Frederick City and County News of Interest VOL. 4, NO. 11 | November 11, 2025

VOL. 4, NO. 11  |  November 11, 2025 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.   For quick access, click on a title here and jump to that article, below: City Elections City: Just Say NO to Data Centers in the City City and County: Data center e-waste — a problem that can’t be ignored City and County: Data centers and state budgets study: are tax benefits “smoke and mirrors”? City: Planning Committee Workshop Highlights East Street Traffic Woes City: Brickworks Contaminant Update County: Data Center Overlay County: Data Center Intrusions County: MPRP Transmission Line Upcoming Meetings and Events ______________   City: Elections At press time, official results of Frederick’s 2025 Mayoral and City Council elections have not been finalized. However, it appears that the Democratic candidate for each office will be victorious by a wide margin. CRG will explore the plusses, minuses, and challenges of this outcome in our December newsletter.     City: Just Say NO to Data Centers in the City  On October 23 and November 6, the City’s Land Use, Public Safety, and Community Development Legislative Committee met and, disappointingly, City Council President Katie Nash proposed a revision to the Land Management Code (LMC) to allow data centers in the City. This proposal appears to go significantly beyond what the County has put forward, potentially opening City residents to the noise, emissions, stormwater runoff, children’s public health threats, and hazardous chemicals (diesel, coolant water biocides, corrosion by-products). Rationale for this unilateral proposal is unclear and concerning. At present, the LMC does not allow such use and it’s hard to accept the reasoning behind introducing a text amendment that details the conditions under which one can be built. Nash's proposal opens Pandora’s Box to data center construction and operations without resolving all the power, water, resident concerns, property value declines, etc. that have consumed 2+ years of data center discussions at the County’s Planning Commission and Council. Residents have been outspoken in their pleas to not follow the poor examples of community detriments experienced by our Loudoun County, VA neighbors as well as many, many communities across the U.S. The ever-popular rationalization of “think of the economic windfall” is misleading at best as it fails to mention the decrease in property values, the increase in electric and water bills, and the cost burden of the needed infrastructure which will fall on the shoulders of current homeowners. The incoming City Council, whose term commences December 11,2025, will need to approve any change to the LMC. CRG’s position is that this conversation shouldn’t even move forward as, again, data centers are not allowed in the City. Why go through the efforts of identifying ways to bring them in, unless there is something CRG and other blindsided residents are missing? We are confident, though, that if this somehow moves forward the new legislative body will step up and just say NO — not in City limits. If for some reason the text amendment is approved by the current City Council, any future data center projects will not be revisited by the incoming Council; that responsibility will be transferred to the City’s Planning Commission (see links below to documents provided to committee members). 1 Executive Summary Form Data Center Taxes and    Revenue_20251106  2 Data Center Revenue Barkdoll Comment  Note that Adamstown residents have repeatedly emphasized how attractive the community and surrounding area were to entice residents to move to the area. With the data center expansion proposed for the Eastalco site, the area is unappealing now with charm and vistas lost. Livability has been severely eroded. Do we want the same outcome for ‘livable’ Frederick? We should be concerned that a City impact could far outreach the immediate neighborhood and affect the community as a whole.   City and County: Data center e-waste — a problem that can’t be ignored As the County and City contemplate data center development, it’s worth considering the problem of electronic waste (e-waste) because data centers produce a lot of it. A quick look at the available reporting on the subject reveals a large and growing problem that must be addressed. It is not impossible to address, but the problem does provide another reason to significantly slow the building of data centers so solutions can be put in place. These links provide more information: https://medium.com/@celions/the-hidden-environmental-cost-of-data-center-growth-millions-of-tons-of-e-waste-0bb4a18dbaa1 https://ncsglobalinc.com/insights/e-waste-in-data-centers/ https://www.human-i-t.org/data-center-recycling/#:~:text=Refurbishing%20and%20 Excerpt from a Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI) article in December 2024: While discussions about data centers’ energy consumption and environmental impact are widespread, far less attention has been given to the mounting problem of electronic waste (e-waste) generated by these facilities. Servers and GPUs, essential to data center operations, are typically replaced every 2–5 years, producing millions of tons of outdated equipment — more than 80% of which is discarded. A recently published Nature study warned that generative AI alone could contribute an additional 1.2–5 million tons of annual e-waste, posing serious environmental and health risks globally.   