Frederick City and County News of Interest VOL. 4, NO. 2 | FEBRUARY 8, 2025

 VOL. 4, NO. 2  |  FEBRUARY 8, 2025

Frederick City and County News of Interest

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For quick access, click on a title here and jump to that article, below: City Streetscape Study Affordable Housing MPRP Update County Data Center Update Upcoming Meetings and Events ______________ City Streetscape Study On January 16, the Downtown Frederick Partnership informed the City Council that they were partnering with Montgomery County (MoCo) in the receipt of a $500,000 grant to expand on the initial Streetscape plan submitted in 2021.The (then) Board of Aldermen advised the Partnership at the 2021 meeting that additional information was needed. In response, MoCo and the Partnership secured additional funding to further study parking, utilities, and transportation impact. CRG applauds the Partnership’s initiative but encourages the City and Partnership to not only retrofit Market Street parking slots, tree canopy, and sidewalk width from Carroll Creek through 7th Street, but develop an overall Master Plan of the work to be done in various phases. A first step would repair the storm water drainage system to prevent flooding of streets in the downtown area as documented by the Army Corps of Engineers several years ago. The second step should repair or replace the deteriorating Church Street Parking Garage to relieve reduced parking further north on N. Market Street as it is revitalized as part of the revised project. After aggressively enforcing the Vacant Property Ordinance to finally address the blight caused by recalcitrant landlords, the third step would be to stimulate new businesses and new owners in N. Market’s 3rd–7th Street stretch, particularly focusing on the 300 block of N. Market. This will provide an unbroken chain of commercial opportunities from the Creek to the 7th Street Fountain. The Master Plan should conclude with a summary and timetable for meeting the study’s long-term goal of a cohesive and progressive N. Market Street for residents and visitors. CRG strongly advocated this strategy in 2021 and does so again!   Affordable Housing City of Frederick: Madison on N. Market CRG is excited to see the Madison on N. Market project move forward. It will provide 60 affordable housing 1–3-bedroom rental units in the convenient “Uptown Frederick” location, as well as a non-residential building for a Head Start program. In the works for several years, this is a large step forward for providing housing for individuals or families earning 30–60% Annual Median Income. Go to https://www.hacfrederick.org/development/ for details. While Madison on Market holds out hope for 60 families, three apartment communities in Uptown Frederick, closest to Madison on N. Market (Upper East/Canterbury Station, The Bottling Plant, and East of Market), offer no rental units that would be affordable for householders in 9 of the 10 most common occupations in the County (see discussion below), nor any units priced at the County’s median charged  rental (i.e., $1,777/month). Frederick County and City: Some But Not Enough At a January 23 seminar presented by the Frederick County Department of Housing as one of a series of community sessions on affordable housing revealed, a large portion of residents county-wide are, essentially, locked out of the housing market. The seminar focused on the nature of affordable housing, who needs it, what the gaps are, and how these gaps can be addressed through a strategic plan involving community stakeholders in the process. Through a contract with TPMA, an Indianapolis-based consulting firm that brings “decades of practical experiences…” to help communities “develop actional solutions…” to seeming intractable issues — such as affordable housing, the County’s 2016 housing needs assessment will be updated and a strategic plan developed to help close the gaps found. Key to TPMA’s process is a principle that such a plan will be unique to the current and anticipated status of affordable housing in Frederick County and will not be a “one size fits all” document. To begin, affordable housing is defined as housing that does not consume more than 30% of income, with the total including rent/mortgage, utilities, insurance, repairs, etc. Individuals and families are considered “cost burdened” if more than that 30% is required to secure and maintain a safe and healthy domicile. Frederick County and City data expose an existing and growing gap between income and housing affordability in Frederick County.  While housing prices have increased substantially in the past five years (median sales prices rose by 69% in the County and 71% in the City), median income for homeowners rose by 21% and renter income by 23%. As of 2023, the median household income in the County was $114,360, with that of owner-occupied households at $135,851, and renter-occupied households at $64,619. By 2023, the median price of a house was $499,990, and the median charged monthly rent $1,777. Using these data, it is estimated that 26% of Frederick County households are cost burdened. Of these, 19% are owner-occupied households, as are 47% of renter-occupied households. Moreover 7% of owner-occupied households spend 50% or more of their income on housing while 23% of renters (almost 1 in 4) do so as well. A deeper dive into the data indicate that workers in 9 of the 10 most common occupations in Frederick County earn less than the AMI (Annual Median Income) with the housing affordable threshold at $689/month for cashiers and $1,127/month for construction laborers. The median household income of the tenth category of earners, general and operations managers, is $109,156, the only category above the AMI. The chart below, from the TPMA presentation, is a snapshot of families in need of affordable