Frederick City and County News of Interest VOL. 1, NO. 4 | SEPTEMBER, 2022

 VOL. 1, NO. 4  |  SEPTEMBER, 2022

Frederick City and County News of Interest

1. Update on Local Development Projects
2. East Street Redevelopment
3. Downtown Mobility Fee:
   
4. Sugarloaf Mountain Management Plan:
5. Changes to the County APFO:
6. Update from the Street Safety Gang
7. NAC Resolution/Revitalization Proposal and Process for Resident Input
8. Mayhem on Market St Update
9. Residential Compost Pilot
10. Election, Election, Election

Citizens for Responsible Growth (CRG) is a grassroots coalition of Frederick residents who strongly favor development to accommodate the projected increase in the County’s and City’s population, but want to ensure it is undertaken in a way that considers the cumulative impact on our infrastructure, i.e., housing (market-driven and affordable/workforce), green space, schools, traffic, and the environment. Current practice is to consider each project as it — alone — affects its immediate surroundings. We contend that each project must be considered as an integral part of multiple land uses that work together to protect public safety, provide accommodation, minimize congestion, and guarantee easy access to a functional natural environment that surrounds our built and arable lands.
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Update on Local Development Projects
Planning Commission Reviews: On September 12th, the City Planning Commission is focusing on several projects of concern for local residents including Visitation Academy modifications, size and content of development at 1724 N. Market Street, construction of a senior facility in Dearbought, and a project on East South Street. Each of these has implications for future City character and particularly future congestion arising from at least two of these projects. Check the Planning Commission link at https://www.cityoffrederickmd.gov/901/Public-Meetings for an agenda and staff report.

East Street Redevelopment: East Street Redevelopment is moving forward through consultant-resident meetings and charrettes, the latter held from August 13–17, to gather resident perceptions and objectives for the future design of the East Street Corridor. The consultants will compile resident input and derive a conceptual design in a report to be developed over the next month. Continuous resident input on the report and subsequent City discussions are paramount to a future corridor important to all portions of the City community, particularly for traffic congestion that dominates East Street currently. You can access the City's survey and more information here: https://www.cityoffrederickmd.gov/1584/Form-Based-Code.

Downtown Mobility Fee: The City adopted a mobility fee for a large portion of the downtown area. As reported earlier, developing and constructing new roads in the already developed downtown area is impossible in most cases. Hence, there is no reason to request that proposed new construction include a fee for a traffic study where road expansion cannot occur. As an alternative, a fee will be assessed for any new construction of residences, offices, retail, or industrial properties with the funds directed to actual transportation needs rather than funding a study. Fee amounts have been established and will begin to be collected in October, 2022. Details can be found at https://www.cityoffrederickmd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/20309/G-22-10-Downtown-Frederick-Mobility-Fee-District?bidId and https://www.cityoffrederickmd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/20312/22-15-Establishing-Downtown-MobilityFees?bidId.
Sugarloaf Mountain Management Plan:  The County Council has continued discussions on a final Sugarloaf Mountain Management Plan with contentious ongoing debate on environmental protection vs. future development options. Although difficult to track content, the Plan will be discussed multiple times at the County Council meetings in September and October. Check this link (https://frederickcountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/339790/82322-Sugarloaf-Area-Plan-Timeline-003) to follow progress and provide comment/input.

An interesting development in this first County small area plan project is the involvement of the Livable Frederick Coalition (https://www.livablefrederickcoalition.com), a group of “…landowners, farmers, and businesses…” that has co-opted the ideals of the County’s Livable Frederick Master Plan to press for a greater role of private enterprise in the Master Plan’s vision for the County, including objecting to the Sugarloaf Plan. The coalition’s name implies consistency with the mission and goals of the master plan when, in fact, representatives from several of the coalition’s groups fought adoption of the Plan and its vision for the future County. With at least 8 primary growth areas identified for the County, advocacy from the Livable Frederick Coalition is likely only beginning so CRG input on responsible growth is critical and will need to be continuous over the next several years.

Changes to the County APFO: On September 21st, the County is considering changing the road requirements for new developments in an ordinance to revise traffic mitigation standards that will ease congestion and other future traffic problems. With the huge commitment to new construction in the area, this is an important step for more responsible growth so please provide comment to the Frederick County Planning Commission at PlanningCommission@FrederickCountyMD.gov.