E-waste recycling and handling are poorly regulated, with limited infrastructure to support circular practices. Privacy and security concerns often prompt companies to destroy outdated hardware rather than reuse or recycle it. Addressing this growing issue requires a better understanding of its scale, societal impacts, and systemic gaps. ________ Let your elected officials know if you’re concerned about this issue.   City and County: Data centers and state budgets study: Are tax benefits “smoke and mirrors”? A recent Baltimore Banner article detailing the growth of data centers in Maryland included reference to a report by a nonpartisan nonprofit, Good Jobs First, that is worth reading. Here is a link to the report, and an excerpt from the Banner article: https://goodjobsfirst.org/cloudy-with-a-loss-of-spending-control-how-data-centers-are-endangering-state-budgets/ Excerpt: “Data centers create tax base without creating a lot of demand for public services,” said economist Anirban Basu during a business panel discussion at The Banner’s Impact Maryland event this week. But the tax benefits might be smoke and mirrors, some say. Most data centers are awarded tax exemptions on sales taxes in favor of property taxes. That’s already the case in Maryland. Good Jobs First, a nonpartisan nonprofit watchdog on tax subsidies and incentives, found in a report in April that at least 10 of 32 states with data centers have lost more than $100 million per year in tax revenue from these facilities. The loss stems from exemptions on sales and use taxes for some of the necessary and most expensive components of a data center. “If Maryland were to exempt sales taxes, but let local governments tax on property taxes, there’d be a net loss and kind of a shell game within the state,” said Greg LeRoy, executive director of Good Jobs First. ________ You can read the full Banner article here: Massive data centers invaded Virginia — and Maryland wants to be next   City: Planning Committee Workshop Highlights East Street Traffic Woes An 18-unit townhouse complex is planned for 200–220 N. East Street, site of the former model train museum. The project was a key discussion item at the PC workshop on October 20. Of interest is the design which, according to neighbors who spoke in favor of the site plan, seems to “fit” at least loosely with the form-based code concept for the East Street corridor. This configuration is a compromise between the initial proposal — a 5–6 story multi-family structure — and rehabilitation of the railroad museum complex.  While PC members applauded the project design and placement of the garages off Austin Alley (adhering to the downtown design guidelines of no street-facing garages), of concern is entry to the planned garages off the busy and narrow N. East Street across from Pistarro’s. The alley is located between 2 traffic lights at east 2nd and 3rd streets. Imagine trying to turn left from N. East Street opposite Pistarro’s with southbound East Street traffic behind you and northbound traffic from a green light at E. 2nd coming at you — a NIGHTMARE! Traffic here is already congested with traffic slow-to-stopped several times a day and now this turning need added to the traffic expected from Galleria, the downtown hotel and conference center, Visitation, and Brickworks — WOW! Access and egress (according to many who travel this route) would be far better from E. 3rd Street, which would be unfortunate for residents of that thoroughfare.  So, while the project itself appears suitable for the neighborhood, it is a strong example in favor of preventing the City from issuing construction permits due to likely traffic problems on an already-overused corridor — and a caution to the City to more keenly assess each project in relation to the development on surrounding streets rather than as a unique entity. CRG urges the City Council to adopt and enforce stronger traffic requirements for our narrow and most-traveled streets such that any identified obstacles to traffic flow in an area that will endanger normal and continuous flow patterns, even if slow, can be used to reject proposed development.  Another proposal for the East Street corridor is likely to add to traffic woes. On the agenda at the October 20 Planning Commission meeting was the site plan for Harmon Park (which is proposed to become part of a 6.9-acre community park). This area expands Harmon Park as it connects to the existing Brickworks property along the west side of East Street. Positive features are tennis, pickleball and basketball courts, a (possible) tot lot, a (possible) dog park, and walking paths. Parking will be available with access on Winchester Street (although as some workshop attendees pointed out the parking lot has other dedicated uses). This expansion of Harmon Park satisfies a portion of the Brickworks promised green space. However — and that's a big however — a primary pedestrian access from the Brickworks to the park is a surface-level crosswalk across East Street (and north of the traffic circle) with an island between the north and south traffic lanes — we guess for the folks who are too slow to cross East Street in a single attempt. The proposed crosswalk will not have a traffic light but will include flashing lights. What? Aside from the fact that any pedestrian walkway across East Street is an accident waiting to happen, many Brickworks residents will be unable to fast walk across the street while traffic is barreling down on them. CRG hopes cars and trucks will stop, allowing parents with children toddling or in strollers, less-mobile adults and others walking slowly and carefully, etc. to cross safely. We fear this is another traffic tie up in the making.   