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To read more on Thatcher and Crum development plans search either name on the FoFC home page search tab.

Frederick News Post article:  Annexed farmland clear for developing Originally published January 27, 2012  By Pete McCarthy

Photo by Staff file photo by Sam Yu  This June 2009 photo shows U.S. 15 running left to right with Willow Road perpendicular at lower right. The Board of County Commissioners voted Thursday to allow the City of Frederick to annex the Crum farm, to the left of Willow Road, and the Thatcher property, on the far side of U.S. 15. The City of Frederick is about to gain some acres.For more than a year, two large farms just north of the city have been approved for annexation, but the city and previous county officials disagreed on zoning so developers were told they would have to wait five years. The Board of County Commissioners voted Thursday to end that mandatory waiting period and allow the developers to proceed immediately. The two farms — known as the Crum and Thatcher properties — total nearly 400 acres. Both are north of the city limits along U.S. 15. Frederick Mayor Randy McClement was at Thursday’s meeting and called the commissioners’ decision a positive one for the city. “We need the growth area,” McClement said. “Everything is set in place. We are looking forward to the ability to give our residents an opportunity to stay here and work here.” The city approved annexation of the land in 2009. The properties are ripe for development, according to Commissioner C. Paul Smith. “I think this will be a great benefit for the city,” Smith said. “It had been planned for some time.” Commissioner Billy Shreve said, “I think it is a good example of planning.” Before significant construction can proceed, the developers would need to make improvements to a U.S. 15 interchange and other road enhancements. “I think it takes care of the important traffic problems we have,” Smith said. Construction at either site is still years away. Both developers will need a year or two to finalize their plans, according to land-use attorney Bruce Dean. The Crum property, just north of Willow Road, is 285 acres, and the plan is to build up to 1,200 homes and a mix of commercial and retail space, said Dean, who represents both developers. Up to 400 of those homes could be built before the interchange is completed, he said. The Thatcher farm is across U.S. 15 on Biggs Ford Road. The plan there is to build up to 1.3 million square feet of office space, which could result in thousands of permanent jobs, Dean said. Both developers are excited to get started, he said. “The focus was the proximity to Fort Detrick,” he said. “That is the No. 1 economic driver in Frederick County.” Both companies should have plans developed in the next two years, but there is no way to know when construction could begin, Dean said. “There is no huge impetus to be building a lot of houses right now,” he said. “It’s dependent on economic factors that are out of our hands right now.” Commissioner David Gray was the lone dissenting vote. “Classic sprawl,” Gray said. “Look for problems to come.” Friends of Frederick County — an activist group opposed to the annexation — filed a lawsuit against the city in 2010. The group alleged the city did not properly prepare for the potential growth and did not complete an appropriate plan. The case is still pending in court, Friends of Frederick County Executive Director Janice Wiles said Thursday. “I still have the same concerns that I had before,” Wiles said, referring to the dangers of added congestion on U.S. 15 and other factors. “Taking good farmland out of production and sprawling out into the countryside is not a good idea.”

(to view entire map click on it)

Frederick City’s Planning Department is accepting letters requesting zoning changes from property owners until Friday, January 27, 2012. The city will only accept requests for a zoning classification when the zoning change would be consistent with the land use designation as shown on the [2010 Comprehensive Plan Map](http://) (see left). For questions contact: Joe Adkins, Deputy Director of Planning, email jadkins@cityoffrederick.com // phone: 301/600-1499.

(sign up to speak at 5pm), Winchester Hall (12 E Church St, downtown Frederick).

Global Mission Church/David Severn, land use attorney, submitted two proposals:   UR 41 (parcel 36) and UR 42  (parcel 109)

GLOBAL MISSION PROPOSALS

There are 2 pieces of each of these parcels that are currently zoned Resource Conservation.

• In UR 41:   8.5 acres are currently zoned Resource Conservation.  Requested change of 3 acres (of the 8.5) from RC to Ag
• In UR 42:   the request is to change all of the 78.87 acres to Agricultural Zoning (currently 6.3 acres of the total are zoned Resource Conservation)

Some points to consider

• parcel 36 is by the creek
• parcel 36 is  100% forested   Pre-2010 zoning was about 60% RC and 40% Agricultural.  The change made in 2010 was to add RC zoning to the northern portion of parcel 36.
• Parcel  36 has 1.1 acres of PFO1A wetlands:  Palustrine, forested, broad-leaf deciduous, temporarily flooded wetlands.  This type of wetland is rare in Frederick County,  (historically most of the wetlands were cleared, filled and cultivated for agriculture.
• The Dept of Natural Resources shows a large swath of these forested wetlands along the entire length of Little Bennett Creek. The county added additional RC zoning on this property due to the wide, extensive forest buffers that exist along this creek system.  RC zoning category is entirely appropriate and consistent for functional purpose of protecting the wetland and watershed.  Additionally the  Natural Resource land use plan designation (a change made in  the 2010 plan supports the Resource Conservation zoning.
• To rezone a portion of this parcel back to Ag is contrary to county policies. The zoning ordinance definition of RC is totally consistent with the resources that exist on this parcel.
• Any changes from Resource Conservation to Agricultural Zoning may facilitate the construction of a road “driveway” for development of that land parcel.

