M A N Y P L A C E S , O N E C O M M U N I T Y A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR FREDERICK COUNTY, MARYLAND ADOPTED APRIL 8, 2010 Board of County Commissioners Jan H. Gardner, President David P. Gray, Vice President Kai J. Hagen John. L. Thompson, Jr. Charles A. Jenkins (through January 2010) Blaine R. Young (since March 2010) Planning Commission Catherine Forrence, Chair Robert L. White Jr., Vice Chair John B. McClurkin, Secretary Joseph F. Brown III Richard Floyd Audrey L. Wolfe Kai J. Hagen - BOCC Liaison i ii Frederick County Division of Planning 12 East Church Street Frederick, MD 21701 General Information 301-600-1138 / 301-600-1140 http://www.frederickcountymd.gov/planning Eric Soter, Director Planning Staff Mark Depo, Deputy Director Jim Gugel, AICP, Chief Planner Tim Blaser, Land Preservation Admin. Anne Bradley Zoning Staff Janet Davis Larry Smith, Zoning Administrator John Dimitriou Rick Brace Tim Goodfellow, AICP Bill Bigelow Dial Keju Craig Terry Shawna Lemonds Denis Superczynski, AICP John Thomas Administrative Staff Todd Weidman Erica Cooke Susan Collins Allyson Desantis Mapping and GIS Staff Patti Garst Amber DeMorett, Manager Mapping/GIS Mary McCullough Angela Worley iii ii Table of Contents 01 Introduction Many Places... ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1 One Community ................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Purpose of the Plan ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 State Planning Framework ................................................................................................................................................. 2 2006 State Planning Initiatives .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Plan Update Process ........................................................................................................................................................... 5 02 Planning Framework and Background Organization and Structure of the Plan ........................................................................................................................... 1 General Plan Components ................................................................................................................................................ 3 Frederick County at a Glance ............................................................................................................................................ 5 Regional Context and Background ................................................................................................................................... 6 A Vision for Frederick County ....................................................................................................................................... 14 03 Conserving Our Natural Resources and Green Infrastructure Goals ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Policies .................................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Green Infrastructure Plan Component ............................................................................................................................ 4 Frederick County Green Infrastructure Plan .................................................................................................................. 8 Hazard Mitigation Element ............................................................................................................................................. 11 Sensitive Areas Element ................................................................................................................................................... 13 Mineral Resources Element ............................................................................................................................................. 24 Action Items ...................................................................................................................................................................... 27 04 Protecting and Preserving Our Heritage Goals ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Policies .................................................................................................................................................................................. 2 State Planning Mandates and Vision ................................................................................................................................ 3 Related County Plans .......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Frederick County Historic Resources and Context ........................................................................................................ 4 Historic Preservation Activity ........................................................................................................................................... 8 Action Items ...................................................................................................................................................................... 15 iii 05 Preserving Our Agricultural and Rural Community Goals ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Policies .................................................................................................................................................................................. 2 State Planning Mandates and Vision ................................................................................................................................ 3 Related County Plans .......................................................................................................................................................... 3 The Role of Agriculture in the County ............................................................................................................................ 4 Agricultural Resource Protection Measures .................................................................................................................... 5 Priority Preservation Element ........................................................................................................................................... 9 Action Items ...................................................................................................................................................................... 14 06 Providing Transportation Choices Goals ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Policies .................................................................................................................................................................................. 2 State Planning Mandates and Vision ................................................................................................................................ 4 Related County Plans .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Providing Transportation Choices .................................................................................................................................... 5 Background & Trends ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 Roads & Highways ............................................................................................................................................................. 9 Public Transportation ....................................................................................................................................................... 17 Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities...................................................................................................................................... 23 Other Transportation Facilities ....................................................................................................................................... 27 Action Items ...................................................................................................................................................................... 29 07 Serving Our Citizens Goals ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Policies .................................................................................................................................................................................