A few basic points about the annexations

• The recent annexation process was contrary to the spirit and intent of a city ordinance.

The code states: “The Mayor and Board of Aldermen will not accept or introduce a petition for annexation during the period of time beginning six (6) months prior to The City of Frederick general election and ending three (3) months after said general election.” While this code applies to the acceptance or introduction of an annexation petition (which occurred just before the deadline), the point is to prevent this important public process from being rushed or unduly affected by politics, in the waning days of an administration and during an election.

• The City of Frederick should focus on it’s VERY substantial pipeline of already approved residential, commercial and office development. The city should get that done first, get it done right, and evaluate the impacts before additional and dramatic expansion to the north.

Most people don’t realize it, in no small part because they don’t see it as they drive past the empty fields and lots, but the City of Frederick already has more than 3,500 housing units and millions of square feet of commercial and office development that is on the way, but not yet built. This pipeline includes major projects, such as the Brick Works (high density mixed development near the historic district), Northgate (a retail center at the intersection of Route 15 and Christopher’s Crossing), Clemson Corner (a large retail center with a Wegmans, a Lowes and many other retailers), Market Square (a mixed use development along Route 26), the Ballenger Creek Center and 327 Ballenger Center Drive, the SAIC-Frederick/NCI facility, considerably more in the established Riverside Research Park, and many more. For a more complete list of commercial projects in the City of Frederick: http://www.businessinfrederick.com/site_selection/development.htm

• Already inadequate and highly congested, and doing double duty as a local road for Frederick residents, Route 15 is one of the most dangerous roads in Maryland.

The State Highway Administration “strongly recommended” that the cost of planning, design and construction of the Biggs Ford Road interchange “be included in the requirements for annexation.” But the annexation agreements state that “…nothing herein shall obligate Petitioners to fund any portion of the U.S.15/Biggs Ford Road interchange.” This is unfortunate, by itself, but the broader issue is not the proposed interchange at Route 15 and Biggs Ford Road (which we do not need, right now), but rather that the $70-80 million interchange at Monocacy Boulevard is not even funded yet, and that simply making it easier for more vehicles to get onto Route 15 will only make congestion and safety worse on the road through Frederick (until that section of Route 15 is widened and all the bridges and overpasses are replaced). And already approved developments are going to make the situation worse. Adding 12-20,000 new vehicle trips a day is not a problem that would be solved by a new interchange at Biggs Ford Road.

• Together, the Crumland Farm, Thatcher/COPT and Summers Farm annexations will add more than 500 acres, more than 1,500 housing units and approximately 2.5 million square feet of office and retail space to the city’s already expansive pipeline.

And all of this will be greenfield development, requiring all new infrastructure and placing a substantial additional burden on existing infrastructure that is not addressed at all, at the expanse of city and county taxpayers, our quality of life and the environment. If the annexations are reversed on referendum, future mayors and boards will be able to evaluate the options for these properties, after the current pipeline has been diminished, and the effects understood, in a process that isn’t rushed and inadequate. The Crumland farm, Thatcher farm and Summers farm are the  sixth, seventh and eighth annexations approved by this mayor and board in the last year or so.

• The annexation agreements for Crumland Farm and Thatcher/COPT do not adequately address sewer, schools and fire and rescue services.

The agreements note that the county will provide sewer, schools, and fire/EMS services, but the city did not work with the county to develop a plan or agreements to provide those facilities and services. These are essential services and expensive public investments that should not be dismissed as a responsibility of (and problem for) future elected officials in the city and county.