Frederick City and County News of Interest VOL. 5, NO. 1 | January 6, 2026

 

VOL. 5, NO. 1  |  January 6, 2026 Frederick City and County News of Interest Please join our monthly email list by clicking here. Learn more about CRG at the bottom of this newsletter. THANK YOU out-going City Council members Kuzemchak, MacShane, and Russell and Planning Commission members Dorothy Menelas and Natasha Valencia for your years of service to the City! For quick access, click on a title here and jump to that article, below: Hyperscale Data Centers: A Challenging Issue for Both Frederick City and Frederick County Amazon Data Center — MDE Public Meeting on Air Quality City: Residential and Commercial Uses on First Floors in MU Districts City: Frederick Health Center Development at Monocacy Boulevard & Route 26 City: Harmon Park City: Ausherman Property at 220 North East Street City: Affordable Housing City: Troubling Asiana Court Decision In Case You Missed It: A New City Council Takes Shape Mayor O’Connor’s Inaugural Address Summary Upcoming Meetings and Events ______________ Hyperscale Data Centers: A Challenging Issue for Both Frederick City and Frederick County Zoning Change Sought in the City: After an almost 3-year unsuccessful battle with County Planning Commission and Council members to limit data center areas in the County and insist on requirements for the most responsible construction (see next article), the data center building fever has now reached the City. Developers have lobbied for a zoning change to allow data centers within City limits. The Frederick News Post identified two properties for which lawyers are seeking changes to the Mixed-Use Zoning allowances for major industry construction and operations (https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/data_centers/updated-plans-emerge-for-data-centers-on-231-acres-near-monocacy-river-in-city-of/article_2da65c01-298c-5cbf-8afa-b7b3d2c3ac81.html). The possibility that data centers will be allowed in City limits will be a major policy decision for the new City Council in 2026. In CRG’s opinion, this revision is an unnerving shift for future City development. CRG vigorously rejects data center development in the City; MU zoning should not be revised for these power and water hogs. Once a data center door is opened, mass expansion will follow. Currently the Land Management Code does not include any reference to data centers; according to Gabrielle Collard, the city’s deputy director of planning, anything not in the LMC is not allowed. We urge everyone to thoroughly investigate power and water demands and availability, needed transmission line construction and seizure of private properties, noise and emission threats to public health and quality of life, groundwater recharge and neighboring well use, stormwater runoff and flooding of adjacent properties, damage to riparian buffers, floodplains, streambanks and erosion, costs for wastewater plant upgrades to treat center discharges, and the extraordinary amount of electronic waste (e-waste) generated by data centers due to frequent equipment replacement. The Disappointing County Council Vote: To many County residents and particularly those in Adamstown, the County Council’s December 23 decision for a 2615-acre data center campus in and around the Eastalco property is a major disappointment after 2+ years of voicing unrelenting concerns to the Council members. Even with cogent and highly relevant amendments from Councilmen Mackay and Donald to slow the process, the Data Center 5 (Young, Knapp, Carter, Duckett, and Keegan-Ayer) could not be swayed from their commitment to the data center industry’s promises for a high revenue future for the County. These promises reflect projected revenues from the 3 economic analyses conducted over the past 2 years which, we note, consider only benefits that would be derived from data center operations, and ignore the inevitable costs the County and its residents will incur. On the other hand, a recent analysis by residents S. and B. Poteat found that some associated costs they identified resulted in possible net losses to the County, in stark contrast to the benefits-only estimates from the industry analyses. There was hope that recommendations from a state-mandated cost-benefits analysis in September 2026 would more completely address the true revenue streams for the County, but due to a 90-day requirement for a Council decision on the Planning Commission’s recommended smaller data center area, the Council had to make a decision, and the Data Center 5 passed their preferred larger overlay zone. CRG is devastated by the Council’s decision as the Council members who supported expansion ignored the hundreds of public comments over the past 2+ years as well as the huge number of case studies across the US and internationally on the hazards associated with data centers. CRG expresses deep gratitude to Steve Mackay and Jerry Donald for their efforts on behalf of the residents. Many of the Data Center 5 will be seeking re-election in 2026 and CRG encourages its readers to remember this decision when casting ballots next year. Amazon Data Center — MDE Public Meeting on Air Quality Maryland’s Department of the Environment (MDE) convened a public meeting on December 8 at Carroll Manor Elementary School to outline Amazon’s proposed installation and operation of 99 generators at Amazon’s data center at the Rowan data center campus at the Eastalco site outside of Adamstown. Major concerns included noise and emissions during generator testing, testing frequencies, and conditions under energy brownouts when all generators would be operating. Who monitors noise and air quality compliance — frequency, reporting, and penalties for non-compliance? Other challenges included permit issuance for aggregate generators across ALL data centers (perhaps 1000?) rather than individual data centers, how the state would meet its CO2 load reductions (set several years ago) with the projected emissions from the campuses, and guarantees needed for protection of children at