Environment and Smart Growth Successes in Annapolis 2010

The following bills passed in the 2010 Legislative Session:
Sustainable Communities (SB 285/HB 475) Continues the highly successful Historic Tax Credit program and extends the program to key non-historic properties for revitalization. This bill also improves coordination between a number of important revitalization programs including Community Legacy, Maryland Main Streets and Maple Street. This important Smart [...]

Great Planning (FoFC’s letter to FNP editor)

The revitalization of vacant and underutilized areas in the City of Frederick won’t be easy, but, as a strategy for growth, it beats by a long shot the conversion of our open space and farmland to sprawling development on the outskirts of town.

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04-13-2010 City and County to Meet Over City’s Sprawl Growth Plans

The Issue
After established deadlines, HB 1141 (amending Article 66B) prohibits the annexation of  any property that is not included in a Municipal Growth Element.  This Growth Element must contain a detailed analysis of the growth impacts of annexing and developing properties in the municipality’s planned growth area. Prior to adopting this Growth Element, a municipality [...]

Referendum Lessons and Laws

As a volunteer for the referendum on the recent Frederick city annexations I wish to share a few thoughts with my fellow residents. At least 70 percent of our city voters oppose the proposed development despite the unmatched campaign by the current and former city officials aiming to change our mind.

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‘Friends’ Has Set High Standards for Accountability

We were appalled to read the editorial by The Frederick News-Post titled “A buck a signature,” asserting, without a shred of evidence, that the “validity” of a handful of signatures gathered by canvassers earning $1 per signature was somehow in question.

Have you signed?

Residents of Frederick and Frederick County are out in droves collecting signatures to take the Thatcher, Crum and Summers Farm annexation agreements to referendum so that city residents can have the final say. Maryland State Highway Administration, Maryland Department of Planning and the Board of Frederick County Commissioners have advised against these agreements that will [...]

Thanks to all annexation referendum volunteers!

October 18, 2009
Dear Annexation Referendum Volunteers, Supporters and Friends,
On behalf of Friends and Frederick County, I would like thank everyone who brought their energy, spirit and dedication to this burst of grassroots movement for a petition drive to bring the issue of annexation to a citizen vote.  As I write this letter, unpaid volunteers are [...]

Grass-roots democracy

It didn’t take long for the opponents of the recent annexations by the City of Frederick to get mobilized. There appear to be several possible avenues for local government to pursue in an attempt to nullify the annexations, but a separate grass-roots movement has already sprung into action with the same goal in mind.
Opponents of [...]

Citizen expresses concern and requests denial of Landmark/Gladhill farm annexation

Dear Alderman Imhoff and members of the Planning Commission,
I am writing to you concerning the proposed annexation of the Landmark/Gladhill Farm located along MD 144 across from the National Guard Armory. The property is bound by MD 144 to the south, I-70 to the north, the Monocacy River on the east and the I-70 ramps (Quinn [...]

CItizen addresses Alderman Smith’s justification for Frederick City annexations

Thanks for getting back to me, Alderman Smith. I don’t mind
disagreement; discussion works fine for me!

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