Good afternoon, everyone.

This is the land use public safety and community development committee meeting for October 23rd, 2025.

We will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Underground visible with liberty.

Start off by saying that our uh number one item presenter is running a little bit late, so we're attempting to get staff to start with our second item on the agenda, and we'll catch up from there.

Um just some uh housekeeping.

This is a discussion meeting and no decisions regarding the topics will be made here today.

We will take public comment after each item.

Each speaker, if you wish to offer public comment after the item, please be aware of the following guidelines.

Each speaker will be allotted three minutes to share their comments.

When it is your turn to speak, please begin by stating your name and if applicable, your general address to ensure you have an uninterrupted opportunity to speak.

This will be your time.

So that means members of the committee will not be answering questions or engaging in discussion with commenters during the meeting.

We are often willing to answer questions after the meeting, and if you would like to email us, you can email all of us at City Council at City of Frederick MD.gov.

If you have written materials to accompany your remarks, we encourage you to email those as well.

The City Council and the committees use this rules of procedure, which was most recently passed by resolution twenty-four twenty-seven.

Pursuant to our rules of procedure, conduct that disrupts the meeting or that interferes with the right of members of the public to attend and observe the meeting is not acceptable.

We have also posted our code of civility uh on the board over there in this boardroom.

Please do not approach the dais.

The public must remain behind the barrier at all times.

If you wish to give something to the council, the clerk will approach you, and you may hand it to her.

Any attempt to move past the barrier or approach the dias will be considered a disruption of the meeting and could result in removal from the meeting.

Please take note of the exits for your safety and silence all electronic devices.

And with that said, we will now start with our uh second item, the MDOT Roadshow update.

And that is being presented by our Deputy Chief of Staff, Alan Etzler, and I'm not sure.

Here with me today is uh Ben Smith from our advocacy team at Funkin Bolton, as well as Ben Groff, also from our advocacy team at Funkin' Bolton.

Uh, you all historically have interacted with Luke Pinton, uh, who is down uh today and regrets he can't be here, but is meeting with the governor's new chief of staff uh to meet about some Frederick priorities.

So we're excited about that.

He's got some other things on there.

Uh but Ben Groff has uh been a great help for the city through the Move Coalition.

He was really the point of contact for the city, um, which was the uh US 15 was a highlighted project through the Move Coalition, uh the Move Maryland initiative that the governor announced that raised money to uh get US 15 refunded in the uh CTP.

So we're grateful for his expertise and he'll uh fill in on some of the advocacy efforts at the um general assembly session that we'll be doing this session.

Uh we were asked to uh present on not just the MDOT Road show, but also specifically how we'll advocate for US 15 in the upcoming General Assembly session, as you all know that's our top priority uh as we move into uh January.

Um to do that, we're gonna review some of the financial landscape and and you all will note that this meeting was moved uh two weeks.

That was because the uh capital debt affordability committee was releasing a port, a report a few days ago that we wanted to make sure that we had the most updated information for you all, and we could present the financial landscape of the state and how it relates to Frederick and our projects.

Um we'll talk about what that means.

Uh we'll talk about the uh overall M.RODSHOW priorities that we shared, and we'll list them out and talk answer any questions that we can.

Uh if there's any projects specifically that you want some more information on, we'll we'll go back and try to get that for you.

Um and then we'll specifically talk about US 15, the project, and uh how we plan to advocate for it.

All right, so uh as you all know, and I won't spend much time on this.

US 15 has been uh the top transportation priority for the city of Frederick for Frederick County and for a lot of our delegation for the last 10 to 15 years, uh, was taken out of the CTP budget budget uh or the CTP um I think two or three years ago, uh we were able to get a reinstated last year.

That project is for a uh third lane in both directions uh on 15.

Uh currently, as exists, there's seven and a half million dollars for design in uh the FY26 budget, which we're in now, and then 177 million dollars is planned out in the CTP with construction expected to begin in 2028.

Um I'm gonna let Ben uh our resident expert talk a little bit about the uh state and uh the fiscal and debt environment at the state level right now.

So as Alan mentioned, CDAC just uh met a couple of days ago and unanimously recommended 1.75 billion in general obligation bonds for fiscal year 27.

