Doughoregan Manor - Development Plans

Development Plans

In an attempt to keep the majority of the property in the hands of the Carroll family for future generations, the owners of the estate struck a deal in 2008 with Erickson Retirement Communities to sell 150 acres (0.61 km2; 0.23 sq mi) with the option to sell an additional 38 acres (0.15 km2; 0.059 sq mi) in the future, but in June 2009 it was announced that the entire deal had fallen through, leaving the Carrolls back where they started, in a precarious financial situation. According to Camilla Carroll, co-owner of the estate, "There is no money now to restore anything, and historic buildings are falling down as we speak".

In addition, 36 acres (0.15 km2; 0.056 sq mi) may be donated to the county for parkland in order for the Carrolls to take advantage of the county's agricultural preservation program, which would protect 500 acres (2.0 km2) of their estate.

On 23 July 2010 members of the Howard County Council, sitting as the zoning board, unanimously approved a plan to rezone 200 acres of Doughoregan Manor. The zoning change will allow more than 300 single-family homes to be built on the east side of the property. Earlier in the year the council approved an extension of the public water and sewer system to the development. On 8 October 2010 a man who lives on the eastern edge of Doughoregan filed a petition in circuit court for judicial review of the zoning decision.