City: Brickworks Contaminant Update On October 29, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) staff members from its Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) convened a meeting to outline proposed soil contaminant cleanup plans for lots 4 (grocery, retail, and parking) and 6 (townhomes, garages) of the Brickworks property between Monocacy Boulevard and East and South Streets. A consulting firm (Geo-Technology Associates, Inc.) for the owners presented a comprehensive overview of historical and recent soil measurements and indicated most of the areas would be capped or filled and capped to prevent exposure to soil contaminants from historical land uses of the property. CRG is pleased with the proposed soil remedies and takes a few bows: If we had not pressed the City and the developer for addressing the well-documented contamination over 3 years ago, the City would have allowed site development without any remediation, thereby exposing future residents of the property to contaminants endangering their health for decades. Now we hope that the new Council will revise the Land Management Code (LMC) to require brownfield mitigation before any development can occur (e.g., the Galleria and Train Museum properties) and several CRG members have received emails from Council members that such a LMC revision is under Planning Department review and write-up for adoption by the new Council. County: Data Center Overlay As we have reported for the past 18 months, County officials have been debating the extent of data center development in and around the 2200-acre Eastalco site near Adamstown. In the recent Planning Commission meeting, the members recommended reduction of the Eastalco site to approximate 1700 acres but allowed for possible expansion for two large adjacent farms approximating 550 acres. As a plus for local residents, twenty-three other properties (homes, St. Joseph’s church, and an elementary school) were recommended for inclusion in the County Community Growth Area to ensure access to water and sewer infrastructure. It remains to be seen what the County Council will adopt. There is still no resolution of power nor water supplies to the data center properties yet the County Executive and Council continue to move forward, largely with only modest requirements for noise abatement, emission reductions, neighbor property and well protections, hazard control plans, reimbursements for property value losses, and stormwater controls at the centers. CRG STRONGLY suggests that identifying power and water supply, and treatment following data center use, as well as a thorough independent review of costs and benefits of data centers be implemented BEFORE any more data center corporations apply for construction and operation in the County or its municipalities.  County: Data Center Intrusions At a special Town Hall meeting (October 20), Council Members Kavonte Duckett, Mason Carter, and Steve McKay heard Adamstown residents describe the issues they are having with dust, noise, and traffic during the construction of the Rowan data centers. Prior to the meeting, the Council members toured several farms and saw firsthand the proximity of the data centers to some homes. County: MPRP Transmission Line (from StopMPRP) On October 9, 2025, PSEG Renewable Transmission LLC filed its third federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. It was confirmed that service of the lawsuit has begun — property owners named in the complaint are starting to receive legal papers. If you are among those being served, please accept delivery. Refusing delivery does not change your status as a respondent. Upcoming Meetings and Events Citywide Planning Department Community Outreach Meeting — November 17, 2025 at 6:00 PM     See the CRG blog at: responsiblegrowthfrederick.com Contributors: P. Gallagher, S. Jakubczyk, E. Law, 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!

 

Frederick City and County News of Interest VOL. 4, NO. 10 | October 8, 2025

 

VOL. 4, NO. 10  |  October 8, 2025 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. For quick access, click on a title here and jump to that article, below: Opinion: City Primary Election Implications City: Updates on Planning Commission Discussions/Decisions City: Planning Department City Council: Housing, Health, and Education Committee (HHE) County: Community Data Center Meetings County: Data Centers & the Potomac River Upcoming Meetings and Events ______________   Opinion: City Primary Election Implications The results of the September Primary Election yielded some very interesting takeaways that need to be carefully thought through by the remaining candidates in the general election. They also highlight a few indications of how things may be changing in the City regarding future election attitudes and overall parameters. First of all — and contrary to the opinion of the editors of the Frederick News Post (FNP) — the biggest surprise was not the solid overall leading vote for the first-time candidate, Libby Taylor, but the resounding rejection of incumbents and the status quo. The two longest-serving Council members finished last and next to last in the competitive at-large race. Frankly, voters said, "Thank you very much for your combined 40 years of service," but it's time to move forward. In addition, the performance of Ron Beattie in his challenge to two-time incumbent Mayor Michael O'Connor should be of some concern to the Mayor in the upcoming general election. With 42% of the vote and basically a tie in the critical District 3 (downtown), it seems running on perceived past accomplishments alone might not result in the Mayor receiving a third term.  