Um Maryland remains uh um below all debt thresholds, uh, which is a good position to be in, obviously.

Uh as far as the credit rating goes, I think everybody remembers the ding that we experienced through Moody's, but Fitch and Standard and Poor maintained the state's triple A bond rating.

Uh so we feel strong about the fiscal outlook in that respect.

On the capital front, though, the funding levels are gonna remain flat uh for the year ahead, which means that despite the natural year-to-year expansion that we expect, uh, there will be a little bit more of a competitive environment.

Um the uh governor's portion of that may also uh be a smaller portion.

So local projects are gonna have to compete within a at a pretty tight discretionary pot.

Uh all of that said though, for US 15 in particular, it remains in the strongest possible position.

This is something that's the product of a whole lot of uh pre-existing work, stakeholder buy-in, and uh we feel uh confident uh in it moving forward.

It complements the governor's move Maryland priorities, uh, the focus on sustainability, economic mobility, um, and US-15 is included in Move Maryland priorities.

Uh, it just requires the sustained advocacy and the sustained messaging around it all right, and jumping into uh our M.Roadshow priorities.

You all are familiar with um probably the majority of these.

If there's any that you're not familiar with, I don't want to spend a ton of time on them, but uh we'll try to answer you any questions that I can.

Um obviously US 15 is up there.

Um Maryland 26 Minoxie Boulevard expansion is uh is new, um, and that is as a result of uh a lot of the growth in that area of the city, and uh that being a failing intersection for the APFO.

So uh we are starting the advocacy work on that and what um uh what a project for that intersection might look like.

Uh we we don't expect um for that to be a funded project at the end of this general assembly.

We are starting those conversations now, and as all is a long range project for us.

Um there's a number of bicycle and pedestrian uh projects up there.

Um North Branch Trail being the one that's the most closely uh ready for construction, uh that's nearing 100% design, um, and that is one that we have uh put in our priorities list for our delegation, uh, as well as the Golden Mile Multimodal Access Lane, uh, which creates a bus lane along the Golden Mile and a shared use path as well.

Before you move on, I would just wanted to share some news um regarding the North Market Street lane.

Um on September 5th, uh Transportation Planning Board Steering Committee approved funding for 100% design for the North Market uh bicycle lane.

It's uh so that was an exciting award.

That's great.

Yeah.

Fantastic.

Breaking news from the dais.

Thank you.

Um some priorities there for uh commuter bus and mark train.

Uh mark improvements have been a priority of the cities for a long time, specifically for the Brunswick line.

Um we have a number of projects out at the airport um that we would like to see some uh additional funding come in.

And uh as you all know, we are going through the process for the Frederick Mark uh stations uh transit-oriented development designation.

Uh and we have started that process now and working through that, and that's a very exciting uh opportunity for the city.

All right, and now we will move into the uh US 15 part.

Um as Ben mentioned, the competitiveness at the state with the uh debt environment.

Um we wanted to outline some of the goals, but the priority goal for us for US-15 is is to play defense and make sure that that money um stays in the budget.

Uh and we'll talk a little bit about the narrative that we're gonna build to make sure that that happens.

Um, but we want to uh utilize our partnerships with all the folks who have been aligned with this project.

This is uh one of the projects that has alignment throughout every major employer, throughout all of our delegations that serve uh Frederick County uh and throughout all levels of government.

And so it's something that we uh really want to make sure that we hit on uh that there's full alignment through this project.

Uh and we want to make sure that it stays uh stays ready for construction as they uh move into the design.

Absolutely.

So just talking a little bit about the narrative that we're trying to emphasize in the advocacy, uh, really leaning on that it's critical to economic development.

Uh Frederick has been a place of strength for the state over the last couple of years, and we want to leverage that strength.

Um standpoint of the growth that Frederick is experienced.

Uh it's important that we make these kind of investments in infrastructure to maintain adequacy.

Uh it's complementary uh to transit and mark investments, it's not an either-or, it's a yes and um it aligns with our safety and sustainability goals, it complements an improved quality of life, and it's about the growth management that we're we're looking to undertake with the city.

I just want to elaborate on that improved quality of life piece.

