land prices and the build-out of neighboring jurisdictions will push development here, consultants found, but Carroll has a “sparse network of state roads,” and 90 percent of its commercial parcels are five acres or smaller.
Consultants recommended that Carroll create more types of industrial and commercial zoning. Carroll has five basic kinds, while most nearby counties have between eight and 11.
This prevents Carroll from offering more mixed-use options where, for example, a factory sits next to offices, county spokeswoman Vivian Laxton said. The more businesses Carroll fosters, she said, the less of a tax burden residents will have to shoulder.
If officials don’t change their zoning, they will perpetuate tax-base imbalances, lose potential employment lands to houses and increase rush-hour traffic, the study shows.
All economic development hinges on Carroll finding more water sources in the face of looming shortages, County Planning Director Steve Horn said.
Meeting water and sewer demands for 2030 will cost $153 million, according to the study.
Tax bases
Commercial and industrial assessable tax bases by county
» Baltimore: 19 percent
» Howard: 18 percent
» Harford: 14 percent
» Carroll: 12 percent
Source: Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation
(Parsons Brinckerhoff used counties closest to Carroll for comparison)
Percentage of commuters who work outside county
» Carroll: 51.7 percent
» Howard: 51.6 percent
» Harford: 44.6 percent
» Baltimore: 29.5 percent
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
20070302 Carroll unprepared to attract new jobs kvbe
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