On October 17, the Frederick County Council approved Bill 23-17 by 7-0 vote. This Bill repeals the original establishment of a County Roads Board. The charge of the Board was to advise the county engineer and the County Council in the planning of road programs. The Council aims to replace this former Board with the establishment of the Frederick County Rustic Roads Commission. Bill 23-18 will establish this new Commission, if passed, in the coming weeks. Bill 23-18 outlines more specific and inclusive guidelines for the Commission.

This new Commission is charged with establishing a nomination procedure for inclusion into (or removal from) the Rustic Roads Program; overseeing the designation of Designated Rustic Roads and Candidate Roads; advising the County on the protection of Designated Rustic Roads and Candidate Roads, to include the review of proposed substantial changes to these roads; developing and encouraging community efforts and resources for action on Designated Rustic Roads; and advising on rustic road preservation issues. Once this Commission is established, members of the public will be welcome and encouraged to apply for membership.

On October 17, the Council also passed Bill 23-19 by 7-0 vote, allowing for Child Care Centers/Nursery Schools in the Office/Research Industrial zoned property within the County. This Bill facilitates easier accessibility to child care for those working in nearby research or industrial facilities.

Other upcoming legislation includes Bill 23-20, which creates a new use within the Agricultural District to allow limited commercial vehicle parking and material and equipment storage associated with a landscape contractor business. Bill 23-21 amends our current Zoning Ordinance to allow for cannabis dispensaries, cannabis growing facilities, and cannabis processing facilities. This Bill also creates definitions and approval criteria for such cannabis dispensaries and cannabis growing and processing facilities in response to the statewide legalization of adult-use cannabis. These changes are required to be implemented because of the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state of Maryland. Full legislation can be found on our website.

The Frederick County Council encourages public involvement at every stage of the legislative process. We welcome public comment at every Council meeting on Tuesday evenings. Members of the public are welcome to attend and give comment in person, leave a voicemail to be forwarded to each Council Member, or email us any time at councilmembers@frederickcountymd.gov. Please visit our website at www.frederickcountymd.gov/countycouncil to view our latest agendas, legislation, and upcoming calendar of events.