town of mount airy - Maryland Department of Planning

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Historic Preservation and Downtown Revitalization: In 1984, a survey was undertaken by the Maryland Historical Trust that resulted in the delineation of a Historic District in Mount Airy. This district is now listed in the National Register of Historic places. The Historic District is centered in downtown and located predominantly along Main Street, between Flower Ave. and the Mount Airy Elementary School. The District includes the downtown area and most surrounding older residential areas. The Historic District survey rated every building for its contribution to the historic character of the District. Three properties were rated "A" having exceptional significance; the Mount Airy Train Station, Calvary United Methodist Church, and Pine Grove Chapel. About a dozen buildings, mostly in the downtown area, received a "C" rating, which designates buildings that are potential historic resources but require rehabilitation or restoration. Most other buildings, particularly residences, were rated "B" historically significant. The historic district listing can be used to promote rehabilitation of buildings in the downtown area through tax credits, grants, and low interest loans available for historic preservation of commercial buildings. 118
Revitalization of the Downtown, the most significant place in Mount Airy's public realm, must give due consideration to historic preservation. A "Downtown Improvements" plan could be established to suggest methods by which the historic downtown may be improved. The plan should be directed at taking a comprehensive look at how to improve the Downtown area, including the potential for historic preservation and restoration, possible changes to zoning and land-use to encourage Downtown development, marketing strategies to attract new businesses, public improvements such as lighting and signage, and available grant and loan programs that may be available to execute such programs. The plan could also serve to educate residents about future history and future growth options for the Downtown. The plan creation should involve discussion and feedback from many groups, including downtown merchants, local historians, architects or persons with related professional backgrounds, the Planning Commission, the Town Council and local residents. Heritage Tourism: The term heritage tourism refers to tourist activity that is oriented around the visitation of historic and cultural attractions, natural resources, and local dining and lodging establishments that impart a unique, regional experience not duplicated anywhere. Heritage tourists are in search of the “real” and “authentic” qualities of a place. The heritage tourism market is a lucrative on to pursue since studies have shown that tourists who fit the heritage tourist profile often are more highly educated, older and wealthier and, as a result tend to spend more per trip, than the average tourist. However, to attract the heritage tourist, Mount Airy must be able to offer them the type of unique and authentic experience they seek. Mount Airy is fortunate to have many of the requisite qualities for heritage tourism – quaint and attractive downtown that have been preserved to a large extent, an array of unique local dining and shopping opportunities, a calendar of events that reflect the region, and beautiful rural scenery. But in order to capitalize upon the potential that exists, a conscious effort must be put forth to retain and attract unique businesses and cultural facilities, preserve the historic fabric of the towns, and protect the rural countryside and way of life. One effort that is currently underway to do just this is the designation of the Maryland Civil War Heritage Area. This effort seeks to gain certification as a State Heritage Area for Mount Airy. In Mount Airy, these sites primarily relate to troop movement through the area prior to and just after the Battle of Gettysburg. The Union VIth Corps and 6 th Calvary passed through Mount Airy on their way to Gettysburg and Union Troops were quartered in Pine Grove Chapel to guard the National Road and the Mount Airy Station, a freight depot for the B&O Railroad. Properties within certified heritage areas are eligible for grants for planning, design, interpretation, marketing, and programming in support of Heritage Area Management Plan objectives. Additionally, Target Investment Zones (TIZs) have been identified as part of this process. TIZs are areas towards which substantial amounts of funding are to be directed as a result of their having concentrations of heritage resources and visitor resources. Mount Airy should seek to become a Targeted Investment Zone (TIZ). Properties within the TIZs are eligible for additional grants and loans for capital projects and economic development projects, as well as state income tax 119
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TOWN OF MOUNT AIRY MASTER PLAN 2003
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MOUNT AIRY MASTER PLAN TABLE OF CON
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• Analysis of Town Structure 120
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in 1831. Locomotives and cars were
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Main Street Looking North, circa 19
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annexed in 1966 and was considered
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Regional Growth Patterns Growth wit
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Analysis of Surrounding Counties Gr
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Demographic Analysis of the Town Fo
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Mount Airy Population Projections t
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Overall, the number and type of job
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Policy Recommendations To better ma
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Introduction CHAPTER 2 MASTER PLAN
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Citizen involvement and participati
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7. Adequate public facilities and i
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Goal- Mitigate the Impacts of Regio
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State Objectives CHAPTER 3 NATURAL
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Geology Geologic formations that un
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classifications as follow: a) Chest
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tributaries; however, in calculatin
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is found in Mount Airy. b. Wellhead
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pumped well. The U. S. Environmenta
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necessary reporting requirements to
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CHAPTER 4 LAND USE AND ZONING Land
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semi-commercial uses are utilizing
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Housing Inventory and Housing Issue
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Housing Stock The first major alter
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R2- Low Density Residential: This z
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expansions. Commercial zoning locat
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oughly a five and half-year buildou
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The remaining properties are consid
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categorization of current zoning. H
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The existing RE- residential existi
Page 67 and 68: 8. Encourage the "master planning"
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Page 71 and 72: pressure for growth, while still en
Page 73 and 74: Staff Recommendation: The road shou
Page 75 and 76: Staff Recommendation: Minimize any
Page 77 and 78: taking its toll in several ways. Th
Page 79 and 80: Street Improvement Program/Capital
Page 81 and 82: Policy Recommendations: The overall
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Page 85 and 86: provision of adequate services: tha
Page 87 and 88: Town Water and Sewer System Town Wa
Page 89 and 90: Available Land Development within t
Page 91 and 92: Recent studies done by the Town’s
Page 93 and 94: Water and Sewer Service Areas The W
Page 95 and 96: Schools Both Carroll and Frederick
Page 97 and 98: Twin Ridge Elementary School, Town
Page 99 and 100: Parks and Recreation Park and recre
Page 101 and 102: amphitheater, and public swimming p
Page 105 and 106: Emergency Services Fire Department:
Page 109 and 110: Police Protection Since 1975, the R
Page 111 and 112: Solid Waste and Recycling The Town
Page 113 and 114: 5. Promote the coordination of the
Page 117: emphasized in the retail area in or
Page 121 and 122: of different building types has fos
Page 123 and 124: Downtown Mount Airy, looking south-
Page 125 and 126: walking and biking between neighbor
Page 127 and 128: width (identifying parking and trav
Page 129 and 130: - An establishment of a variety of
Page 131 and 132: Policy Recommendations: 1. Reinforc
Page 133 and 134: CHAPTER 8 IMPLEMENTATION The Compre
Page 135: System wide regular evaluations of
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town of mount airy - Maryland Department of Planning

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