As we all know, sitting in traffic is uh challenging for folks and a source of frustration, but another piece of that is the sound walls that have been added to the design of that project uh to help some of the residents that are along 15.

And so we're really excited about that as a quality of life benefit that we're uh that's being added through this project.

Um I want to bring up uh Ben Groff now, and he's gonna talk a little bit about the uh stakeholders that will be engaging through this and and how who we're going to advocate to beyond the how.

Good afternoon.

Um yes, so key stakeholders.

Uh we start with the governor and his administration again as a result of the advocacy that happened.

Oh, sorry, is this better?

Uh as all the advocacy that happened earlier this year, we're in a great position there.

So we just want to keep uh keep this visible to them, make sure we're communicating about it, keep it basically at the forefront.

Um looking at uh the MDOT level uh with acqu acting secretary Biddle, um SHA administrator Pines, um, kind of the same thing.

I think you know they understand the the project, they understand the the importance for safety and economic development and mobility and all of that.

Um but we just want to make sure we're staying in touch with them, uh keeping things at the forefront.

Um the general assembly and our local delegation here.

Um you know, with the CIP, the final C CIP will be uh introduced um in January.

Uh we'll be in there uh engaging at those budget hearings um in the Senate and House, I think is important.

Again, it's um mostly just to keep monitoring uh the program, keep reiterating the importance of it and um make sure that we're bringing stakeholders together and continuing to champion that um and that includes you know uh keeping together our regional and local stakeholder advocates that understand uh the importance of the project, uh making sure that everyone hears from them as well.

And that includes, you know, keeping together our regional and local stakeholder advocates that understand the importance of the project, making sure that everyone hears from them as well.

All right.

That's what we had.

We're happy to answer any questions, uh, take any suggestions, and do our best to keep this project moving forward.

Thank you very much.

It's very informative, and it is a critical project that we all need to stay united on.

So we appreciate all the work and the advocacy that's being done.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Thanks.

Would anybody like to make public comment on this item?

All right.

Seeing none, we'll move backward now to our first item on the agenda, which is a data center staff overview presentation.

And this will be presented by Council President Nash.

Good afternoon, Madam Chair.

Thank you for the switcheroo there.

Okay.

I wrote some comments just so I wouldn't ramble.

Um, but really today there will be just unless you, of course, seem it otherwise.

The intention of today is not to have additional action taken.

The intention for today's discussion is to begin those series series of briefings and presentations to introduce information before this body.

Um we have obviously seen the news.

We know that this is a topic that is of great concern for our community.

Um, we know that there are lots of things being tossed around, there's benefits, there's negatives, there's impacts that we need to start talking about.

And just to kind of put it in perspective, the county executive introduced her legislation more than a year ago.

So this is something that's been in our community.

We have a lot of folks working very diligently to prevent present information, and uh, there have been a lot of community meetings at the county level.

So here at the city, we want to start thinking about what additional considerations we need to make to our own land management code.

Um we want to take a thoughtful look and look at what's happening in the county, look at what's happening elsewhere in the country.

We want to consider land, energy, water use, uh, environmental impact.

We want to give our staff an opportunity to present the information that they've gathered and that they know.

We want to talk about any technologies that are existing that are used that are being implemented to mitigate negative impact.

We also are gonna have the economic opportunity discussion and how we best leverage if there are data centers in the past.

I do want to reiterate that this is not a proposal for a data center.

I think that gets a little confusing.

What we're talking about or beginning the conversation is data centers as a big conversation, and then ultimately there will be a text amendment that moves through the planning commission process and then comes back before the council for consideration.

So there's a lot of steps, and I'll go over those steps again.

We want to talk about how what actions Freder County has taken, and we want to talk about how those actions are going to impact and influence the city.

So this is our opportunity to present in the backup and for public consumption the documents uh that Clara has provided, which sort of provide a legislative overview and a one-stop place for some of the actions that have been taken, and we're gonna keep updating that so that the city has uh sort of a point of reference as we're considering this topic.

We've also included um some of the background information with respect to Fighter County's documents that they've already created, such as their work group final report.

And as we move through, we present this information.

We want to ask our council members and the public what additional information we would we should be pursuing.

So this is also an opportunity for you as council members to say this is what you want us to research or for the public to weigh in.