It's easy to argue that voters want to hear what a candidate is going to do in the future that represents a fresh approach to City government and addresses the key issues facing the City with a measurable timeline of actual progress (such issues as affordability — from crippling  property taxes, to housing at all levels, and the continuation of unbridled growth and capitulation to the development community that results in a "build-first at any cost, and worry about covering infrastructure costs later" mentality). One final takeaway has to be the performance of Fredy Ventura Garcia who, as a legal resident but non-citizen, received more votes in a losing effort in District 5 than three of the district candidates who won their individual races. Perhaps now the FNP will stop asking whether people will support non-citizen voting! Kudos to the Charter Review Commission whose efforts opened the door for this level of participation and created an upbeat and exciting election atmosphere. To me this is the lead the FNP buried!   — Steve Jakubczyk, North Market Street resident City: Updates on Planning Commission Discussions/Decisions The September CRG newsletter reported on two issues of concern regarding development projects in the City: Master Plan approval of the Frederick Health application for a large mixed-use community in the Route 15/Monocacy Boulevard/Route 26 triangle; and a proposed Land Management Code (LMC) text amendment to revise required phasing standards for mixed use developments. Both issues, discussions of which had been continued from prior Planning Commission (PC) hearings, were brought before Commissioners at their September 8 hearing. Frederick Health Master Plan: Though supported by PC staff, discussion and decision on this application was continued (at the request of the applicant) after substantive discussion about the adequacy and phasing of road improvements at several critical intersections. Commissioners are supportive of the overall concept offered by Frederick Health officials of a mixed-use walkable community which could, ultimately, include a new hospital plus residences, and other retail/commercial structures. However, they remain concerned about the potential for even worse traffic congestion in the area, despite the proposed traffic mitigation plans proposed. After lengthy discussion, and indications from a majority of the Commissioners that they would not support the plan at this time, the applicant was granted a 60-day continuance to provide more data on the phasing of site development and road improvements, whether and how the developer would/could include Moderately Priced Dwelling Units (MPDUs) in the community, and how Route 15 expansion will fit into the area’s traffic flow. LMC Text Amendment: The proposed (by developers of Renn Quarter) text amendment was designed to address what appear to be limitations of the phasing requirement for mixed use developments (i.e., requiring that a certain amount of retail/commercial development be initiated once a defined level of residential development had been attained). The PC staff report identified this “one size fits all” requirement as an impediment to achievement of a Comprehensive Plan goal of encouraging mixed-use, walkable developments. Commissioners agreed but were unanimously opposed to a) recommending a solution that would apply to all mixed-use developments and not on a case-by-case basis; and b) allowing administrative decisions about waivers of the phasing requirement rather than full PC hearings with public input. They voted against recommending approval of the proposed text amendment and agreed to advise the City Council, via letter, of the reasons for their decision. City: Planning Department The City Planning Department has begun a reorganization effort to address changing conditions associated with growth. CRG has long been concerned about the lack of progress in the finalization of Form Based Code (FBC). Brandon Mark, with whom this responsibility lies, has also had the responsibility for the Planning Department’s Historic Preservation (HP) staff. His HP duties have now shifted to a new department, which will free up time to tackle projects like FBC. Further, he is being allocated additional staff to help with the growing workload. The Planning Department’s HP staff will have their own organization, with Christina Martinkoski having applied to lead this group and a new hire. The department is in the process of implementing and executing a monitoring system for review of products such as the Comprehensive Plan. Director Collard says she sees the value of creating citizen-populated work groups for the 5-year review of the current plan as well as preparations for the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, a positive development and a plus for CRG’s goals. City Council: Housing, Health, and Education Committee (HHE) Continuing discussion of several key City issues were held on September 18 and October 2. A City-wide Affordable Housing Overlay was discussed with slight opinion differences voiced by Council persons Donna Kuzemchak and Ben MacShane. MacShane was skeptical of any way to provide affordable housing for individuals and families below 60% of the Annual Median Income level; the ‘Missing Middle’ might be covered in some manner by City help, but he saw no way to assist affordable housing for those in the lowest income bracket. Kuzemchak