(A) The following proposed or existing highways are hereby designated to be controlled-access highways and access thereto shall be subject to this subchapter:
(1) Westminster Bypass as shown on the Carroll County Comprehensive Plan for Westminster and Environs dated March 1985;
(2) Taneytown Bypass as shown on the Carroll County Comprehensive Plan for Taneytown and Environs dated November 1986;
(3) New Windsor Bypass as shown on the Comprehensive Plan for New Windsor and Environs dated August 25, 1981;
(4) Manchester Bypass as shown on the State Highway Administration Needs Inventory “HNI Line No. 46", revised June 23, 1987;
(5) Hampstead Bypass as shown on the Carroll County Comprehensive Plan for Hampstead and Environs dated November 1986; and
(6) Maryland Route No. 97 Extended as shown on the Carroll County Comprehensive “Mini” Plan Freedom Area and Environs dated December 23, 1980, and as shown on the State Highway Administration Needs Inventory “HNI Line No. 19", revised June 23, 1987.
(B) If, in the opinion of the county or the County Planning Commission, an existing or proposed highway ought to be designated a controlled-access highway or an expressway:
(1) The matter shall be referred to the Director of Public Works for review and evaluation by the Department of Public Works;
(2) The Director of Public Works shall cause a study and analysis to be prepared which reviews present and anticipated traffic conditions in the area affected by the proposed controlled-access highway, the anticipated cost to build or to designate the highway as a controlled-access highway, and a recommendation. The report shall be completed within 90 days and submitted to the county and the Planning Commission;
(3) The Planning Commission shall review the report of the Director and, after giving at least 20 days notice with a fair summary of the report of the Director in at least one newspaper of general circulation within the county, conduct at least one public hearing on the proposal at which the comments of the public will be heard, and within 60 days of its receipt of the report of the Department shall render its report and recommendation to the county;
(4) The county will review the recommendations of both the Department and the Planning Commission and may conduct further hearings on the subject, but shall not be required to conduct further hearings;
(5) Upon completion of its review, the county may designate the highway a controlled-access highway or an expressway; and
(6) The decision of the county shall be final and not subject to further review, despite any irregularities of procedure.
(2004 Code, § 99-2) (Ord. 99-10, passed 7-1-1999)