So as I mentioned, I just want to briefly go over this, and of course, I know the two of you know this much better even than me, but there will be a tax amendment process that follows, and I just want to make sure that the public understands what sort of what the next steps are.

Um there has been a tax amendment introduced, so that's that's mine, it's under my name, and currently staff is reviewing.

And the purpose of the tax amendment, just to be clear, is to limit the location of data centers.

So right now they're not contemplated.

We have to define them and limit where they go, in my opinion.

There'll be a lot of discussion about that.

We want to responsibly update the land management code, and we want to have a long predictable process for public input during that during the process of both the planning commission and up here.

So just to review the land management code is the set of laws that govern how land can be used and developed within our limits.

And the text amendment will change the written language of the land management code.

The land management code will be introduced is the text amendment is introduced by me, and then staff will review, and that's the step that we're currently in.

It will add a new section or definition, it will define what a data center is and will modify existing zoning standards.

And the text amendment process is different than a regular ordinance that we might see here, like when we ban plastic bags, for example, it's a lot more complex.

It has many more steps.

So the process began when I proposed an amendment for introduction.

That's already happened.

And we're currently, as I said, the planning department is reviewing.

From here, the planning commission, or excuse me, the planning department will make a recommendation to the planning commission, and the planning commission will have a series of hearings, and they will ultimately provide their recommendation.

The city council will have our own committee hearing, a committee just like this, and we'll have a public hearing to consider the tax amendment.

All every step along the way, there will be public comment, and every step of the way we can continue to make changes.

And then if we approve it, that's when the amendment that the city council approves it, that's when the amendment will be adopted by ordinance and become part of the land management code.

And then that would then um permit if if we decide to move forward, that would set the parameters for how a data center would proceed.

So as we move it through that process with the planning commission, we are going to be scheduling a series of briefings, and that's part of the reason for today is to gather information about what additional information we think we need and get that input so we can schedule those briefings.

And we've invited staff to be here to present their comments if they have them.

But really, the purpose is to gather input and to keep to keep gathering information and publishing it.

So that's really the context of my presentation, and I'm happy to take questions and your feedback.

I don't have any questions.

Move to public comment.

Um, if I could just get a show of hands to see how many people might be wanting to.

Okay, so you can organize yourselves at the back of the room and just come up one by one.

And again, remind you to come on up to the microphone, give your name and just a general address.

We don't need your specific street address.

And you each will have three minutes.

Thank you.

First come, first serve.

Okay.

Is this on?

Yes.

Great.

Um, thank you so much for the opportunity.

We really need you to bring the microphone, like just a few minutes.

Really close, really close like that.

Okay.

So by my name is Kathy Kidsey.

Um, I live in um 210 Grove Boulevard in Frederick, but I'm here to speak on behalf of Mobilize Frederick, um, which I think you all are very familiar familiar with.

And I just wanted to um emphasize this is all news to us that the city is going to undertake this new process.

Um, and so uh we were taken a little by surprise, but um wanted to emphasize that um through the county process, which mobilized Frederick and many other folks with a lot of expertise have been participating in.

Um we understand that you know there are so many issues associated with data center development, economic issues, environmental issues, energy issues, um, and I'm sure everyone in this room is well aware of that, but I just want to express a little concern about putting the cart before the horse here because one of the things that's been needed at both the state level and the county and city level, I think, um, is a comprehensive study, independent, independent, comprehensive study of the economic costs and benefits associated with data centers.

We really haven't had an independent economic study, and we need a comprehensive study of the environmental impacts, the climate impacts, how the impacts on our renewable energy targets, our goals.

Um, there was a bill, as I'm sure everyone was aware of last year that was introduced by Senator Young Lewis Young to fund a comprehensive data center study.

The bill passed both houses, both chambers.

It was vetoed by the governor.

Um, it is not there's discussion about uh a possible override, but it's not at all clear whether uh an override um vote will uh will be taken or what the outcome of that vote would be.

And so I would just encourage the city to take a cautionary approach here, and as a first step, think about a comprehensive independent study before moving ahead with designating uh any kind of um zone for data center development.

