What’s Ahead for the Mount Airy Town Council: Key Issues to Watch

This Spring, several issues are headed to the Town Council that could directly impact residents, businesses, and the town’s future growth. From a proposed 50-acre annexation for a sports complex to new rules for food trucks, and from stronger standards for rezoning decisions to how the town manages its limited water and sewer capacity, these topics touch on both everyday life and long-term planning. Be sure to tune in to the Town Council meetings, held the first Monday of each month at 7:30 PM at Town Hall. You can watch live on YouTube via https://www.carrollmediacenter.org/series/town-of-mount-airy

W. Watersville Road Annexation: Resolution 2025-47

A key topic on the upcoming agenda is the annexation of 50 acres on West Watersville Road into the Town of Mount Airy for development of a sports complex. The move would expand the town's boundary and its property tax base, but faces steep opposition from nearby Nottingham community residents.

The annexation’s potential economic and quality-of-life benefits were not clearly established during months of Planning Commission deliberations. While an expanded tax base is an obvious advantage, it remains uncertain whether the resulting revenue would outweigh the costs of extending utility infrastructure and providing ongoing services. If the town decides not to annex the property, Elite Baseball is likely to pursue development of the complex through Carroll County. Should the county approve the project, Mount Airy and its residents would have little to no control over how the complex is developed.

In February, the Planning Commission unanimously recommended against the annexation. The final decision now rests with the Town Council, which will hold at least one public hearing before making its final decision.

What you can do: Do you love the idea of a training complex and club-level ballfields in town? Do you oppose the idea of tournaments coming to town? Email your town council members to express support or opposition for the annexation and/or show up to public hearings when they're scheduled.

Regulation of Mobile Food Units: Ordinance 2026-1

The Town Council will consider a new ordinance, 2026-1, which sets regulations for food trucks operating within Mount Airy. Food trucks have become popular, particularly in the downtown area, offering additional dining options and supporting local entrepreneurs. While all food trucks must meet state and county health requirements, Mount Airy is considering further regulating them. Key provisions in the ordinance include additional town permit fees, minimum distances from brick-and-mortar restaurants, and restrictions on food trucks in the downtown zone.

While it appears that ‘Food Truck Mondays’ would be able to continue operating, it is unclear how the ordinance would affect existing non–brick-and-mortar businesses such as Off Center and Walker’s on Main. The Planning Commission has not yet finalized its recommendation on this ordinance.

What you can do: Do you love the options that food trucks bring to town and disagree with additional red tape for small business owners? Do you believe food trucks create a problem for the town and need additional regulation/restriction? Consider showing up to a Town Council meeting the first Monday of each month or write to Town Council to share your opinion.

Rezoning of Properties: Ordinance 2026-2

The rezoning of a property can affect land use, property values, and community character, and is a complex process with the potential for errors and missteps. Ordinance 2026-2 seeks to strengthen transparency, consistency, and accountability by requiring clear documentation and defined evaluation criteria. While the ordinance offers many benefits, some Planning Commissioners have expressed concern that it could place additional burdens on town staff through expanded public notification and increased documentation and record-keeping requirements.

The Planning Commission continues to review this ordinance to make its recommendation before it goes to the Town Council for approval.

What you can do:  Do you believe the town should be thorough in its consideration of property rezonings and notify property owners when their property is under discussion for rezoning? Or, do you believe the existing town code provides enough guidance on rezonings? Consider showing up to a Town Council meeting the first Monday of every month or share your opinion via email.

Water Capacity: Resolution 2026-9

Every two years, the Town Planning Commission must make a recommendation to the Town Council on the allocation of the Town’s available water and sewer capacity. In March, the Planning Commission gave a favorable recommendation to the town engineer’s proposed allocation, which will now move forward to the Town Council for approval.

While this process is typically routine, this year there is a notable disagreement over how much water is actually available to allocate. The Town Water & Sewer Commission, using a method derived from the Maryland Department of the Environment, calculated 9,668 gallons per day of available water—roughly half of the town engineer’s estimate of 19,272. If this discrepancy is not resolved, it could affect the Town’s ability to allocate water for future development and community needs. For perspective, Mount Airy’s available yield in 2016–2017 was approximately 81,000 gallons per day. Whether the current figure is closer to 9,000 or 19,000 gpd, the decline is significant. At its core, this is not just a technical dispute—it is a question of how much growth the Town can realistically support in the years ahead.

What you can do: Do you think the town should pass the allocation of water resolution and move on? Or, do you think the town council should pause and consider whether the town staff is using the correct method for available water calculation? Email your town council members to express your support or concern and attend public hearings when they're scheduled. This matter is on the agenda for the April 6th meeting.

Why it Matters

These aren’t isolated decisions—they are interconnected choices about growth, infrastructure, and how Mount Airy defines itself moving forward. Whether it’s development, small business regulation, or resource management, the path the Town Council chooses will shape the community for years to come. Now is the time for residents to pay attention, ask questions, and make their voices heard. In a growing town, awareness and engagement isn't optional--it's essential.

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If you live in Mount Airy or are interested in its development, staying informed about these ordinances, resolutions, and future meetings will help you understand how the town is evolving and how you can participate in shaping its future. Check out the town's website for upcoming agendas and meeting minutes: www.mountairymd.gov/agendacenter