indicated that residential AND commercial properties could accommodate the lowest wage earners and the City ought to identify City-owned properties for possible affordable housing. The Planning Department’s Gabrielle Collard suggested there were incentives to increase housing for the lowest income families, through partnerships, grants, etc. It also appears that Kuzemchak believes that MPDU fees in-lieu collected funds, now more than $4.6M, should only be used for affordable housing to be purchased rather than housing that is not only for sale, but rental as well (such as multi-family units). The latter is a concept that CRG supports, because the lowest income residents likely have insufficient capital for anything other than renting. Another option, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), was again discussed, with possible relaxation of several City impact fees to encourage construction. So far, ADUs are found to be not inexpensive options and rules for occupation and future use remain unclear. One public comment encouraged relaxation of fees for any ADUs constructed for low income, non-family residents to broaden affordability. At the end of the September meeting, housing advocate Ann Ryan encouraged greater flexibility in ways to provide affordable housing, including rules supporting Single Room Occupancy (SRO) in the City. CRG strongly supports Ms. Ryan and the Frederick Housing Task Force in discovering and encouraging City funding options successfully used in other municipalities across the U.S. County: Community Data Center Meetings Two community meetings regarding data centers have been held near Adamstown in recent weeks (September 19 and 25). Officials and County staff attended to listen to resident questions regarding the recent data center overlay zone that has been proposed by County Executive Fitzwater. In the first meeting, vehement antagonism was obvious from Adamstown residents and their associates, strongly requesting that the Council SLOW DOWN in expanding the acreage the County would consider for future data centers in the overlay zone (from ~2200 acres to now adding another 650 acres) to allow assessment of what data center development and operations would mean for residents, County revenues, environmental impacts, and water and power supplies, not to mention monthly electricity bills. The second meeting was less contentious with Pat Murray, Fitzwater’s Chief of Staff, calmly and thoroughly responding to all residents with facts he could provide, engaging with often lengthy comment and questions from the assembled residents. Council members (Young, Knapp, Keegan-Ayer, McKay) attended one or both events as did state Senator Karen Lewis Young and Delegate Jesse Pippy, as well as Sheriff Jenkins. In the second meeting, staff of Maryland’s Department of the Environment (MDE) were also present as was Mike Kuykendall from the Eastalco management company, Catellus, to provide feedback. Most residents were cordial with challenging comments and County and MDE staff remained calm and as responsive as possible. It remains to be seen whether the Council will shift its just-announced support for the centers and the overlay to more protective requirements for residents. As pointed out by several residents, let the officials’ responses determine your vote next fall, which is very consistent with CRG’s position! Make your thoughts on data centers clear by sending comments to the County Planning Commission, who will be considering the proposed data center overlay map at their meeting Wednesday, October 15 — see info below. County: Data Centers & the Potomac River The Interstate Commission for the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) is preparing a report providing a 25-year outlook on water supply and demand pressures on the Potomac River Basin, which for the first time includes impact from the regional data center industry. CRG expects content to provide summaries on increased periods (and severity) of droughts, seasonal high precipitation, longer low-flow river conditions, as well as increased demand for water to support the data center industry and regional growth. CRG is deeply concerned about water demand as there are now more than 600 centers operating, permitted, or planned in Virginia, many utilizing water feeding the Potomac. The ICPRB is not a regulatory body and hence, does not regulate use; it tracks water supply and use in the basin. During low-flow conditions, agreements are in place to follow recommended reductions in water withdrawal. However, compliance with these recommendations is VOLUNTARY. Should conditions develop where low-flow conditions become more the norm, the Commission may have to consider shifting from voluntary compliance to mandatory, likely requiring a regional if not Federal authorization, though the latter may be difficult, given the current Federal commitment to relaxing many environmental protections. Upcoming Meetings and Events City Planning Commission, Monday, October 13, 6 PM, City Hall: Brickworks, Galleria developments County Planning Commission, Wednesday, October 15, 9:15 AM, Winchester Hall: Critical Data Infrastructure Overlay Map hearing. Written comments must be submitted to the Planning and Permitting Division at least 48-hours in advance of the Commission meeting in order to be considered. Written comments are accepted via email: PlanningCommission@FrederickCountyMD.gov.

See the CRG blog at: responsiblegrowthfrederick.com Contributors: P. Gallagher, S. Jakubczyk, R. Robey, 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!

