Why are the Carrolls seeking to change the zoning?
For many years, Howard County government has been concerned that the Carrolls would exercise their development rights and the Doughoregan property would be fully developed. As a result, the county began a dialogue with the family to explore ways to limit development. Among other preservation initiatives, the family agreed to permanently place more than half of their property (500 acres) in agricultural preservation, eliminating their ability to develop that land. Instead of developing that larger portion of its land, the family is instead developing a much smaller portion (221 acres) in a corner of the property that will minimize disruption to the agricultural and historical resources of Doughoregan. To develop that area, it is necessary to extend municipal sewer and water (the Planned Service Area, or PSA) just beyond the PSA’s current limits. This process is more fully described in the Master Plan section of this website.