Carroll Manor Elementary School. Attendees also repeated their continuing concerns on dust and water quality impacts and requested sirens when local air quality exceeded public health thresholds. CRG encourages continuing public comment to state and local officials on representing resident interests rather than continuing deference to data center requests. City: Residential and Commercial Uses on First Floors in MU Districts Greenberg-Gibbons (developer of the Brickworks) proposed to the City Planning Commission (at its November 17 meeting) a Land Management Code (LMC) amendment to allow all Mixed Use (MU) zoned buildings to have both commercial and residential uses on ground floors. While the intent of the developer was to allow modifications of its plan for mixed use properties at the Brickworks, such a change to the LMC would open the door to both commercial and residential uses on the first floor of all MU zoned buildings in the City. As East Frederick Rising’s Heather Goddard pointed out, that combination of uses could await passage of Form-Based Code (FBC), where multiple first floor uses would be permitted (or not) rather than setting a precedent now. Greenberg-Gibbons could still seek commercial and residential use at the Brickworks through the City’s Board of Appeals, delaying a decision on multi-uses until the overall building designs in an FBC-zoned area are decided. Multiple uses are permitted on the first floor of the Galleria, a planned building complex set to be adjacent to the Delaplaine, but that’s allowed in the Carroll Creek Overlay. Should both commercial and residential units now be universally acceptable in MU-zoned buildings? Stay tuned! City: Frederick Health Center Development at Monocacy Boulevard & Route 26 On December 8, the City Planning Commission accepted 4 aspects of the proposed Frederick Health Center property at Monocacy Blvd. and Route 26. Four elements were accepted (hospital laboratory, senior housing, 750 townhomes, and helicopter pad) but a member of the public raised a credible issue, i.e., that the hospital proposed for the site be the first phase of development to ensure that there would be adequate traffic access before construction of the other 4 elements. CRG agrees with this proposal, but acknowledges that the traffic decision was already made at the prior PC meeting. For the future priority of another City hospital, access to that use should be guaranteed. CRG believes that a condition for acceptance of the final plan is that a hospital MUST be provided, with no exemption for insufficient traffic access because the other uses have been accepted in the initial 4 phases. The hospital is THE priority whereas the other uses should be secondary to ensure hospital construction and use as the most urgent and desired outcome of the proposed development. City: Harmon Park Pickle ball courts, basketball courts, crosswalk, parking, lavatory, fencing, and walking path have been proposed for an expanded Harmon Park as part of the Brickworks project on the west side of East Street, opposite the developing property. East Frederick Rising is hoping for broader use considerations, such as a dog park, spritzer, or soccer goal leading to the City Planning Commission adding a condition that the developer speak with the Parks and Recreation Department about adding several other amenities. As stated previously, CRG is concerned about the proposed crosswalk across the very busy East Street: Will there be a pedestrian crosswalk signal as at Carroll Creek on East Street to control rapidly moving traffic to protect pedestrians crossing the street? We hope so, while we wonder if the promised 3+ acre park on the east side — within the Brickworks development proper — will have any amenities if they are included in the Harmon Park enhancements. City: Ausherman Property at 220 North East Street (current train museum) A site plan has been proposed for 18 townhomes at 200 N. East Street and accepted by the City’s Planning Commission (PC). It appears that the developer has mitigated petroleum contamination on the site with Maryland’s Voluntary Cleanup Program about to weigh in on other contaminants that may have arisen in its previous use as a power generating station. The Ausherman Corporation is applauded for its outreach to the state’s program, without any prodding from CRG or other entities. In other PC discussion, wider sidewalks, green space near streets, and need for more bike racks were all addressed. Neighborhood residents made comments regarding townhouse character that is inconsistent architecture with surrounding buildings, Austin Alley access and egress, and traffic — CRG concurs. City: Affordable Housing CRG strongly encourages our readers interested in all aspects of affordable housing progress in the City to review an excellent, comprehensive summary of various options that the City explored in 2025 and will hopefully act on in 2026 under the new Council. The link lists opportunities with Accessory Dwelling Units, Single Room Occupancy, Moderately Priced Dwelling Units, City-wide Affordable Housing Overlay Zone, use of the Rental Licensing Fund, and a recently created website for Tenant Protection (https://cityoffrederick.