And since it's not clear at all what is going to happen at the state level, it makes sense to me that maybe the city and the county could find funding partner together to fund a study that would um you know would give us the information the city needs to make informed decisions about data center development in the city, whether you want data center development, where you want it, what some of the issues are, what kinds of constraints um that that the city feels need to be placed on data center development.

So thank you very much.

Thank you.

Boy, that's an obtrusive signal.

Got louder.

Our next speaker.

Uh yeah, I have hand-ups.

Claire, would you grab that?

Thank you.

Okay.

Okay.

Uh Elizabeth Law, 1748, 1758, Wayfield Drive, Frederick, Maryland.

I'm speaking as a subject matter.

I'm sorry, we need you to speak closer to the microphone so everybody in the back can hear you.

It's a it's a funny system.

Is this better?

Oh, okay.

Elizabeth Law, 1758, Wayfield Drive, Frederick.

I'm speaking as a subject matter expert in electric power.

I have a master's of engineering in electric power from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

I designed combined cycle power plants for Bechtel Power.

I analyze the New York City grid for Con Edison and retired 10 years after 10 years with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in the Office of Electric Reliability.

PJM, our regional grid operator, is proposing BYOG, which is bring your own power for data centers.

Data centers are also now chasing power in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio.

Maryland imports 40% of its power.

For Maryland, data centers mean transmission lines from out of state, but mostly the industry has moved on.

The tower that is circled in the voltage is the voltage level of the towers at the quantum Frederick site at 230,000 volts.

It's obvious that towers this high would not be allowed so close to the airport for aviation and public safety.

That is reason enough to deny the application.

But let this application be a wake-up call to ban data centers from Frederick City.

The land management code can be amended to add data centers to the list of unacceptable uses, just as you would add a NASCAR racetrack or an asphalt plant to such a list.

The enormous power, water, and safety demands of data centers cannot be met by the city.

Each Rowan building will have a $20,000 gallon tank of diesel fuel and a hundred diesel generator trailers, each carrying 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

Could the fire department handle such a catastrophe?

The county has unanswered questions of how to deal with such an explosion or fire.

November 2nd is only 10 days away.

It should be up to the new city council to determine whether data centers are even an acceptable use.

Hopefully they will follow the lessons learned of some municipalities in Virginia and ban data centers entirely.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Lawrence.

Who's next?

Steve Jakupsick, uh North Market Street.

Um before I get started, I just want to uh thank Councilmember because I'm checking Councilmember Russell for for the years of service.

Um I haven't spoken to you guys in a bit in this one in this type of form.

I'm sure that you missed me.

Um I don't know if I'm gonna get a chance to speak to you again, but I want to be officially on record of saying I appreciate everything that you've done, everything that you've tried to do, and everything that you'll probably continue to do for the city, and especially for tolerating people that you don't always agree with.

Uh so thank you for that.

As far as this issue is concerned, um I'm honored to follow somebody as well educated and well informed uh and experienced as um as Petty Law, and I couldn't agree with her more.

I can save people a lot of time in trouble with text amendments that nobody knew about until about five minutes ago, and also people won who they wonder why this particular issue is coming up now at this moment in time.

Um and the best way to save the time and money is just to ban them.

Just don't do it.

Nobody wants them, nobody wants them in the county, and certainly nobody wants them in a city that doesn't have near the even opportunities or availability of land for something as destructive and cancerous as as data centers.

It's just a bad idea from the beginning.

Um I would I I would shelve it immediately and save everybody's time and aggravation.

But and the oh I got a minute and a half, that's good.

The other thing I would I would like to mention is in the past election that I think spoke volumes to a great many issues.

Um, and I was very close to almost everybody that was running, especially the new group of people.

We spoke to thousands of people, we knocked on thousands of doors.

We went to thousands of forums, as I'm sure all of you guys did as well.

And geez, I don't recall ever hearing data centers coming up once on any door that anybody ever knocked on.

So why with all the issues that we have with affordability?

Hell, we we heard more about uh child care and daycare.

You know what?

Yeah, it's very this is a good line.

We heard more about daycare centers than we heard about data centers, okay?

And that's a the that's what we should be focusing our time on in the last few weeks, okay, that this particular council has to uh you know, you know, make an impact, and not something as as ludicrous as this.

Um, and that's what the people want.