Letters to Frederick County Planning Commissioners

• John McClurkin, Chair, samjbm@verizon.net
• Richard Floyd, Vice-Chair, rmfloyd1@aol.com
• Robert Lawrence, Secretary, Boblawrence5753@comcast.net
• Catherine Forrence, 404westmain@comcast.net
• Robert White Jr., bobwhitejr@mac.com
• Audrey Wolfe, al_wolfe@verizon.net
• Cc:  Jim Gugel, Chief Planner      jgugel@frederickcountymd.gov

Wednesday November 16th @ 6pm
Frederick County Planning Commission Public Hearing on the 43 proposals for land development in the New Market region
(sign up to speak at 5pm), Winchester Hall (12 E Church Street, downtown Frederick, 1st floor)

There is no need for additional residential or commercial zoning.

Frederick County’s 20-year growth plan (2010-2030) meets state growth projections with zoning for development of 36,264 homes and over 3000 acres for commercial build out. Existing land use plans are sufficient to build a robust economy while preserving the quality of life for Frederick County residents.

What you should know about these land use change requests:
• Total potential land conversion: 2,973 acres
• Potential number of homes: 4,994
• Number of kids added to FCPS in New Market: 2712 kids
• Number of car trips/day added to local roads: 47,793 car trips
• Area to be built on well and septic: 348 acres

Consider this…

• Cost of new schools will be paid in large part by taxpayers (you)
Elementary school construction cost: $25 million (700 student capacity)
Middle school construction cost: $45 million (900 student capacity)
High school construction cost: $70 million (1600 student capacity)

• Cost for new roads will be paid in large part by taxpayers (you). Frederick County needs $3.5 billion to resolve its current road crisis. The BOCC just zeroed the excise tax, a source for road and bridge maintenance and construction.

If you can’t make it to the public hearing, you can send a letter to Frederick County Planning Commissioners:

John McClurkin, Chair, samjbm@verizon.net
Richard Floyd, Vice-Chair, rmfloyd1@aol.com
Robert Lawrence, Secretary, Boblawrence5753@comcast.net
Catherine Forrence, 404westmain@comcast.net
Robert White Jr., bobwhitejr@mac.com
Audrey Wolfe, al_wolfe@verizon.net

Cc: Jim Gugel, Chief Planner jgugel@frederickcountymd.gov

Have a friend come to the hearing and read it in to the record!

Thursday November 17th @ 6pm
Frederick County Planning Commission Public Hearing on the 43 proposals for land development in the Urbana region
(sign up to speak at 5pm), Winchester Hall (12 E Church Street, downtown Frederick, 1st floor)

MONROVIA REzoning Proposals

Most of the property owners who want their properties destined for residential growth are asking for a land use designation change first.  They will then ask for rezoning later.  The following calculations were based on zoning being R-1 (1 house/acre).  They might ask for higher density, which would increase the number of homes, students in schools and cars on roads.

Current proposals will add:

Approximate number of homes: 459

Acreage requested for commercial growth:  200

Approximate number of students:  250

Approximate increase of car trips/day on local roads:  4, 393

If you can’t make it to the public hearing, you can send a letter to Frederick County Planning Commissioners:

John McClurkin, Chair, samjbm@verizon.net
Richard Floyd, Vice-Chair, rmfloyd1@aol.com
Robert Lawrence, Secretary, Boblawrence5753@comcast.net
Catherine Forrence, 404westmain@comcast.net
Robert White Jr., bobwhitejr@mac.com
Audrey Wolfe, al_wolfe@verizon.net

Cc: Jim Gugel, Chief Planner jgugel@frederickcountymd.gov

Have a friend come to the hearing and read it in to the record!

Current land use in Point of Rocks

Proposed land use change in Point of Rocks, MD

Number of proposals:  46

Agriculture/open space acreage under discussion:  2769 acres

Agriculture/open space properties requesting reclassification and rezoning

for residential development:  2380.7 acres

Approximate number of homes to be constructed:  5189

Approximate number of new school children:  2818

Approximate number of additional car trips each day on local roads:  49,667

Download letter as pdf file here.