Frederick City and County News of Interest VOL. 4, NO. 9 | September 6, 2025

 

VOL. 4, NO. 9  |  September 6, 2025 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. For quick access, click on a title here and jump to that article, below: CRG Opinion City: Yet again, Bye-bye City Historic Property City: Vacant Property Ordinance Update City: Housing, Health, and Education Committee Summary City: Developer-Requested LMC Text Amendment to Modify Mixed-Use Phasing Requirements City: Cricket Stadium Update City: Updates on Westside Improvements City/County: Housing Element: Summary for the City, County, and Municipalities County: Housing Open House County: Green Infrastructure Plan County: Critical Data Center Overlay Upcoming Events and Meetings ______________   VOTE, VOTE, VOTE — THE CITY’S FUTURE IS IN PLAY!!! ______________________ CRG OPINION For the entire lifespan of CRG and its newsletter, we have been opining on the Historic Preservation Commission’s (HPC) shift to embedding more and more contemporary features into the City’s historic properties with HPC members asserting they were simply following the 2019 Historic Property Guidelines. Well, lo and behold, a strong voice in the recent Frederick News Post pleaded for protection of the City’s historic character similar to our oft-stated opinion (https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/columns/community-character-and-identity-matter/article_6b15aaf1-c77d-53c4-a0a0-3572dd02b9cb.html). Alas, as noted in the section below, saving our historic designs and architecture still has a long way to go. But thank you Mr. McMahon for defending what defines our beautiful City. Please keep trying! City: Yet again, Bye-bye City Historic Property The City’s Historic Preservation staff as well as HPC members have done it again, allowing an 85-year-old mansion to be demolished on Grove Street near Hood College. In a decision on August 14, the Commission discussed applying an historic overlay on a rare stone-faced mansion in order to save the remaining architecture of a defaced residence valued at $1.2M. As background, several years ago, the owner removed the stone façade of the large residence without a permit, thereby — in the opinion of the Planning staff and majority of the Commission — removing the historic character of the building. Commission members could have applied an historic overlay on the building to further protect this unique structure but instead rejected that option leaving the owner with the ability to demolish the treasured residence. As one member stated, by not assigning the overlay, the owner’s vandalism (demolition without a City permit) in removing the stone façade has been rewarded, setting a precedent that illegal practices, even reported to City officials at the time of the façade’s removal, are acceptable and can lead to further destruction as a non-historic building. Bravo staff and HPC members, the continued loss of valued City history marches on (for a summary see https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/real_estate_and_development/planned-home-demolition-exposes-gap-in-fredericks-historic-preservation-rules/article_408033cb-aeaa-55a0-b96f-1f0634e973a2.html). City: Vacant Property Ordinance Update A December 31, 2018 article in the Frederick News Post quoted Mayor O’Connor’s pledge of action in 2019 to eliminate unsightly properties that detract from the quality of life, “setting a time period of two years plus one day for an owner to tenant a property before a levy or surcharge would kick in…”. A stroll down memory lane reminds us that the Mayor’s pledge helped to stimulate NAC 11’s Seriously Deteriorated and Habitually Vacant Properties (SDHVP) subcommittee concern on vacant and/or seriously deteriorated properties along Market and surrounding streets. That concern led to an in-depth examination of the situation by residents, through: A review and confirmation of the status of the recommendations of the 2012, 2015, and 2016 blight committees A firsthand, on-foot walk throughout the NAC 11 district and identification (via a rating system) of all properties deemed to be in Poor or Very Poor condition and, if applicable, an Historic Resource at risk Research and organization of vacant property codes and procedures that identified Best Practices in place in Maryland jurisdictions An outline of an action plan to address habitual vacancy The resulting SDHVP report, presented to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, identified 68 vacant and/or distressed properties within NAC 11 boundaries. (Note: the firsthand research did not check properties outside this district given the limits on our resources to do so; however, the Vacant Property ordinance applies to all areas of the City.) After significant public discussion and debate, the Vacant Property Ordinance was passed by a unanimous vote of the Board of Aldermen on November 19, 2019 (Code of Ordinances, Article IV-Vacant Property) and fully implemented on December 1, 2020. Although the final ordinance was more limited in coverage than we had hoped as it covered commercial buildings and multi-family dwellings only, it was a start but with some important conditions, i.e., that only “habitually vacant” properties could be listed, which eliminated many properties from the list; that registration after one year of vacancy is left to the good will of property owners and complaints from neighbors; that there is no mechanism for City staff to assertively seek potentially delinquent properties and require registration. Accordingly, since registration began in early 2022, only 18 properties (City-wide) have been registered. On a positive note, the Ordinance mandates that after three years on the vacant property registry, property taxes are to be increased each year thereafter. This process has begun and some properties are subject to a second year of increased taxes! Also, all properties registered in 2022 are eligible for receivership in one or two years, and a court ruling re: dispensation of the Asiana building (at 123-125 N. Market St.) is expected in a few weeks which might speed up action on other habitually vacant properties. Periodically, CRG (an outgrowth of the SDHVP) reviews implementation of the Ordinance. Currently, 13 properties are listed on the Vacant Property Registration — 11 registered in 2022 and two in 2024. Four properties have been removed from the list — no explanation provided. If a reviewer is to take this list at face value, it would appear as though only 13 properties in the entire City have remained vacant for more than 1 year since 2020. It’s possible, though not likely, and might be a function of the aforementioned lack of enforceable requirement for property owners to register with no penalty for not doing so. It might also be that while City staff can identify vacant properties, they are not required to do so. The ordinance notes that “the Director may consider...” several factors to determine occupancy; s/he does not have to do it.  