That's what the people voted on and voted for, and I will guarantee you all right.

I would guarantee you that once this gets before the new council, that won't there won't be votes to advance this conversation any further.

So save everybody time and money and ban the damn things.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Kevin Sellner, East Fifth Street.

Uh so I've we've been away for 11, 12 days.

To come back to find out that data centers have been proposed for the city was like a two by four across the forehead.

We've been negotiating, advocating about responsible data center development in the county for more than two years.

Katie Nash said uh the county executive has put forward something a year ago.

Uh no.

Much, much longer ago.

And the reason why it's so long ago is that there is so much resistance to this from the residents.

Nobody wants the emissions, nobody wants the noise, nobody wants the public health threat to children.

The water uh use is still undefined at the county level.

We're okaying two uh data centers currently, and we have no guarantees for power or water.

And here we're gonna consider something similar in the city.

It's just uh uh well, as Steve Jakubczyk said, it's ludicrous to consider the city as a site for a data center that does all the things counter to what the city stands for and it expects.

We want clean air.

We want to address climate change.

You know, we have all these things we've put forward over the last five years, and accepting anything like a data center within the city boundaries is counter to most of those progressive steps we've made.

So please, please.

Uh when I saw this, I thought to myself, where have been the advocates uh for this current city effort for the past two plus years?

Have they not listened to all of the input that's occurred at the county level at least once a month, if not twice or three times a month?

It's unbelievable that in fact deaf ears rain on the city officials.

You haven't made a decision yet, so I can't lump you in that category yet.

But my gosh, for two years we've been saying do it, but do it responsibly.

That's been ignored so far at the county level.

They're still moving forward.

Moratorium's over, we're going to get more applications.

But if we do it, that's a designated area to do it.

Unfortunately, the Adamstown uh residents are going to face the brunt of that problem.

The 41 million dollars that's being uh uh put forward is not that's a gross amount.

That's not a net.

So think about those costs to address the hazards that Betty Law brought up.

So please do not do not accept any land management code changes to allow data centers within the city.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Sellner.

Do we have anybody else who would like to make public comment?

Please my name is Hope Green, and I live in Adamstown.

I have three properties there.

One is a farm, and they've all been affected by the data center construction in Adamstown.

First of all, um, I don't I think you're planning on considering property around the airport.

Fine, but um you're gonna need hundreds of acres for this.

Um the amount of soil that they displace in order to build these buildings is massive.

This picture was taken behind my house in March.

It's quadrupled in size since then.

When you move that much soil, the water comes up, and you have to dewater in order to construct.

Dewatering has its own set of problems.

It depletes the groundwater, which causes ground settling, sinkholes.

I think you know something about that.

Um, then it the impacts on your water features, your rivers, lakes, and springs, your pond, Baker Park.

Um there's there's it's such a resource depleting industry.

Then I saw I read that the dust would be contained in this area around.

There's there's no way to contain it.

You can't contain dust.

And I don't care if it comes from a polluted site like the old East Alco plant, which is a super fund site, doesn't matter.

Dust is dust.

It gets in your lungs, it doesn't come out.

Um then once the buildings are built, you have all these imperfect impervious services.

Frederick is flat.

The water can't park.

It's gonna run off, creating flooding.

And then the constant increased traffic is horrific.

We just had a dump truck roll over Mountville Road the other day.

It's a miracle no one was killed because it rolled into a farm field instead of on someone's oncoming car.

We have no infrastructure out there to support this.

No one builds traditional data centers anymore.

Like the one at Fannie Mae in Urbana, which is there's no noise coming from that, there's no pollution, everything's contained.

They don't build those anymore.

It's all hyperscale.

There's nothing but risk involved in this.

There's no benefit at all.

Thank you.

Is there anybody else who would like move?

I see Mr.

Dean coming up.

Come on up.

Good afternoon.

I wasn't planning on speaking, but after hearing some of the comments, I felt compelled.

Uh Bruce Dean Law Office Address of 31 West Patrick Street, also a citizen of the City of Frederick.

Full disclosure with regard to the East Alca project in Frederick County.

I have several clients involved with that from the lead developer down to some of the data center construction companies.

So I don't want anyone to think I'm not biased.

I'm 100% happy to say that I'm biased.

