Land and Cultural Preservation Fund, Inc.

Building healthy, vibrant, diverse and resilient communities...

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FNP: resident concerned that we are losing the county to sprawl

Losing Frederick County to sprawl

Originally published February 03, 2012

Frederick County is a beautiful farming community, but it is rapidly becoming only a suburb of Washington. Traffic is increasing, crime is increasing, crowding of schools is increasing.There soon will be no lovely scenery beside U.S. 15 as you drive toward the Catoctin Mountains in Thurmont. Just developments — not pastures, with cattle or fields of crops — not farms.

The county commissioners should think carefully about allowing this land to be developed into just another suburb instead of the unique place we who live in Frederick County love. They should remember, we vote in a year or two.

 

BETH WISECUP

Frederick

 

 

 

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PlanMaryland makes good economic sense

Frederick County might lobby against its own economic best interest?

It’s our money BoCC is spending

Originally published November 09, 2011

 

The Board of County Commissioners might join with other counties to hire a lobbyist who will “follow” PlanMaryland. Following is one thing, but spending our tax dollars lobbying to sabotage it is another.PlanMaryland promotes growth policies that will reduce the miles you travel and reduce community road cost by 71 percent. The policies will lower construction cost by 10 percent and lower nitrogen loading from new development (a major cost and impact on our waterways) by 72.9 percent. (Data source: PlanMaryland, Table 2-2.)

Let’s keep our eyes open; it is our money, after all.

 

JANICE WILES, Friends of Frederick County

 

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FoFC Board Chair weighs in: Our state needs PlanMaryland

Our state needs PlanMaryland

Originally published August 31, 2011

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/storyTools/print_archive_story.htm?storyID=129346, published August 31, 2011

 

The Frederick News-Post’s Aug. 26 editorial falsely portrays PlanMaryland in shades of red and blue. Plan Maryland is not about pitting Republicans against Democrats, nor is it about property rights. It is about sound decision-making and building communities where they make the most sense.Local governments have a poor track record in land-use decisions. Dangerous roads, overcrowded schools and the over-reliance on sand-mound technology are all testaments to bad local land-use decisions.

When politically expedient, local politicians frequently ignore comprehensive plans. Commissioner Blaine Young’s recent decision to reopen Frederick County’s 2010 Comprehensive Plan — as a prelude to rezoning for sprawling development of open space and farmland — is only the latest example of how politics can trump sound land-use planning.

But Frederick County is not alone. Examples can be found in counties all across Maryland, which is why Annapolis is stepping in to bring some order to the chaos. A civil society is based on rules. Right now too few follow the rules when it comes to land-use decisions and development, and instead opt for shortsighted monetary gain for a select few property owners and developers.

Why should you care? Sprawl development is expensive, and in Frederick County has invariably led to higher taxes and a decline in public services and facilities. That’s why you spend so much time on congested roads that are unsafe and in disrepair; why our schools are chronically overcrowded and often desperately in need of renovation; and why your tax bills keep going up to pay the bills that development leaves behind.

But so-called “business-friendly” politicians are far more interested in catering to a very small group of large property owners and out-of-state developers than thoughtfully assessing the impacts of sprawl on tens of thousands of existing residents.

Efforts by Annapolis to strongly encourage sound planning are long overdue.

 

WILLIAM MORROW

Emmitsburg