The Freedom Area Citizens' Council has launched a petition drive calling for a developer and Kmart's parent company to compromise in order to re-develop Eldersburg's Carrolltown Center.

Owings Mills-based developer Black Oak Associates is in negotiations with Sears Holding Corp. to work out details on Sears' long-term lease on the Kmart property before redevelopment of the mall property at Liberty and Ridge roads.

FACC President Ellen Dix said that a combination of hearing community concerns, witnessing vandalism and crime near the center and the group's growing impatience in waiting to see progress were the triggers to start a petition.

"We would like to see Kmart, Sears Holding Corp. and Black Oak to come to the table with a definitive plan," she said.

Dix called the petition a "soft petition" because she said South Carroll residents appreciate having a choice between Wal-Mart and Kmart and an anchor store will be needed in a new Carrolltown Center.

She said she would collect signatures while she is in the community volunteering, and that people can sign the petition at FACC meetings.

The next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at the South Carroll Senior Center, 5745 Bartholow Road, Eldersburg.

At that meeting, representatives from Baltimore Gas and Electric will speak, offer money-saving tips and explain to residents how to read their bill.

Signature collection will continue at FACC meetings, which are on the third Thursday of each month, until Dix deems that the response is substantial enough to send to Black Oak and Sears Holding. She said she is unsure of how many signatures she would collect and would want before she sends the petition.

"The more signatures we have, the better the response and the sooner this will come to a conclusion," she said.

Kmart spokespersons have said that FACC's issues are with Black Oak and the responsibility to improve the center is Black Oak's.

Black Oak representatives have said they remain hopeful for a resolution with Sears Holding and do not want to be involved in a disagreement between FACC and Kmart.

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