(3/2020) Spring is only a few weeks away! Some brave flowers have already bloomed, reminding us that warmer weather is right around the corner. March brings us the start of spring, and a month-long celebration of Women’s History Month. This year’s celebration is special because 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote in the United States of America. Before 1920, women were denied many basic rights. Women who were married could not own property and had no legal claim to any money they earned. In the last hundred years, we have seen incredible change in our country. On today’s date in 1920, there weren’t any women registered to vote. Today, women outnumber men in voter registration in Frederick County and across the nation, and the people who hold public office in our community look more like those they represent.

If you want to learn more about the women’s suffrage movement, Frederick County Public Libraries are hosting several educational events throughout March. At the Thurmont Regional Library, hear about when women in Frederick County won the vote, planned for Thursday, March 12th, at 7 p.m. The League of Women Voters will be at the Thurmont library on Thursday, March 19th, at 6:30 p.m. to talk about why we vote. Students up through fifth grade can join in a Women in History Celebration at the Emmitsburg Branch Library on Saturday, March 28th at 1 p.m.

Rural and Scenic Roads

Our rural roads offer outstanding views of rolling farmland and natural features, and they provide access to our historic resources. That’s why I kicked off an effort to refresh the County’s Rural Roads Program. The goal is to enhance the appeal of these hidden gems while ensuring safe travel for local residents and visitors alike. Since the Rural Roads Program began almost 20 years ago, over 80 miles of roadway have been incorporated into the plan. More than half of those roads, 46 miles, are gravel roads, and 30 miles are tar-and-chip covered. There are another six miles of asphalt roads in the program.

I hosted a public roundtable on February 24th to discuss the best way to reshape the Rural Roads Program. The group talked about possible new criteria for rural roads and for scenic roads, the process to consider adding new roads or taking roads out of the program, how and whether to promote these roads for tourism, and the priorities that should be considered when maintaining these special roadways. Participants included representatives of the Farm Bureau, the Friends of Rural Roads, Visit Frederick, and several county committees and commissions, including the Roads Board, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, the Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Historic Preservation Commission. Other groups focused on preservation, forestry, landmarks and heritage attended, as well.

Forests and Historic Assets

Residents value Frederick County’s rich history and its environment. We need to take action now to prevent the loss of forest cover and protect our historic and cultural amenities now into the future. That why I proposed two pieces of legislation last month to protect our forests and our environmental resources and historic assets.

The first bill strengthens the County’s Forest Resource Ordinance. The goal is to protect existing forest cover and ensure we do not lose forest as the result of new development. Under my proposal, the Forest Resource Ordinance would require that an acre of forest be planted for every acre of forest cleared for new development. Trees can be planted within a new development, or there are options for planting off-site. The ordinance focuses on new developments, not individual homeowners. Agricultural operations are exempt from the Forest Resource Ordinance. Also exempt is the transfer of land to children, known as child lots, if less than 20,000 square feet of forest are cleared.

Frederick County previously required a 1:1 ratio for forest replacement. During the four years the requirement was in place, the county gained an additional 10 acres of forest cover. Then in 2011, the requirement was lowered to the minimum allowed by state law. The weaker law led to large areas of forest being cut down for development with little to no replacement. Between 2012 and 2019, Frederick County saw a net loss of about 480 acres of forest, which averages nearly 70 acres of forest lost every year. This bill restores past practice that delivered results and no net loss of forest.

The second piece of legislation I have proposed updates the county zoning ordinance so that forests, environmentally sensitive areas, and historic assets must be considered prior to a property being rezoned. . These resources would have to be identified, along with ways to avoid or minimize any impact on these resources, before rezoning the properties. The bill also adds criteria to better define what constitutes an adequate transportation network. Protecting our history and environment puts the community’s values first.

These bills are designed to protect Frederick County’s forests and farmland for future generations to enjoy. My proposal will protect what our community values, our forest cover, our environmental resources and our rich history, before any new development is approved, so we can ensure a bright future for Frederick County. I want to preserve what we cherish about our community.