Preserving the unique character and quality of life in Frederick County, Maryland through public education, active civic

engagement and government oversight

Response to Frederick County Commissioners Young, Gray, Smith, DeLauter and Shreve, ref: the 2011 Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Review in their consideration of 193 rezoning applications Date: January 31, 2012 Due to a number of phone calls and emails from people wanting to know what is happening with respect to the rezonings, I thought it helpful to provide a summary:
Between 2008 and 2010 the Frederick County planners and Planning Commission had over 100 meetings, many workshops and expert testimonies on the development of the 20 year Comprehensive Plan for our future. The Gardner BOCC and planners: considered thousands of Frederick Countys properties looked at extensive study on the impact of development on the environment, roads, schools and other public facilities determined what would best promote the public interest and general welfare of all residents in Frederick County They prioritized development to infill and redevelopment, a sustainability measure that favors the economic development and social welfare and lessens the environmental impact on our natural resources. That document plans for: development of over 36,000 new homes, and sets aside land for commercial, industrial and retail growth, and it designates implementation of corridor plans and transit oriented development Wouldnt it be great if the BOCC were spending their time focusing on redevelopment and JOBS along the 355/85 corridor? Jobs is what we want, not impoverishment of our county. The difference between the last BOCC and this one is the last one focused on making a great future for 233,000 people; this BOCC focuses on making a future for 193 landowners their families, lawyers and developers and damn the rest

4 E. Church Street, Frederick MD 21701 http://www.friendsoffrederickcounty.org 240 529 1655

The current BOCC reopened the process for comprehensive rezoning and are considering rezoning 193 properties for development, with total acreage over 15,000 an area roughly equivalent to 1/3 the size of Washington DC. Thats a huge loss of our nationss most productive farmland, and a huge windfall for developers on the backs of Frederick County taxpayers. In November 2011:

the Frederick County Planning Commission, citizens with over 30 collective years in county planning, and educated through a Maryland State planning program, voted to halt the rezoning hearings. They felt the entire process was seriously flawed, totally unnecessary (no facts had changed substantially since the previous review), a waste of taxpayer money and potentially illegal (possibly a false cover for piecemeal zoning without a change in the character of the neighborhood or a mistake in zoning) (FNP, 12/11/11) the Maryland State Department of Planning wrote a letter to Mr. Eric Sotor, Director of our countys Community Development division. In that letter the state took issue with the flawed process. citizens sued the county over the flawed process, and the fact that the Board of County Commissioners has no authority to rezone for the purpose of increasing the value of selected properties The process to many is seen as one requested by the BOCC to fulfill campaign promises to certain friends in the audience tonight (ie those representing parcels where there stands to be large financial gain). Let it be clear that there has been no change to warrant more houses or commercial growth above and beyond what is already in our 20-year plan. In fact there are two considerations that show even greater absurdity to these proposals: a study released by the Washington Area Council of Governments last Fall 2011 shows that Frederick County residential projections are actually about 30% lower than they were when we were doing our comprehensive planning 2 years ago. That report says we will need between 20,000-27,000 homes, not over 36,000. PlanMaryland, the recently passed state planning document, clarifies that support for infrastructure will go to smart growth development, not sprawl. With that in mind, who will pay for the infrastructure demands that come with the proposed development? Where are the studies that show we can afford to widen roads to accommodate over 163,000 more car trips/day, afford new schools to teach to nearly 9000 new students, afford enough emergency service personnel and stations to accommodate over 17,000 new families, libraries, water and sewer, and all the amenities we require. Where are those studies?
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Thank you. Janice Wiles Executive Director

4 E. Church Street, Frederick MD 21701 http://www.friendsoffrederickcounty.org 240 529 1655