However, I also want to counter the fact that you heard that no one wants these.

But just hearing two or three people who are subject matter experts or not claim that nobody wants this, it's just it's just not factual.

I would love, as a city resident, to have data centers within the city boundaries paying property taxes in the such significant amounts that they would relieve my tax burden while at the same time they're in areas where they don't affect people who live in the city like myself.

And there are plenty of areas that the city of Frederick could either has in its boundaries or could control through a future annexation that could be done so in a way that would protect the residents and also bring a very valuable use to the city.

And I will just say, lastly, if you travel through the big industrial parks in the city and the county and look at the buildings, you're seeing some 800 million square foot buildings being built now.

These are 200,000 square foot data centers.

Yeah, they're they're they're not beautiful buildings, but they're not any uglier than what you're already getting built in your industrial parks today.

So with that, I have 10 seconds.

But I just wanted you to put on the record that there are other viewpoints living in the city.

Not everybody hates these things.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Dean.

Anyone else for public comment Bob Robee, East Second Street.

I have to counter some of the positions that were just made by Mr.

Dean.

I attended a number of the public meetings at the county level as well as out in the Adams Town area.

And there have been literally hundreds of people or entities testifying on data center issues.

And except for those people directly involved in the projects that expect to benefit financially from the projects, most all the community itself is voting against or imploring the county to be cautious about data centers.

That there has been strong encouragement by entities in Frederick for the county to put stricter ordinances on the development of data centers.

And not all of those good recommendations were adopted.

But uh this is something the city really needs to look closely at before they get serious.

Thank you.

One last call for any more public comment.

Okay, I do have some myself.

Um just I wanted to explain the process a little bit for why we are here today.

Um according to the land management code, any member of the city council can bring forward a text amendment, and that compels staff to start working on researching it.

Um council President Nash apparently applied uh made an application for a text amendment.

I believe the introduction was at our last meeting, which basically just reads into the record that there's going to be this text amendment.

But I I've not seen it.

I don't know if my colleagues have seen it.

So basically what happens is when an item is ready for discussion or when the council leadership decides it's ready for discussion, it's placed on an agenda with the appropriate committee that's applicable.

Um I happen to be chairing this committee.

It wasn't my decision to put this on the agenda.

Um so I just want to make clear that the that process-wise, this is working through as it's supposed to.

Once an application is made and the work starts at some point, there's discussion has to be started.

But I just wanted to let you know that no decisions are being made here.

Likely uh neither one of us will be here when those decisions are made.

So we'll just look forward to watching those discussions into the future.

Um with that said, we'll finish that discussion and move on to the next item.

And that would be the Route 15 pedestrian intersections.

We have our chief operating officer, Zach Kirshner.

Great.

Thank thank you, Clara.

Appreciate it.

Um good afternoon.

Uh Zach Kirshner, Chief Operating Officer.

Um, here before you today uh to present uh project update uh on US 15 US 40 vehicular safety and traffic operations improvements.

Um a little bit about the presentation, and I'm happy to stop and answer questions throughout.

Um S Route 15 widening, uh kind of dovetailing on what Alan uh and his team presented earlier.

Um the overlapping and tangential city projects and how the city works in cooperation and collaboration with uh state highway.

Uh and then again, happy to answer any questions.

So you heard this earlier, but just a quick rundown on the US 15 widening project.

Um the project limits again are between I-70 and Maryland 26.

Uh it's to add an additional lane in each direction.

Um began in 2016, and design is well underway.

Projects federally funded uh for uh uh right-of-way utilities and ultimately construction uh through the state.

Um and construction currently is expected to start sometime in 2028.

The latest construction cost estimate as of January was about 108 million uh just a cross-sectional view of what that project would look like.

So basically, the design would plan to add lanes um to the interior lanes uh within utilizing the space within the medium, so not widening 15 to the outside, other than perhaps a little bit of shoulder widening for safety improvements, um, but most of the widening happening to the inside.

Um it'll improve mainline traffic operations, providing that additional capacity, much needed capacity.

Uh it'll make safety improvements as far as addressing um some of your mainline weaves and uh merges, um, improve overall vehicular safety.

