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The Mount Airy Town Council has tabled for 60 days a vote on a proposal to annex 600 acres of land south of Interstate 70 at the request of the residents who live there.

Town Council President Peter Helt said Wednesday that residents asked to delay Monday's vote so they could explore other options and get feedback from the new Carroll Board of County Commissioners, which will also be sworn in on Monday.

"They think they may get a better shake at the new commissioners," Helt said.

Skip Colvin, spokesman for the residents who live on the property, did not immediately return a call for comment.

More than a year ago, the residents asked the town to annex their land, which includes a nursing home, a few retail stores and about 200 households, including a mobile home park.

The effort was in part to prevent Carroll County from rezoning the land for commercial development. In spring 2009, county officials proposed rezoning the land for office park and employment use. The proposal was part of the Pathways Plan, which the residents vehemently opposed and the county later dropped.

If annexed into Mount Airy, the town — not Carroll County — would control the zoning, and the majority of residents have said they think that town officials will listen to them more than county officials.

acochrun@gazette.net