• Freedom Community Comprehensive Plan Small Area Amendment & Overlay Zoning District Survey

  • Carroll County is reviewing the MD 26 (Liberty Rd) and MD 32 (Sykesville Rd) commercial corridor in the Freedom area to understand how it serves the community today and whether the land-use designations established in the 2018 Freedom Community Comprehensive Plan still reflect current conditions. 


    This is not a new comprehensive plan. Instead, the County is building on the 2018 Vision by taking a fresh look at how the commercial corridor has changed. The study was initiated to ensure that the Freedom area retains its sense of place and that new commercial development is compatible with the existing neighborhoods. The County is also considering an Overlay Zoning District to help enact the vision through clearer development standards.


    Your feedback will help the County understand current conditions, identify community priorities, and develop recommendations for the Freedom commercial study area shown below.

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  • The survey should take approximately five minutes. Please respond based on your experience living, working, owning property or a business, traveling through, or visiting the Freedom area.

  • Section 1: Your Connection to the Freedom Area

  • 1. What connects you to the Freedom area? Select all that apply.
  • 2. How often do you visit or travel through the study area?
  • 3. How do you typically travel within the Freedom area? Select all that apply.

  • Section 2: Confirming the 2018 Vision

  • 2018 Vision Statement: Freedom is a suburban and rural community; a safe place, with a high quality of life; high-performing schools; and recreational opportunities. Growth is carefully managed to protect quality of life; values; promote a sense of place; and preserve the character of existing communities; while supporting measured, balanced commercial development and employment opportunities. Carroll County values, and citizens’ unalienable rights of life, liberty, and property, are respected, protected, and sustained.  

  • 4. Does this vision still fit the Freedom area?
  • 5. The 2018 plan includes the following Economic Development goals and objectives. Which are the highest priorities for the Freedom commercial area today? Select up to three.
  • 6. The 2018 plan includes the following Land Use goals and objectives. Which are the highest priorities for the Freedom commercial area today? Select up to three.
  • 7. What has changed most since 2018? Select up to two.

  • Section 3: Current Issues and Priorities

  • 8. What most needs attention in the commercial core (study area) of Freedom? Select up to three.
  • 9. Which transportation improvements are most important in the commercial core (study area) of Freedom? Select up to three.

  • Section 4: Development and Community Character

  • 10. Within the commercial core (study area) of Freedom, which opportunities would best support the 2018 vision and goals? Select up to three.
  • 11. What concerns you most about future development in the commercial core(study area) of Freedom? Select up to three.
  • 12. Which public spaces or community amenities would be most valuable to the commercial core (study area) of Freedom? Select up to two.

  • Section 5: Overlay Zoning District

    The proposed Overlay Zoning District would help implement recommendations from the Small Area Plan Amendment to enhance the visual appearance and strengthen the sense of place within the study area.
  • 14. What should the overlay district focus on? Select up to three.

  • Section 6: Optional Information

    The following questions are optional. Responses will help the County understand whether the survey reached a broad cross-section of the community.
  • 16. What is your ZIP code?
  • 17. How long have you lived, worked, or owned property or a business in the Freedom area?
  • 18. What is your age group?

  • Section 7: Closing Page

    Thank you for participating. Your feedback will help Carroll County and its consultant team confirm the community’s vision, evaluate potential updates, and prepare recommendations for the plan amendment and Overlay Zoning District.

    Project updates, draft materials, public meetings, and additional opportunities to comment will be posted on the County’s project website.

    https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/freedomsmallareaplan

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