The Mayor and Board of Aldermen of Frederick, Maryland, held a Workshop on September 11, 2024, beginning at 3:00 PM. The Mayor was absent (attending a Council of Governments meeting and feeling unwell), and three aldermen were initially present. A fourth alderman joined later, enabling approval of special ordinances. The meeting included approval of routine business items, discussion of a forest conservation planting request for the Sycamore Springs development, and remarks commemorating Patriot Day.
Good afternoon, and welcome to the September 11th, 2024 workshop of the Board of Aldermen and Mayor. We'll begin with a Pledge of Allegiance. One nation. The mayor is in attendance at the Council of Government's meeting today, and so is probably in route on two seventy. We'll see how that goes. Let us know that she was not feeling well. We hope she feels better soon. We do uh expect to see Alderman McShane, or we hope to see Alderman McShane. We'll see. Um we have the first item on our agenda is approval of minutes for August 28th. Move for approval. Second. Motion borrowed everyone because that second by Alderman Shackleford. All those in favor. That's three zero. Uh we have business meeting items. All items included under the business meeting are considered to be routine by the mayor and board of aldermen and are being heard at the workshop pursuant to the rules of procedure of the Board of Alderin. They will be approved by one motion without separate discussion of each item, unless any person present requests an item or items be removed from the agenda. Any item removed from the agenda will be considered separately. Move for approval. Second. Motion by Alderman Gazanchek. Second by Alderman Shackleford. All those in favor, that is three zero. Grants. Move for approval. Second. Motion by Alderwoman Kazanchek. Second by Alderman Shackleford. I'm getting tongue-tied today. All those in favor. That is three-zero. And we have special ordinances, but that requires a major supermajority of the board. We only have three right now, so if we are to get a fourth, we could move that to the end of the meeting. But in lieu of that, we will move on to our workshop item agenda. Today is discussion of a request to plant 3.9, sorry, 3.09 acres of forest conservation area. And that will be presented by our planning department planner, Sherry Kelly. Welcome. Good afternoon, everyone. Push that back a little bit. Yes, as you stated, this is a request, our discussion of a request to plant 3.09 acres of forest conservation area in accordance with section 721 of the land management code on land that is to be dedicated for to the city for parkland in the Sycamore Springs Plan Neighborhood Development. The project is 71.45 acres, and it is zoned low density residential. And it will be developed with the summary should say 120 single-family detached units and 58 townhouses. And there were some amendments with the most recent being in April and early 2023. As part of the master plan approval with this project, however, the applicant proposed to dedicate six point 16.98 acres of parkland. And the proposed park is along Rocky Springs Road at the eastern part um side of the project. So that's where the parkland will be, and the um section of the or the area of the 3.09 acres of forest will be in the southeastern um portion of that part um of the parkland. Um that's where they are proposing the plantings, and the um the 3.09 acres has been carefully vetted to ensure that there are active park areas and that the city has the opportunity to conduct future stream restoration projects in the park. Um these projects are a valuable source of credit toward the city's MS for stormwater permit requirements with the state and the um cities required to conduct impervious area uh restoration for 20% of the existing developed lands that have little um or no stormwater management. Um the stream restoration projects also typically involve stabilizing stream banks, reducing erosion, and improving aesthetics, thus improving local water quality and serving as part of the larger um strategy to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay.