Finksburg Corridor Plan - Carroll County Government

Finksburg Corridor Plan
This plan focuses on balancing the mix of planned land uses within the corridor to
promote the plan’s vision.
The BoulevardCommercial land use designation promotes retention and creation of
small-scale business, office and retail uses that will serve bothsupport the localservice
and retail needs of the surrounding community and the highway user.provide for the basic
needs of the regional traveler. Limited opportunities for residential development are also
envisioned for the BoulevardCommercial area, particularly on land that lies between MD
140 and Old Westminster Pike. In this vicinity, opportunities are envisioned for
highway-oriented business uses along MD 140 and residential or mixed uses along Old
Westminster Pike, to create a more compatible character of development within the
historic Finksburg area. Development of properties within the Commercial area will
strive to incorporate creative design elements, consistent architectural and signage
themes, and improved access to adjacent commercial properties. Realizing this type of
development, however, may require that community water and sewer service be made
available given the relatively small lot sizes.
Existing Industrial areas are retained, with the exception of areas immediately adjacent to
MD 140, where the BoulevardCommercial designation replaces Industrial in recognition
of the plan’s vision for the gatewayGateway and the predominantly commercial nature of
the area alreadycurrently in existence. No expansion to the Industrial areas is
promotedanticipated, in response to the plan’s emphasis on environmentally sensitive
development and the need to protect water quality and improve the appearance of the
gatewayGateway area.
Residential land use designations respond to the historic community of Finksburg and the
neighborhoods along Cedarhurst and Club House roads, providing opportunities for
residential uses along secondary roads to blend more seamlessly with the existing
community character.,
The importance of the MD 140 corridor to the vitality of Carroll County is clearly
recognized within this plan through efforts to improve the functionality and appearance of the
roadway. This can be accomplished best by allowing fewer vehicular access points along the
highway and encouraging development that is in keeping with the nature of high volume traffic
close to the corridor. In cooperation with the State Highway Administration, recommended
improvements to the MD 140 corridor within the gatewayGateway area have been developed as
part of this long-range plan.
In addition to being a main thoroughfare for Carroll County, the MD 140 corridor within
the gatewayGateway area serves as the focal point for many community activities. Balancing
both the needs of the Finksburg community and the region as a whole is vital in developing an
effective plan. As a result, continuing to build upon and improve the character of the Finksburg
community is a primary goal of this plan. A Boulevard concept was developed to achieve the
variety and intensity of land uses and quality of site design necessary to support the vision. The
Boulevard designation replaces the Commercial designation and also applies in limited instances
to some Industrial Restricted designated land.
Approved by Carroll County Planning & Zoning Commission - October 2010Revised Draft – November 2012 ♦ 8