Finksburg Planning and Citizens' Council Inc.
General Membership Meeting

Who: All residents of Finksburg and its environs are invited
When: Thursday June 26, 2008 at 7 p.m.
Where: Sandymount United Methodist Church

June Meeting: Steve Horn and an Update From Gerstell Academy:
Steve Horn, the director of planning for Carroll County, will join us. He will be available to discuss topics of local interest such as the Finksburg Plan and the recently enacted Gateway Tax credit for Finksburg gateway businesses. A representative from Gerstell Academy will also be on hand to discuss changes at the school.

Walnut Park Plaza:
Construction is underway at the new Walnut Park Plaza, located at the corner of Rt. 140 and Dede Rd. The owners are currently in final negotiations with a variety of retail tenants. This project has been shared at various times with FPACC as it has proceeded. We expect this site to be a positive example of what can be done to improve our gateway into Carroll County.

July Meeting: The Annual Finksburg Picnic at Sandymount Park:
The annual FPACC community picnic will take place at the pavilion in Sandymount Park on July 24th at 6:30 PM. Everyone from the Finksburg is invited. There is no cost, however a side dish or desert is greatly appreciated.

Attention Finksburg Residents and Businesses!
A gateway tax credit has been enacted for the Maryland Route 140 Corridor through Finksburg from the Baltimore County line. This proposal is important to the future development of the Finksburg Community. FPACC is a strong proponent of a Gateway Renovation Tax Credit. In a letter addressed to Lawrence (Larry) F. Twele, Director, Carroll County Department of Economic Development, we recommend that the proposed ordinance only be for improvement to existing businesses for facade, layout, signs, etc., that adhere strictly to the design guidelines. Furthermore we strongly urged them to consider the inclusion of the Planning Dept., the Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Rt. 140 Design Guidelines. Full Letter. The final approved ordinance was modified from what was originally proposed and addressed some of our concerns.

Proposed Auto Repair Facility, on Route 91 and Old Gamber Road
The County Board of Zoning Appeals has approved (on January 3, 2007) a proposed automobile repair facility on Old Gamber Road and Route 91 in Finksburg. Owner of the property, Brian DiMaggio was requesting a conditional use for an automobile service center and a variance for the building to be 13-thousand square feet instead of the permitted 10-thousand square feet on property zoned B-NR, neighborhood retail business district. The project was approved, however, the variance was not.
Map of the area: Area is the one labeled using the prior BL (now BNR) zoning designation
The current plan was up for reviewed at the Monday 4/28/2008 meeting of the Bureau of Development Review.

FPACC Election:
The 2008 FPACC election process has concluded. The election took place at the April general membership meeting. At the May meeting, new officers were officially installed. The current board of directors is listed below and contact information is available on our web site.

Membership Dues:
A reminder that it’s time to pay 2008 membership dues. To join or renew with our group, it only costs $10 per family and $25 for businesses. We accept online payments and checks. Please use the membership page. Business members are welcome to schedule a short presentation about their business at a general membership meeting. Thanks for your help and support.

Carroll County Public Library Being Built in Finksburg: ( More Information)
Groundbreaking for the new Finksburg Library took place August 2, 2007 at 9:00 AM on the property. FPACC representatives were on hand. Construction has started and progress can be tracked at: http://finksburglibrary.blogspot.com/ .

FPACC Board Has Unveiled Proposed Design Standards:
The FPACC board has been working on proposed new design standards for the county planning department to consider. The goal is to improve the image and the future landscape of Finksburg and the gateway into and out of Carroll County. We have shared the proposal with the public on a month by month basis. Some changes have been made based on discussions at public FPACC meetings (Draft Copy Of The Plan)Finksburg Comprehensive/Corridor/Community Plan: ( More Information)

Carroll County Comprehensive Plan - Pathways: ( www.carrollpathways.org)
The Carroll County Department of Planning has begun (in January 2005) an update of the countywide comprehensive plan. It is organizing community meetings. The purpose of the Grassroots Gatherings community meetings is to get input from as many community members as possible on how to get where we think we want to go in the future.

Be informed!  Attend the Next Meeting!