(5/18) At its May 17 meeting, the Thurmont Town Council presented an ordinance to introduce the potential annexation of the Simmer Apples Church Road property.

The property is located southeast of Apples Church Road and borders Graceham Road and consists of 24.5 acres, of which seven acres are in town and currently zoned R-5 residential. The remaining 17.5 acres lie outside the town’s boundaries in the county and are zoned agriculture, according to Planning and Zoning Manager Kelly Duty

Thurmont’s recently adopted Master Plan, the guiding plan for town growth, has the property in the future growth area and is designated as "high density residential," Duty said.

Discussion was initiated by the applicant in mid-2018 who has been working with the town for several years to create a concept plan for multi-family residential development that includes a daycare facility and assisted living facility.

The potential annexation was officially brought to council in 2020 and was directed to Planning and Zoning for review in 2021, who upon finding compliance with the master plan and with adequate public facilities unanimously recommended annexation with designated R-5.

Daniel Cross, proprietor of Cross and Company, a real estate investment, development, management, and brokerage company of Frederick since 1997, provided a summary of the annexation agreement including graphics and an aerial view of the property.

The goal is to be accepted into the town and zone change from County Agricultural to Town R-5 for residential use.

The developer look to create an affordable mixed- use intergenerational community providing dwellings as townhouses and townhome style condominiums, with the potential for rental apartment buildings, Cross said.

These days, the country tends to build age exclusive fifty-five and over communities as real estate developers do not want to pay the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance to fix schools … we have lost the concept of three generations living in the same neighborhood," Cross said.

The development also plans for open spaces, victory gardens, pedestrian friendly streetscapes, "Things that make a neighborhood a neighborhood," he said. Understanding the need to preserve downtown Thurmont and enhance businesses, Cross also suggested flexibility for potential pop-up retail for residents to walk to.

The annexation has met the approval of Frederick County and meets all town requirements, Mayor John Kinnard said.

Public comments will be accepted at a future public hearing regarding the annexation with a date to be announced.