housing. Here are some hypothetical scenarios facing these households: A schoolteacher at step 10 with one child earning $65,629 has an affordability threshold of $1,647/month. Yet only 4% of 2+ bedroom dwellings are in their price range. The combined income of a cashier and customer service representative with no children is $69,244. Their affordability threshold is $1,731/month. Twenty-two percent of the rentals and 5% of homes are in their price range. A sheriff with a stay-at-home spouse and two children earns $70,000. Her/his affordability threshold is $1,751/month. Twelve percent of two-bedroom rentals, 1% of three-bedroom rentals, and 6% of homes are available for them. And, finally, a senior citizen with a social security income of $23,000 would find there are 0 rentals and 1 home for sale available to her/him with a household affordability threshold of $593/month. An interesting feature of the session was the opportunity for attendee (including virtual attendees) input via online quick surveys with results available for viewing and discussion immediately. These surveys engaged the audience and helped highlight what the community knows and understands about affordable housing and what residents think might help to address the problems. Hopefully future sessions will include the same or similar feedback options. TPMA’s plan and timeline include several opportunities for community input. Residents are invited to participate as the process goes forward. Presenters emphasized the importance of the Community workshops and Community Survey and urged residents to assist in publicizing the survey when it is available. From TPMA's presentation: We encourage readers who want to know more to tune in to the presentation available on the Frederick County website at https://frederick.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=10&clip_id=10150 or at TPMA.com, then click Webinars. MPRP Update The County Executive has officially challenged construction of the MPRP transmission line passing through the County, joining multiple other organizations and governmental bodies in opposing construction of the proposed power project intended to deliver power from southern Pennsylvania through Baltimore, Carroll, and Frederick Counties. The County Council approved the resolution this past Tuesday, February 4. The opposition has proposed multiple bills in the just-convened state legislature, as we await deliberations at the Public Service Commission where the next decision (to seek a Certificate of Public convenience and Necessity — CPCN) will be vetted. Learn more at StopMPRP.org. County Data Center Update The County Council continues its discussion of revisions to the Critical Data Infrastructure Ordinance that will regulate siting constraints on future centers proposed for construction and operations in the County. The Council will now have sole responsibilities to propose ordinance content because the County Executive (CE) has withdrawn text for both the Data Center Workgroup’s recommendation for a data center floating zone and the siting legislation. CRG is surprised at these CE decisions — data centers are perhaps one of the most critical issues for the County's future economy, power demand, water allocation and treatment, and runoff impacts for our treasured environment. A floating zone and other requirements to protect the environment are imperative. Council member McKay has written amendments to the CE's bill to include a floating zone so data centers would not be a "by right" development in certain zoning districts but instead would need to be approved by a vote of the County Council (our elected officials), rather than receiving final approval at the Planning Commission level. However — rather than Council member McKay's amendments, a revised bill that does not include a floating zone and appears less protective of County water and infrastructure, will be introduced by Council members Knapp and Young on Tuesday at the scheduled Council Workshop. CRG urges County residents to attend Tuesday's meeting (see information below), or send in your comments, to insist on strong requirements for the siting, construction and operations of the data center industry in Frederick County.   Upcoming Meetings & Events City Planning Commission, City Hall, February 10, 6 PM — Church institutional zoning change for on-site affordable housing County Council Workshop, Winchester Hall,  Tuesday, February 13, 5:30 PM — consideration of proposed Critical Digital Infrastructure revised bill regarding data centers. Attend or send comments via email on the Council’s public portal, FrederickCountyMD.gov/CouncilMeetings City Land Use, Public Safety and Community Development Committee, City Hall, February 13, 1 PM — City Small Area Plans City Council Meeting on Districts (mid-February, dates TBD) — Defining district boundaries (important for future small area plans and NAC boundaries). Mobilize Frederick 3rd Annual Climate Summit at Hood, February 28–March 1, 2025 (https://www.mobilizefrederick.org/summit-2025-overview)

__________________ See the CRG blog at: responsiblegrowthfrederick.com Contributors: P. Gallagher, S. Jakubczyk, M. Rosensweig, K. Sellner CRG is a grassroots coalition of Frederick residents who prioritize responsible growth, expanding infrastructure, and a functional natural environment. We advocate for development that accommodates projected population increases while fostering a strong and diverse community fabric and increasing economic opportunities. Our comprehensive approach emphasizes public safety, traffic mitigation, increasing school capacity, and housing for all members of our community. 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 Jakubczyk (jakubczyksteven@gmail.com) for consideration of your issue. We're on Instagram... follow us! Check out our Facebook page! Reply to the email authors