(3/2020) County Announces Initiative to Increase Agriculture Preservation

Frederick County announced an initiative to accelerate agriculture preservation efforts. She proposed legislation that would increase the county’s investment to save valuable farmland in an effort to achieve the long-standing goal of preserving 100,000 acres of agricultural land. Preserving large blocks of land is key to ensuring the long-term economic viability of agriculture.

"The time is now to preserve Frederick County’s rich agricultural land before our cherished fields are lost to development," said Executive Gardner. "Securing preservation easements for agriculture will ensure we leave a legacy of agriculture for future generations."

Frederick County is home to 1,300 farms and more than 180,000 acres of farmland. Applications to participate in the county’s agricultural preservation programs far exceed available dollars. For example, the county recently received 46 applications for the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation program and can fund only five or six. The legislation has broad support from the agriculture community, including from the Agriculture Preservation Board, the Agriculture Business Council, and the Farm Bureau.

To enable this increased investment, the proposed legislation adds $1 to the county’s recordation tax. The recordation tax is a one-time charge paid on certain real estate transactions. Most Maryland counties charge both a recordation tax and a transfer tax on these transactions. Frederick County does not collect a transfer tax. The proposed $1 brings revenues from real estate transactions in line with similar counties that have both a recordation fee and transfer tax, including Charles, Harford and Howard. With an average mortgage in Frederick County of $270,000, this modest increase would add approximately $270 to the cost for a buyer and a seller.

The proposal would generate an estimated $6.8 million. The first $500,000 would be set aside annually for three related purposes: economic development grants to support agriculture diversification; grants for rural historic preservation; and first-time homebuyer assistance. The remaining funds would support the County’s agriculture preservation programs.

County Council Vice President Michael Blue and Council Member Jerry Donald have agreed to introduce the bill on behalf of Executive Gardner. The draft legislation can be viewed online at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/executive.

Election Judges Needed For 2020 Elections

Frederick County’s Board of Elections is seeking individuals to serve as election judges at polling places on Primary Election Day, April 28, and General Election Day, November 3.

In accordance with the Election Code, judges must be registered voters and at least 16 years of age (16 and 17 year olds also require parental permission). They must be able to speak, read and write the English language, and while acting as a judge must not hold or be a candidate for public or party office.

The Board is currently seeking more than 300 election judges. Training will be provided, and all judges are compensated at least $25 for the three-hour training, and a minimum of $175 for Election Day work. A small number of Chief Judges, who make additional money for both training and Election Day, are also needed. The Board needs judges throughout the county.

To apply, or for more information, visit the Board’s website at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/elections, and click on the box at the top of the page for ‘Be an Election Worker’.

Livable Frederick Kicks Off With Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Plan

Citing the environmental, historical and scenic beauty of Sugarloaf Mountain and its surroundings, Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner kicked off an effort to protect and preserve Sugarloaf’s treasured landscape for the future. The Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Area Plan is the first small area plan to be developed under the award-winning Livable Frederick master plan. Livable Frederick implements a new approach to planning for the county’s future. It is aspirational and based on a vision of a vibrant, unique community where people can live, work and locally thrive while enjoying a strong sense of place and belonging.

"Frederick County values the rich history and unique resources of Sugarloaf," said Executive Gardner. "The land faces development pressure in recent years. That’s why I chose to implement Livable Frederick by focusing on the treasured landscape surrounding Sugarloaf Mountain. The time to protect this area is now."

Sugarloaf Mountain is a registered national landmark. It was first mapped by a Swiss explorer more than 300 years ago. Soldiers from the French and Indian War and the Civil War marched across its trails. Today the mountain and its trails are privately owned by a non-profit corporation, Stronghold Inc., which is dedicated to preserving the mountain’s resources.

To guide the development of the Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Area Plan, a Stakeholders Advisory Group has been formed. The group includes representatives from Stronghold, nearby landowners, the Frederick County Sustainability Commission, Preservation Maryland, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and the Sugarloaf Citizens’ Association. Members have been provided with a briefing book as a starting point for discussion. The briefing book provides historical context, a description of current conditions, and a list of challenges and opportunities facing the area. A copy of the book is available online at www.LivableFrederick.org.

Community outreach will be an important element of each small area plan under Livable Frederick. Every plan will be guided by its own advisory group, which will include residents and key stakeholders. The next plan to launch will be the South Frederick Corridors Plan, which focuses on the county’s primary business corridor along Maryland Routes 85 and 355 near Ballenger Creek.

To keep residents informed of plans near their communities, Frederick County Government has launched an account on the Nextdoor social media platform. This neighborhood-specific network allows people to find out what is happening around them. Nextdoor is free for users and there is no cost to the county for making the service available. Visit www.nextdoor.com to register.

Initiatives to Protect Forest Cover, Environmental and Historic Resources

County Executive Jan Gardner unveiled two initiatives to protect Frederick County’s forests, environmental resources, and historic and cultural assets. The first legislative initiative strengthens the County’s Forest Resource Ordinance with the goal to protect existing forest and ensure no net loss of forest as the result of new development. The second legislative proposal amends the county zoning ordinance to require consideration and protection of forest, environmentally sensitive areas, and historic assets prior to a property being rezoned. Citizens value Frederick County’s rich history and its environment, and protecting these features puts the community’s values first.

"The good news is that we can take action now to prevent the loss of forest cover and protect our historic and cultural amenities now into the future," said Executive Gardner. "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."

The first bill Executive Gardner will ask the County Council to consider changes the Forest Resource Ordinance to 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. 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 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. The Forest Resource Ordinance applies to lots that have been recorded since 1992. Any lot that was recorded before 1992 would be exempt if forest clearing is limited to 20,000 square feet.

The second proposal is an update to the county’s zoning laws. The goal is to protect sensitive environmental areas and historic assets before a property is rezoned for development. 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.

Executive Gardner’s proposals are designed to protect Frederick County’s forests and farmland for future generations to enjoy. "I want to preserve what we cherish about Frederick County," she added.