Perhaps a lack of zeal on the part of staff or perhaps a lack of direction from superiors to act?   As a final note, we suggest that steps can be taken assertively to keep better track of, and promptly register, the vacant properties throughout the City, by seeking a printout each billing cycle of water usage (gallons used low to high). That listing could be checked against prior cycles to gain a sense of who the habitually low users are. As water usage does not equate to habitual vacancy, Code Enforcement must keep a running log of tall grass, vegetation, debris and lack of maintenance. Currently only the worst offenders are cited. And, if a property is brought to the attention of the City, investigation must not be optional!  City: Housing, Health, and Education Committee Summary The HHE committee of the City Council continues its discussion of affordable housing needs and possible remedies. The Frederick Housing Task Force, in collaboration with the Coalition for Frederick Housing, presented a summary of newly formed subcommittees that focus on Development, Community Engagement, Policy and Advocacy, Supportive Services, and Landlord Engagement and Locator Assistance. The Task Force focuses on housing for those earning less than 30% of the regional Annual Median Income (AMI), those least likely to find housing within their meager incomes. Zoning changes, overlay and floating zones, and by-right options were identified as immediate changes needed, along with examination of tiny villages and speeding up review processes. Fees-in-lieu collected for not constructing moderately priced dwelling units (MPDUs, currently approximating $4.6M) are currently distributed across nine different City programs, only one of which is actual construction. Issues ahead include where (and should) Affordable Housing Overlay Zones be adopted across the City or in specific areas, re-examination of Accessory Dwelling Units, and currently requiring $15K in impact fees as an option in the "housing toolbox." CRG supports rapid progress on affordable housing construction using as many mechanisms available across the country in mitigating this huge problem.   City: Developer-Requested LMC Text Amendment to Modify Mixed-Use Phasing Requirements The Renn Quarter developer has requested a text amendment to the LMC which would alter (for the entire City not just Renn Quarter) the regulations for mixed use development phasing. Currently, a development approved as a mixed-use community must assure phased construction of commercial space as residential space comes on line. The proposed amendment will allow developers to reduce the percentage of commercial space and extend phasing for an indeterminate amount of time. Moreover, the proposed amendment asks that administrative (i.e., by staff) approval is all that would be needed for such a change in an approved master plan — not at all a transparent process. Discussion on this request was tabled at a recent Planning Commission meeting; however, it is still alive. CRG notes that numerous current Renn Quarter residents commented negatively about the text amendment and its effect on their lives and property. They noted the promises made by developers of a “vibrant, walkable” community with many amenities — including the ability to reach goods and services on foot rather than by car. Some commenters added that the developer is still advertising Renn Quarter as “vibrant and walkable” while at the same time seeking an LMC text amendment that will enable them to provide something far less than advertised. CRG wants to know: Why is the developer asking for a change in the LMC rather than a modification of the master plan? Why is the developer asking staff to bypass the Planning Commission for this important decision that affects the entire City, not just his/her development? Does the City really want to remove residents from the decisions that affect their lives? To what extent has the developer engaged the services of a commercial real estate broker to assess the viability of establishing businesses, and counted the roofs in the surrounding 2-mile area, and in the pipeline for approved developments to come? These data would likely strengthen developers' pitch to potential commercial clients. City: Cricket Stadium Update As reported previously, an application to construct a Cricket Field in the golf driving range property on Rte. 144 west of the Monocacy River is still under consideration. The Frederick Airport is within a mile of the proposed Cricket Stadium/Event Complex and directly in an airport flight path. Thus, the Airport Commission has to approve the project. At its August meeting, the Commission heard from the applicant and his representatives, and citizens voiced their opinions on issues of concern. Afterward, Commissioners refrained from voting and determined that a follow up meeting to approve or disapprove the project is on hold until after the election. The proposal will now be heard by the new City Council — likely in January 2026. As the current City Council did not complete the workshop process, it is expected to be restarted at that time. City: Updates on Westside Improvements Westside Regional Park Community Center — A preliminary design plan will be presented to the City and the public September 15, 