Doughoregan plans draw concern
Proposal to build 325 homes worries neighbors
By Sarah Breitenbach
sbreitenbach@patuxent.com
Posted 10/22/09
Plans to rezone a portion of land once owned by a signer of the Declaration of Independence could reach county officials by next week.
However, a number of community members who attended Wednesday night's meeting at which the plans were outlined, voiced concern about additional traffic and additional students if more than 300 homes are built on historic Doughoregan Manor south of Frederick Road.
Rosemary Noble, who lives in Chateau Ridge, said like other residents, she worries about the volume of cars on the rural roads near her home.
“(There will be) an increase in families, children attending schools,” she said. “And of course people who have lived in these neighborhoods for 30 or 40 years are seeing what they came to Howard County for changing drastically.”
Joe Rutter, a developer and consultant to the Carroll family, presented the plan and said it will be submitted in the next few days. The rezoning would give the decedents of Charles Carroll permission to build up to 325 single-family homes on the east side of their property.
Siblings Phillip and Camilla Carroll, owners of Doughoregan, are hoping the new development proposal will help them preserve the 18th-century estate. Doughoregan Manor, which spans nearly 900 acres, has been in the Carroll family for nine generations.
“In order to restore the manor and outbuildings, something needs to happen,” Rutter said.
The Carrolls also have applied to place 500 of the 900 acres into the county’s agricultural preservation program, permanently preventing development on that land.
If approved, the family could be awarded up to $40,000 per acre of the easement.
Without approval of the family’s proposed changes to the county’s master plan and zoning regulations, the Carrolls might not accept the agricultural easement, Rutter said.
“I can’t say that they will, but the intent is that they be tied together,” Rutter said.
A traffic study would be completed if the county approves the development and zoning plan, Rutter said.
However, a number of community members who attended Wednesday night's meeting at which the plans were outlined, voiced concern about additional traffic and additional students if more than 300 homes are built on historic Doughoregan Manor south of Frederick Road.
Rosemary Noble, who lives in Chateau Ridge, said like other residents, she worries about the volume of cars on the rural roads near her home.
“(There will be) an increase in families, children attending schools,” she said. “And of course people who have lived in these neighborhoods for 30 or 40 years are seeing what they came to Howard County for changing drastically.”
Joe Rutter, a developer and consultant to the Carroll family, presented the plan and said it will be submitted in the next few days. The rezoning would give the decedents of Charles Carroll permission to build up to 325 single-family homes on the east side of their property.
Siblings Phillip and Camilla Carroll, owners of Doughoregan, are hoping the new development proposal will help them preserve the 18th-century estate. Doughoregan Manor, which spans nearly 900 acres, has been in the Carroll family for nine generations.
“In order to restore the manor and outbuildings, something needs to happen,” Rutter said.
The Carrolls also have applied to place 500 of the 900 acres into the county’s agricultural preservation program, permanently preventing development on that land.
If approved, the family could be awarded up to $40,000 per acre of the easement.
Without approval of the family’s proposed changes to the county’s master plan and zoning regulations, the Carrolls might not accept the agricultural easement, Rutter said.
“I can’t say that they will, but the intent is that they be tied together,” Rutter said.
A traffic study would be completed if the county approves the development and zoning plan, Rutter said.
user comments (1)
user commonsenseplease says...
So they're getting $20 million from the county for the 500 acres going into ag preservation. How much more do the Carrolls need to preserve the historic sites? Seems like a shake-down. If the County really feels that preserving this site is a priority, maybe there's another way to get it done than to just solve the problem by building more houses. Howard Co has enough sprawl that costs the County big bucks to service.
Posted 4:54 PM, 10.24.09
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