The Finksburg News Finksburg Planning Area Council, Inc. Newsletter

To Promote A Finksburg Community, Whose Objective Is To Preserve The Fundamental Quality Of Life Where Farms, Families And Businesses May Coexist In A Manner Beneficial To All

FPAC Releases County Commissioners’ Scorecard and Reviews Finksburg Corridor Plan At Next Meeting!!!!!!

Who: All residents of Finksburg and its environs are invited

What: To attend the Finksburg Planning Area Council general membership meeting

When: Thursday January 22^nd at 7 p.m. Snow Date: January 29th

Where: Sandy Mount United Methodist Church

Commissioners’ Scorecard Released:

The Finksburg Planning Area Council will present the 2003 County Commissioners’ scorecard at the next general membership meeting. Our group has graded the panel’s work on 14 issues affecting Finksburg and the county, from billboards to land preservation to the county gateway.

Finksburg Corridor Conservation Plan:
The FPAC Board of Directors met Saturday, January 3^rd to review the Carroll County planning staff’s Finksburg Corridor Conservation Plan. The 75-page proposal is a set of goals to help achieve an overall vision for the future of Finksburg’s corridor and area outside the corridor. To better inform residents about the plan, Martin Schmidt, FPAC Treasurer will give a presentation, through aerial maps, showing how the geography and the topography of Election District 4 have affected growth. Martin’s presentation will include computerized maps - including 3-D views - of the overall framework of natural features and man-made development in the 4th Election District, to see where we are today and where we might try to be in the future. In the process, we'll discuss some of the comments the FPAC Board is making to the Planning Department, and listen to what meeting attendees
have to add. We'll look at the big picture, as well as being able to look at details of our area - come see the bird's eye view, and you might even see what your house looks like from the air!

Local Delegation Meeting:

Carroll County’s General Assembly members are scheduled to meet with the public Saturday, January 24^th to discuss the upcoming session in Annapolis. The meeting will be held in room 003 of the county office building at 9 a.m. The proposed transfer tax is one of the more controversial issues facing local lawmakers.

Membership Dues:

It’s the start of a new year for FPAC and it’s time to pay your yearly dues. If you haven’t paid already, you can do so at our next meeting. Dues are $10 per family and $25 for businesses for the year. We are working on getting our membership numbers up in ‘04. Thanks for your help and support.

Zoning Issues:

A couple of zoning appeal hearings that involve Finksburg is slated for later this month. We will keep you updated on their progress. Here they are:

On January 28, 2004, at the times noted below, or as soon thereafter as possible, the Carroll County Board of Zoning Appeals will hold public hearings in the Hearing Room 003/004 (lower-level), Carroll County Office Building, 225 North Center Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157, for the following cases and any other official business as time allows:

9:30 a.m., Case 4896, Permit 03-4244, modification of conditional use approvals granted in Case 770 (hearing 12/20/72) and Case 1526 (hearing 2/4/80) to allow offices and storage; or, in the alternative, a request for the enlargement and/or change of a non-conforming use. The site is located at 1938 Deer Park Road, Finksburg, on property zoned “R-40,000” Residential District in Election District 4. By: Paul L. Bortner. Basis: Code of Public Local Laws and Ordinances, Chapter 223-186 A (2) and (3) and 223-186 B

11:00 a.m., Case 4899, Permit 03-4365, an appeal of a letter from the Zoning Administrator, dated November 10, 2003, regarding a solid waste transfer station. The site is located at 2900 Dede Road, Finksburg, on property zoned “I-R” Restricted Industrial District in Election District 4. By: Roll-Off Express, Inc. Basis: Code of Public Local Laws and Ordinances, Chapter 223-118 (7) and 223-186 A (1)

Web site:

Have you been to the new Finksburg web site? If not it's at www.finksburg.org

Board of Directors:

Debbie Ridgely- President

John Lopez- Vice President

Maureen Ackerman- Secretary

Martin Schmidt-Treasurer

Mat Tiahrt-Communications Director

Board members At-Large-

Richard Ackerman

Mike Davis

Doris Edward

Donald Hoffman

You can reach any of these board members by going to the finksburg.org web site.

If there is a neighbor or a business you regularly trade with, ask them if they would like the newsletter sent to them electronically. Send us their address so they are included in future mailings.

Be informed! Attend the Next Meeting!

FPAC Inc. Schedule

1/22/04 General membership meeting- Scorecard results released, Corridor draft plan recommendations. 7 p.m. Sandy Mount UMC.

1/24/04 Public hearing with local delegation to Annapolis. 9 a.m., room 003, county office building.

2/4/04 FPAC Board meeting

2/26/04 General membership meeting-SHA presentation, growth task force update.

3/25/04 General Membership meeting- Water testing update, public safety update

Save a Stamp: Receive your newsletter electronically. Send your e-mail address to Richard Ackerman at richard.ackerman@finksburg.org.

ü Mark Your Calendar: General Council meetings are the 4^th Thursday of the month at the Sandy Mount United Methodist Church. Meetings begin at 7 PM. Board meetings are usually held on the 1st Wednesday of each month.

Yearly Membership Fee: $10 per Household, $25 per business

Dues: You can now pay your 2004 dues. The organization uses money from dues to pay for the printing and mailing costs of this newsletter and other mailings.

______ I would like to join the Finksburg Planning Area Council, Inc. a not-for-profit organization.

_____ I would like to renew my membership. (Dues and donations not tax deductible)

______ Yes, I would also like to volunteer. (Board membership, roadside trash pickup, county meeting attendance, etc.)

______ I would like to make an additional donation of $______________ to the FPAC.

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Finksburg Planning Area Council, Inc. P O Box 70 Finksburg, Maryland 21048