6:30PM at Butterfly Ridge Elementary. Initial discussions include ample meeting space with the potential for permanent offices for community support along with kitchen facilities, a full gymnasium, and 2 multi-use fields. There are plans for a workshop to share priorities for this welcome addition to the West side of the City. Hillside Library — Also in the works are preliminary plans for a 15,000 square foot, long-awaited public library, to be presented to the County and the public by the end of October. A modern full-service library with meeting rooms is anticipated; residents should watch closely for this public meeting. When combined, the completion of these 2 projects should tremendously enhance the quality of life for Westside residents and City as a whole. City/County: Housing Element: Summary for the City, County, and Municipalities The County has pulled together a comprehensive summary of past, current, and future housing data for the City of Frederick, across the County, and the 14 unincorporated growth areas (https://www.frederickcountymd.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/15980). CRG encourages all readers to explore this document, because there’s a stark future ahead for a rapidly increasing population, projections for inadequate housing, a large schools shortfall, and potential impacts of the new climate. Although not yet completed, the affordable housing assessment will highlight these issues even more dramatically. We need serious commitments to address these housing needs as soon as possible, so please consider candidate promises regarding housing policies in the City election on September 9 and next fall’s County election. County: Housing Open House The County hosted a Housing Open House at the library on August 21, with approximately 40 attendees. Although many attended the meeting to learn of new County efforts for more housing in the County, other than several fact-filled handouts, there were no presentations, to the dismay of the assembled residents. White boards had been placed in the meeting room seeking input and suggestions from the attendees with some comments collected to inform the County's next steps. CRG hopes that future County efforts on the critical housing shortfall throughout the area includes more staff presentations on programs either adopted or under consideration by staff. County: Green Infrastructure Plan A draft of the first two chapters of a County Green Infrastructure Plan is now available (https://www.frederickcountymd.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/15979). The document is a thorough summary of green infrastructure and its importance to (obviously) our natural environment, but also to the integration of our valued landscape with human activities and needs. Descriptions of green infrastructure components are found in the first chapter, while Chapter 2 details all aspects of the County from history, geology, forest and habitats, and government programs that protect or conserve valued "green" uses of our lands. CRG compliments County staff for a comprehensive overview of the value of natural and cultivated lands in protecting local streams and embedded habitats, floodplains, and soil health — BRAVO! Now let’s ensure that green infrastructure is valued equally in future development and land use decisions across the County and its municipalities, as build-out is proposed for these areas! County: Critical Data Center Overlay Following previously-held County Council meetings considering the County Executive’s Critical Data Center Overlay, which doubles the area that would be considered for data centers in the County, the County Council voted 5–2 to adopt the overlay zone. Many Adamstown residents and concerned citizens throughout the City and County have vigorously objected to the doubling of available acreage for data centers, due to documented problems in other localities, including noise, vibrations, emissions, property value declines, children’s health, transmission line construction and loss of private property, power demand that will increase electric bills perhaps by 20%, hazardous spill remediation, and water supply and treatment. This outcome was disappointing as there appear to be 5 members committed to inadequate regulation of data center operations, largely accepting the industry’s suggestions on its good neighbor policies and the economic gains of the new industry. To provide a more complete compilation of impacts of data center operations throughout the state, nation and world, a regional Maryland Data Center Analysis Group has just been formed to ensure that ALL data are available, and not solely the industry’s information that appears to be the key source for the Council members who support the expansion of centers in the County (https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/data_centers/coalition-of-environmental-organizations-form-maryland-data-center-analysis-group/article_f892ffd8-5052-50ab-b948-91c3f3357bb2.html). A common theme in resident comments encouraged slowing the process until a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis has been initiated to identify both pros and cons of the new neighbors. Until now, a single analysis has been conducted, listing only benefits of data centers, e.g., increasing construction and electrician jobs and associated local economic benefit from these salaries and $41M in local revenue from taxes. Because of the multiple negatives associated with data centers — all documented in many areas with operating centers — CRG strongly recommends slowing any future data center reviews UNTIL a more comprehensive cost-benefit analysis is initiated and completed, and sources of both power and water have been identified. Upcoming Meetings and Events City Planning Commission, September 8, City Hall, 6 PM: Frederick Health Master Plan, Wormans Mill Court Apartments County Planning Commission, September 10, 9:30 AM: Workshop on Investing in Workers and Workplaces

See the CRG blog at: responsiblegrowthfrederick.com Contributors: P. Gallagher, R. Huber, S. Jakubczyk, M. Rosenswieg, 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!