FREDERICK, Md. (AP) — Frederick County is adopting a more aggressive growth plan that state planning officials consider an invitation to residential sprawl.

The all-Republican county commissioners voted 4-1 Thursday to adopt changes to a 20-year land-use plan that the previous, Democrat-led board approved in 2010.

The new zoning could lead to construction of 12,600 new homes on about 9,000 acres.

The Maryland Department of Planning said last year that rewriting the plan would extend residential sprawl and require construction of more roads and schools.

Several environmental groups sued to stop the rewrite but their lawsuit was dismissed in June as being premature.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)