Frederick County might lobby against its own economic best interest?

It’s our money BoCC is spending
Originally published November 09, 2011

The Board of County Commissioners might join with other counties to hire a lobbyist who will “follow” PlanMaryland. Following is one thing, but spending our tax dollars lobbying to sabotage it is another.PlanMaryland promotes growth policies that will reduce the miles you travel and reduce community road cost by 71 percent. The policies will lower construction cost by 10 percent and lower nitrogen loading from new development (a major cost and impact on our waterways) by 72.9 percent. (Data source: PlanMaryland, Table 2-2.)

Let’s keep our eyes open; it is our money, after all.

JANICE WILES, Friends of Frederick County

Mr. Browning refers to sprawl development on farmland.  He doesn’t take in to account the property rights of ALL THE OTHER land owners in Frederick County and how sprawl hurts our property values, and severely impacts our quality of life.

And, he talked of limitations on economic growth and job creation.  PlanMaryland does nothing of the sort.  It merely puts commercial and industrial development (job growth, economic gain) in locations to maximize use of existing infrastructure and minimize public cost – there are 3000 acres zoned for that in the 20-year comprehensive plan (2010-2030).    And, if Mr. Browning equates “job creation” with construction jobs there would be no loss – construction workers can build on land that will minimize impact on public resources (as PlanMaryland proposes) or they can build on farmland where the public will have to pay to extend water and sewer, roads, and all other services (as Mr. Browning, as president of the Frederick County Farm Bureau proposes).

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/storyTools/print_archive_story.htm?storyID=129346, published August 31, 2011

The Frederick News-Post’s Aug. 26 editorial falsely portrays PlanMaryland in shades of red and blue. Plan Maryland is not about pitting Republicans against Democrats, nor is it about property rights. It is about sound decision-making and building communities where they make the most sense.Local governments have a poor track record in land-use decisions. Dangerous roads, overcrowded schools and the over-reliance on sand-mound technology are all testaments to bad local land-use decisions.

When politically expedient, local politicians frequently ignore comprehensive plans. Commissioner Blaine Young’s recent decision to reopen Frederick County’s 2010 Comprehensive Plan — as a prelude to rezoning for sprawling development of open space and farmland — is only the latest example of how politics can trump sound land-use planning.

But Frederick County is not alone. Examples can be found in counties all across Maryland, which is why Annapolis is stepping in to bring some order to the chaos. A civil society is based on rules. Right now too few follow the rules when it comes to land-use decisions and development, and instead opt for shortsighted monetary gain for a select few property owners and developers.

Why should you care? Sprawl development is expensive, and in Frederick County has invariably led to higher taxes and a decline in public services and facilities. That’s why you spend so much time on congested roads that are unsafe and in disrepair; why our schools are chronically overcrowded and often desperately in need of renovation; and why your tax bills keep going up to pay the bills that development leaves behind.

But so-called “business-friendly” politicians are far more interested in catering to a very small group of large property owners and out-of-state developers than thoughtfully assessing the impacts of sprawl on tens of thousands of existing residents.

Efforts by Annapolis to strongly encourage sound planning are long overdue.

WILLIAM MORROW

Emmitsburg

Over the next 20 years, there will be nearly 1,000,000 more people, over 400,000 additional households and over 600,000 new jobs in Maryland.Where will all these people live and work, how will they get to their jobs?

Read more – and express your opinion to the local paper!.  Share this information.  It is the future of our bucolic county, its farmland, our water and air quality, our budget and overall quality of life.

County receives about 200 rezoning requests

Originally published July 20, 2011

By Bethany Rodgers The New Market and Linganore regions are the focus of a high volume of requests by property owners for changes to Frederick County’s comprehensive plan, a county official said Tuesday.The county commissioners voted in May to revisit the 2010 comprehensive plan adopted by the previous board, allowing property owners to submit applications for rezoning and different land use designations.

During the submittal phase, which extended from June 1 to July 15, the county community development division received about 200 applications, said Jim Gugel, chief planner for the county.

Many of the requests centered on New Market and Linganore, a region that, compared with other areas, had a higher concentration of changes under last year’s comprehensive plan, Gugel said. A smaller number of applications related to properties around Urbana, he added.

Officials will now enter all the applications into a spreadsheet and organize them by planning region. Gugel said he hopes to present the data to commissioners at the end of August.

Then, after the 60-day review process mandated by the state to allow the public and agencies to look through the applications, officials will hold a public hearing to discuss the information.

Only at that point will the county planning commission review the requests and issue a recommendation, Gugel said.

In taking another look at the comprehensive plan, commissioners seek to focus on properties where the previous board changed zoning to allow for less development.

The comprehensive plan acts as a blueprint for long-term growth in the county.

The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) threatens to change Village Center zoning that currently allows appropriate development in historic communities.   The change to our Village Center zoning category will allow giant footprint building – like big box stores or – for example – a **Food Lion in Jefferson** (an average Food Lion is 33,000 sq. ft). The change will destroy the entire Village Center concept. On May 17th 7pm at Winchester Hall the Board of County Commissioner will hear out the public on this.

Please note that instead of reviewing individual cases the BOCC will be voting on seven different text amendments bundled together in this package…which will be voted up or down in one vote. This is wholly inappropriate for such a diversity of text amendments.

Two other sections in this text amendment need serious review and modification:

• Allowing a limited landscape contractor in an agricultural zone whereby the screening requirements are inadequate, and there is no limitation on the size and type of equipment which can be stored outside.
• Allowing private parks – outdoor recreational areas – in an agricultural zone whereby there is no limit placed on the size and scope of allowable accessory uses. This could lead to large restaurants, stores for sale of outdoor wear, etc. in an Ag zone as accessory uses.

IF you have questions please write to: <friends@friendsoffrederickcounty.org>. We will help answer them.