Update from the Street Safety Gang
Throughout the spring and summer, the lead for the Street Safety Gang, Gayle Petersen, has had the opportunity to be in several meetings with the Frederick Police Department (FPD). Earlier in the spring, there was a drive along experience with Officer Golden, followed up by emails and most recently a meeting with Chief Lando and four other officers. The FPD is looking at ways to create a better process for the deployment and collection of traffic data throughout the City. DPW’s Zach Kershner is working on a SOP for traffic calming and sent this last week:
 
“We are in the process of developing striping plans for multiple connector streets between Seventh Street and Rosemont Avenue in the Villa Estates neighborhood which we believe may result in effecting driver behavior and ultimately, provide for traffic calming.  We plan to have this effort complete by early September and will then bring the proposal to the community for discussion and input prior to execution.  Concurrently, we are also in the process of evaluating procurement options to bring a consultant on-board to provide additional evaluation and design of traffic calming improvements throughout the City as we move forward with implementation of the traffic calming CIP.”

The group will keep plugging along! If you have any feedback or would like to help, email Gayle at streetsafetygangfrederickmd@gmail.com.

NAC Resolution/Revitalization Proposal and Process for Resident Input
Alderman Derek Shackleford and the City’s Communication Manager Allen Etzler presented the first summary of the long awaited and oft promised NAC Revitalization effort at the Aug. 22 NAC 11 meeting, sharing results of their review of neighborhood groups in 50 “peer” cities around the country. Describing 5 possible neighborhood engagement configurations, they remarked that all have some positive aspects as well as challenges. Etzler noted the original NAC structure was designed to comport with police districts; the current boundaries might not be the most useful after 20+ years; and fewer NACs (or whatever the final structure becomes) are a viable option.

A lively discussion followed the presentation with questions ranging from “Why change the structure; what’s wrong with the NACs as they are” to “how can we do it.” The consensus among attendees is that whatever the structure, the NACs should elect their own leaders, have a voice in future development and land use (see NOTE at the end of this article), and have aldermanic representation. Currently, alderpersons can be appointed as liaison to a NAC/NACs without the need for a formal resolution. In the future, should the City move to aldermanic districts (a sentiment of many in the room,  Alderman Shackleford, and some City staff) then a NAC/NACs would fall under the purview of the alderperson representing that district. Changing aldermanic representation to districts (with perhaps some at-large seats) would require a charter change. Alderman Shackleford noted that this could be a “solution-oriented process,” i.e., aldermanic representation on the NACs, leading to aldermanic districts, leading to NAC legislation rather than the current NACs established by resolution.

Attendees were asked to complete a brief survey (https://bit.ly/3TrKBIN). Shackleford and Etzler will meet with other NACs to present their research to date and engage residents in similar discussions and will conduct other community outreach during the upcoming weeks. While short on specifics, the good news is that at least this is a start — and the goal, according to Etzler, is to offer a complete proposal by the end of September.

(NOTE: The issue of in-person developer/NAC meetings has been discussed, at length, with residents asserting a need to have meaningful early input into development in their neighborhoods. In two efforts, residents have provided text revisions to the City’s Land Management Code (LMC) mandating:

• pre-application review by staff, developer, and residents to ensure that proposed designs are consistent with existing neighborhood character. Input at the review could be from neighborhood residents or an all NAC-appointed group in areas of historically low resident participation; and,
• a subsequent presentation by the developer to the appropriate NAC on the project derived from the pre-application review.

The City is aware of resident concern on the lack of early input yet has not restored the long-term precedent of the developer-NAC meetings which were curtailed during the pandemic when monthly All-NAC planning presentations were substituted. At these meetings, City staff list projects that have been accepted by staff. While public comment is allowed, projects are already well along through ongoing discussions between staff and the developer, rendering public input meaningless. Despite a positive aldermanic vote to restore the in-person developer-NAC meetings early in the year, monthly All-NAC planning presentations continue.)

Mayhem on Market St Update
In the 100 days since the neighbors brought the Exhale concerns forward at the May NAC 11 meeting the following has transpired:

• 2 shootings — one on May 21st and a fatality on the 3rd Street block on July 23rd
• Several after-hours fights and beatings on the 4th Street block in front of Exhale (a Bring Your Own Booze, BYOB, establishment), plus numerous additional weekly arrests
• The addition of Carmen's on 302 N. Market to the after-hours scene. This unregulated, unlicensed establishment has advertised selling alcohol on their website and has been known as a place to purchase drugs, with verified reports of strippers added to the menu in early August. The venue hosts “private” parties that often continue until 4:00 a.m. and spill out into the streets where patrons join with Exhale patrons after that establishment closes. The unchecked partying of this combined group causes a neighborhood disturbance and an unsafe environment which directly contribute to violence.

