FREDERICK COUNTY, MARYLAND

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

PLANNING

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Office seeks to attract new businesses in targeted industries and help existing businesses to be more successful. It provides site selection assistance, fast-track permitting help, business plan creation, and aid in securing financial assistance.

PLANNING & PERMITTING DIVISION

Matters relating to planning and zoning are governed by both State and County laws. The Maryland Forest Conservation Act, for example, requires all county governments to adopt local forest conservation programs (Chapter 255, Acts of 1991; Code Natural Resources Article, secs. 5-1601 through 5-1613).

Today, the Planning and Permitting Division oversees the Land Preservation Program, and three departments: Development Review and Planning, Permits and Inspections, and Livabile Frederick Planning and Design.

PLANNING COMMISSION
In July 1955, the Planning Commission was formed to prepare and administer County plans and development regulations. The Commission is responsible for site plans, subdivision plats, planned unit development plans, modifications to subdivision regulations, and for determining what public facilities are needed for new developments. Advising the County Council, the Commission makes recommendations on the adoption of County and regional plans, zoning map amendments, and zoning or subdivision text amendments.

The Commission consists of seven members appointed to three-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent (Code Land Use Article, secs. 2-101 through 3-304; County Code, Art. II, secs. 1-13-16 through 1-13-21; 1-19-2.160).

The Program administers a variety of federal, State and local land preservation programs focused on protecting agricultural lands.

AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD
The Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board advises the County Council on the establishment of agricultural districts and the approval of purchases of easements within the County by the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation.

The five members of the Advisory Board are appointed to five-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent (Code Agriculture Article, sec. 2-504.1).

AGRICULTURAL RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE
Authorized in 1997, the Agricultural Reconciliation Committee arbitrates and mediates disputes involving agricultural operations conducted on agricultural lands. The Committee issues opinions on whether such operations conform with generally accepted agricultural management practices.

Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Committee consists of seven members.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Formed in 1998, the Historic Preservation Commission reviews structures and sites for historic significance, and applications for Certificates of Appropriateness. All petitions for designation to the Frederick County Register of Historic Places are reviewed by the Commission, which maintains the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties for Frederick County. The Commission also submits recommendations to the County Council.

Consistent with the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties, the Commission adopts rehabilitation and new construction design guidelines and criteria for construction, alteration, reconstruction, repair, moving, and demolition of property in designated districts or individually designated sites or landmarks. At the request of an owner or applicant, the Commission may offer consultation with respect to changes to interior features.

The Commission reviews and recommends for action by the County Council the acquisition of historic preservation easements on designated landmarks, structures, or sites; and (when deemed appropriate by the Commission) sites or structures located in, or adjacent to, a designated district, consistent with County ordinances, resolutions, local public law, policies, and procedures.

Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Commission consists of eleven members and two alternates who serve three-year terms (County Code, secs. 1-23-1 through 1-23-14).

MONOCACY SCENIC RIVER CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD
The Monocacy River is part of the Scenic and Wild Rivers Program, overseen by the Department of Natural Resources. Under that program, a scenic river is defined as a "free-flowing river whose shoreline and related land are predominantly forested, agricultural, grassland, marshland, or swampland with a minimum of development for at least two miles of the river length" [Natural Resources Article, sec. 8-402(d)(2)].

Monocacy River (Frederick County), Maryland, May 2015. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.

The policy of the State of Maryland is to preserve and protect the scenic, geologic, ecologic, historic, recreational, agricultural, fish, wildlife, cultural, and other values of its scenic rivers; as well as to enhance their water quality, and fulfill vital conservation purposes by wise use of resources within their surrounding environment. In keeping with these purposes, the Scenic and Wild Rivers Review Board originally established the Monocacy Scenic River Citizens Advisory Board (Code Natural Resources Article, sec. 8-403 (b)(3)). Upon completion of an approved management plan, the Carroll County government and the Frederick County government reconstituted the Board under local authority (Code Natural Resources Article, sec. 8-403 (g)).

The Monocacy Scenic River Citizens Advisory Board consists of ten members: five from Carroll County and five from Frederick County. Those from Frederick County are appointed to four-year terms by the Frederick County Executive with County Council consent. The Board selects its own chairperson (Code National Resources Article, secs. 8-401 through 8-411).

SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
A soil conservation district constitutes a political subdivision of the State, and a public body corporate and politic, excercising public powers. Frederick County is the only county in Maryland to have two soil conservation districts delineated by watershed boundaries: one for Catoctin, and one for the remainder of Frederick County.

The Board of Supervisors for each District conducts surveys, investigations, and research relating to the character of soil erosion. Within its District, the Board carries out preventive and control measures, including engineering operations, cultivation methods, the growing of vegetation, changes in land use, and other measures.

Each Soil Conservation District Board of Supervisors consists six members who serve five-year terms. Five members are appointed by the State Soil Conservation Committee, and one is appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent (Code Agriculture Article, secs. 8-301 through 8-312).

CATOCTIN SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Catoctin Soil Conservation District was established in 1939.

FREDERICK COUNTY SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
In 1944, the Frederick County Soil Conservation District was started.

DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT REVIEW & PLANNING

The Department of Development Review and Planning started as the Department of Development Review, and by 2022 reformed under its current name.

DEPARTMENT OF PERMITS & INSPECTIONS

Under the Department are units for Inspection Services, Permitting Services, and the Office of Life Safety.

LIVABLE FREDERICK PLANNING & DESIGN

Livable Frederick Planning and Design is responsible for the Zoning Administration.

ZONING ADMINISTRATION
(County Code, secs. 1-19-2.100 through 1-19-2.230)

BOARD OF [ZONING] APPEALS
The Board of [Zoning] Appeals hears and decides appeals where it is alleged there is any error in any zoning order, requirement, decision, or determination. It also interprets district boundaries on official zoning maps. Upon appeal, in specific cases, the Board may authorize such variances as will not be contrary to the public interest where, owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement would result in unnecessary hardship or practical difficulty.

Appointed by the County Council, the Board of Appeals consists of five members and one alternate who serve three-year terms (Code Land Use Article, secs. 4-101 through 4-406; County Code, secs. 1-19-1.100 through 1-19-11.100).

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