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=12&event_id=5521&meta_id=192209). Rents and home sale prices are very high in the City, so the steps the new Council and the Mayor (see below) take to address housing shortages for low- to middle-income individuals and families and seniors should be priorities in the new year! City: Troubling Asiana Court Decision The City’s effort to pursue receivership on the long vacant Asiana property downtown was struck down by the Frederick County Circuit Court over the holidays. The decision cited two primary — and in CRG’s opinion — avoidable reasons: Selective enforcement: The judge felt that City's enforcement was too random and inconsistent, thus efforts to have the property placed in receivership was invalidated. Unfortunately, we agree as there has been very little focus by the City on other troublesome properties with almost no effort to add to the Vacant Property list over the last 4 years. Damage to the City not documented: The City failed to prove the extent of the damage blighted properties do to the surrounding areas although ample documentation was presented to the City and filed at the time the original ordinance was passed. This documentation was the basis on which the City was able to increase taxes on blighted properties in the original Vacant Property Ordinance by determining the lost value to neighboring properties. In summary, the City's lack of enforcement of the rules they themselves passed unanimously is not only embarrassing but costly. Time and money were unnecessarily wasted and now a major effort will be needed to ensure the initiatives of vacant property registration, inspection, and taxation will remain. Hopefully, lessons will be learned from these mistakes and the new City Council can seek accountability.   In Case You Missed It: A New City Council Takes Shape In a major surprise, new District 2 council member Cesar Diaz was elected president of the 64th City Council! Council member Katie Nash was elected vice president. CRG applauds the new Council’s decisions and will provide a number of suggested alternatives to aggressively make the Land Management and City Codes responsive to resident needs. Additionally, the new Council convened a presentation from members of the 2023 Ad Hoc Neighborhood Engagement & NAC Committee on December 18, as background information for City Council deliberations on a revised structure and role for the Neighborhood Advisory Councils in the City. A January 6 Council special meeting focused on Council operations under the revised City Charter, including committees, the legislative process, and rules of procedure. Ideally the Committee’s recommended roles will complement the Mayor’s inaugural address-stated commitment to ‘Strengthening Community Engagement’. Mayor O’Connor’s Inaugural Address Mayor O’Connor announced the following key initiatives for his new administration. CRG looks forward to implementation and completion of these proposed commitments! — Creation of the New Americans Task Force A coalition of immigrant-serving nonprofits convened in 2025 will become an advisory body to the Office of the Mayor to guide policy, service delivery, and advocacy to ensure Frederick remains welcoming and opportunity-rich for all who choose to call it home. — Housing: A Three-Point Plan for Urgent Action 1. 60-Day Housing Solutions Task Force: Following receipt of the joint City–County Housing Study, the Mayor will convene a task force to deliver short-, mid-, and long-term recommendations to close the housing unit gap across all income levels, supported by transparent data tracking. 2. RFI/RFP Process for City-Owned Land: Requests for Information and Requests for Proposals to explore mixed-use and housing opportunities on several sites, including Westside Regional Park, Husky Park, Former Trinity School, and Sites J & K along Carroll Creek (J & K are identified brownfields, so mitigation may be required). 3. Prioritization of Affordable Housing Projects: Planning, Engineering, and Permitting will be directed to fast-track projects that include affordable housing components, developing a white-glove-style service for applicants to usher them through the permitting process more efficiently and effectively. — Strengthening Community Engagement Two components are proposed: 1) A Community Cabinet of NAC coordinators and community leaders to meet regularly with the Office of the Mayor and other executive level leadership for information-sharing and problem-solving; and 2) A forthcoming resolution to propose aligning NAC boundaries with new Council districts and restoring attendance by developers at NAC meetings to improve resident engagement on development proposals. Other progressive programs include working to encourage contractors on City projects to use meaningful percentages of apprentices; establishing a co-responder pilot between Frederick Police Dept. (FPD) and Housing & Human Services to improve quality-of-life along Carroll Creek and the City, blending enforcement with compassionate outreach; using Opioid Abatement Funds to subsidize access to sports, arts, camps, and positive childhood experiences for youth who face financial barriers — including that the new Youth Center which will be  designed to reconnect disengaged youth and provide workforce pathways; and release of a Comprehensive Plan Monitoring Report that increases transparency and accountability around implementation of the 2020 Comprehensive Plan, currently an “aspirational” document for the City’s operational requirements. The election discussions and citizen input in the past months have, apparently, resonated with City officials who pledge apparent larger commitments to affordable housing, City-wide equity, and resident awareness of opportunities to better quality-of-life for many. CRG looks forward to helping City officials and staff to move these programs forward! Upcoming Meetings and Events City meetings begin January 8 Find details here: https://www.cityoffrederickmd.gov/901/Public-Meetings). City Historic Preservation Commission meeting, January 8, 6 PM, City Hall: more revisions to Odd Fellows housing units City Planning Commission, January 12, 6 PM, City Hall: Brickworks, Highland Trail development City Council, January 15, 6 PM, City Hall: City data centers   Event: Reimagining Property Taxes to Capture Community-Created Value. A CIVICCON-Hood College seminar, Monday, January 12, 2026, 6:30 PM, Hodson Auditorium in Rosenstock Hall. How property taxes can be leveraged in innovative ways to improve communities and spur growth. Contributors: P. Gallagher, S. Jakubczyk, S.& B. Poteat, M. Rosensweig, K. Sellner

Please join the Citizens for Responsible Growth monthly email list by clicking here. See the CRG blog at: responsiblegrowthfrederick.com 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. Check out our Facebook page! Find us on Instagram