The Frederick Police Department (FPD) has established an overtime detail in the third and fourth blocks of N. Market and has been transparent in their efforts to reign in the problems, but they can only do so much; for example, making arrests on the street when actions are egregious and have extended over time. However, it is important to note that City officials assert they are working “behind the scenes” to address the situation, with (according to a report at the Aug. 27 NAC 11 meeting) some Code Enforcement citations issued for outdoor activity in the back of the property and some progress towards an administrative search warrant. From the neighbors’ perspective, little appears to have been done to support FPD's efforts and keep our streets safe, nor has there been noticeable action taken on other fronts. For example, at the Aug. 15 All NAC planning meeting, a representative of the 401–405 N. Market Street building owner(s) presented their application to consolidate the three plats. While residents expressed great concern the prospect of Exhale (located at 405 N. Market) expanding its footprint, the staff report was silent on this possibility, the owner’s representative said he did not know what use would be made of the consolidated property, and staff asserted that building use was not in their purview, expressing little regard or empathy for the safety or concerns of the neighborhood.

A Frederick News Post (FNP) reporter attended a standing room only neighborhood meeting with the Mayor and Chief of Police plus several other City officials after the July murder. However, the FNP has not published any follow-up, strongly suggesting that the newspaper does not consider resident safety and neighborhood concerns newsworthy.

We can only hope for the success of the long-term efforts underway to require BYOB establishments to operate under the same rules and regulations as Craft breweries and Distilleries so that no establishment where alcohol is consumed can allow unregulated drinking through all hours of the night, contributing to neighborhood unrest and violence.

Residential Compost Pilot
As our City and County inevitably grow, it's important to do all we can to grow sustainably. Beginning this past June 6, residents in NACs 5 and 11 were invited to participate in the City of Frederick's residential compost pilot project. Removing compostable materials from the waste stream can reduce overall weight transferred to the landfill by about 30 percent, dramatically reducing the production of methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gases that drives our new extreme weather. In addition, the reduction in transportation miles and emission of carbon dioxide from waste carriers will further reduce the carbon footprint associated with waste and recycling efforts.

Residents may sign up for the program using this link: https://www.keycompost.com/residential

If you have questions about signing up, contact Key City Compost at 240.608.0283, info@keycompost.com, or about the program in general, contact Jenny Willoughby at jwilloughby@cityoffrederickmd.gov.


Election, Election, Election
A reminder that this is election season. There is a lot at stake for all of us as County and State residents, not to mention US citizens. The gubernatorial election pits Wes Moore/Aruna Miller against Dan Cox/Gordana Schifanelli; Frederick County’s representative to the US House; and one of Maryland’s US Senators. Closer to home are races for County Executive (Jessica Fitzwater vs. Michael Hough); all council members; County delegates and senators for the Maryland General Assembly; 4 school board vacancies; sheriff; etc. Please, please familiarize yourselves with the candidates and their positions on issues about which you care—especially growth and development, land use, the environment, the education of our youth, safety, and security for all and especially marginalized communities at greatest risk, etc. Candidates have websites where it’s possible to learn more about their positions and candidate forums abound. Writing directly to campaigns can also yield position statements. In all cases, check candidates’ campaign statements to be sure they are consistent with and NOT CONTRARY TO THEIR ESTABLISHED RECORDS!

And then VOTE! Local and State races are as important as federal elections—if not more so. The following information is derived from https://www.elections.maryland.gov/:
For the 2022 Gubernatorial General Election (including all the local races):

• You can either vote in person during early voting or on election day or by mail-in ballot.
• Early voting starts on Thursday, October 27, 2022 and goes through Thursday, November 3, 2022. Each early voting center will be open continuously from 7 am to 8 pm each day. Anyone in line at 8 pm will be allowed to vote.
• On election day, Tuesday, November 8, 2022, you must vote at your place. All election day polling places are open continuously from 7 am until 8 pm on. Anyone in line at 8 pm will be allowed to vote.

If you are unable to vote during early voting or on election day, you may vote by absentee ballot. Find out more information about mail-in voting.

Important Note: A recent change in the law requires the State Board of Elections and each local board of elections to refer to absentee ballots as "mail-in ballots" and absentee voting as "mail-in voting." Please note that this change in terminology does NOT change the process of mail-in voting. Refer to https://elections.maryland.gov/voting/index.html for more detailed information.

Contributors:  S. Jakubczyk, G. Petersen, M. Rosensweig, K. Sellner
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Many Frederick residents want to know — but cannot find — information about how to participate in discussions of important local issues. The City and County generally hold meetings from 3–10 p.m., making it impossible for most of us to attend meetings or weigh in on issues of interest. Our mission with this monthly newsletter is to highlight City and County activities so you can learn more and, with your limited time, weigh in on areas of growth and development, City and County policies, and other local activities. Occasionally, opinions or longer stories will be offered by knowledgeable experts/readers. We welcome suggestions for articles focused on specific topics. Contact Kevin Sellner (kgsellner@gmail.com), Marge Rosensweig (marjorierosensweig@gmail.com), or Steve Jacubczyk (jakubczyksteven@gmail.com) for consideration of your issue.