Westminster, MD, Tuesday, January 6, 2026 – Carroll County’s Department of Planning & Land Management (PLM) and municipalities collaboratively developed and updated one unified Water Resources Element (WRE) of the Master Plan. This comprehensive plan element is intended to satisfy the requirements of the Maryland Code, Land Use, § 1-410 and § 3-106, Water Resources Element.

Concurrent to the state review period and on behalf of the county and nine municipalities’ Planning Commissions, PLM is currently accepting public comment on the WRE.  A joint public hearing between the Carroll County Planning Commission and Planning Commissions for the towns of Manchester and New Windsor is scheduled for Wednesday evening, February 4, 2026, at 6 PM in the Reagan Room (003) at the county office building, 225 N. Center St. in Westminster. 

The towns of Hampstead, Mount Airy, Sykesville, Taneytown, Union Bridge, and Westminster will hold individual public hearings on the evenings of their regularly scheduled January meeting.  Check the WRE webpage for specific public hearing dates for these municipalities.

PLM will also host a public information session on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm in the Reagan Room (003) at the county office building in Westminster.  Members of the public are welcome to drop by anytime between 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM to talk with staff and ask questions in preparation for the public hearing.

Written comments may be emailed to: Brenda Dinne, PLM Special Projects Coordinator, at bdinne@carrollcountymd.gov or mailed to: Water Resources Element, Attn: Brenda Dinne, 225 North Center Street, Room 209, Westminster, MD 21157.  The open review period will close at the end of the public hearing on February 4, 2026.  Written and verbal comments will also be accepted by the Planning Commission during the public hearings.   

The WRE element is a draft and subject to change based on the comments received and deliberations of the Planning Commission.  Hardcopies are available upon request at the PLM office.

Contact Brenda Dinne at bdinne@carrollcountymd.gov or at 410-386-2140 with any questions or for more information.