Uh and you know, the goal in doing so is also to reduce uh some of the local traffic that may be using some of our local streets to get around the city today and provide uh the capacity needed for those uh trips to occur on US 15 instead.

Um the improvements under this project do not extend to or include surface street uh or ramp intersections.

The project really is specific to the mainline widening.

Um the project itself would be expected to shift traffic um from the nearby city streets, as I mentioned.

Um struction impacts uh you know will occur, obviously.

Um they're expected at highway bridges specifically, so I think West Patrick Street, Rosemont Avenue, and 7th Street.

Um we we are and will continue to collaborate and cooperate with um SHA in the design of the maintenance of traffic plans.

Obviously, we want to make sure that as part of those plans that we continue to provide um accessibility uh under those bridges.

Uh for instance, they may need to close a sidewalk uh obviously to work on the bridges.

We would you know obviously advocate for at least keeping one sidewalk open at any given time so the residents can traverse uh across 15 uh under 15.

Um in our current meetings, uh we meet uh uh at least quarterly with the SHA in the county, and we work together to provide comments and input on the plans and designs as they're moving forward.

Um, and again, we'll continue to advocate for uh uh primacy of uh vulnerable road users as part of the MOT plans are developed.

Uh this is a little more detail of the design.

I won't spend too much time on these, but it's basically showing the limits of the project and the and the cross sections.

A little tough to see in this view.

Um but as you can see, for instance, here at at West Patrick Street, the improvements really would only extend down the ramps um, but would not really uh tie it, would not really affect uh the actual connections um with the local city streets that's Rosemont.

Quick question.

Yes.

The so the the project comes about halfway down each of these ramps.

Uh is the remainder of the ramp also state highway owned or and and right away it is, yes.

And on 40, we know that that's all that's the state highway, but the others as well.

All of the ramps, at what point do they become city?

Just where they'd have to look at the specific plates, but uh generally the signal is owned by the state.

Um and the ramps, you know, basically where the ramps tie into the the curb line of the city streets is where the right-of-way would would change over.

So 7th Street and then Motter Avenue and wrapping up at Maryland 26.

So we have multiple overlapping city projects, as you're um well aware of.

Um we have various CIPs for these projects, and we've been successful in obtaining uh grant funding for many of these projects, which is great.

Um the first is the Jefferson Street redesign project.

Uh council approved um a million dollar in city funds for that project um for 100% design.

Uh the uh we're currently in uh conceptual design with our consultant, and that's looking at improvements um basically from where um 340 um turns into Jefferson Street and crosses 15 all the way into uh Catocton Avenue, I believe.

So we're looking at improvements uh to two five-legged intersections, um uh one at Catocton and the various other streets, and then one um prospect.

Thank you.

Uh we also have the West Patrick Street Interchange redesign.

Um so we successfully obtained some federal funds for that, and uh uh the council uh provided matching funds for that.

So that's to redesign the US 15 at West Patrick Street interchange.

Um that project we're preparing to move forward here uh with the consultant to start work on that.

Um so as that work progresses, we'll obviously continue to coordinate closely with state highway just to make sure that um where there may be any overlap that we're obviously planning accordingly and and not doing things twice and and working together wherever we can to have those improvements work together.

Uh another one is the Golden Mile redesign um that's looking at the entirety of the US 40 corridor, uh looking at pedestrian bicycle safety improvements throughout that corridor.

The 7th Street Bikeway project um again obtained some grant funds for that.

Um we are preparing to uh move forward with that design consultant, and that would be to design a bike lane along the entirety of 7th Street.

Um looking at uh uh limits for military road um uh potentially all the way up to East Street.

Obviously, we get a bit constrained as we start getting into downtown, so there'll be some challenges there.

Certainly, as that project kicks off, there will be a robust uh public engagement campaign to work with all the businesses and residents along that corridor to make sure that they are heavily involved and their input is considered um and and evaluated and taken into account as that design progresses.

But that would again um kind of dovetail into the work that state highway is doing where they're ending on the seventh street ramps, we would be kind of picking it up from there, maybe some signal improvements, uh ADA ramps, sidewalk improvements, those types of things.

Um and then overall our vision zero project.

So we're looking at uh uh the potential high injury network projects um along our some of our major corridors, Rosemine Avenue, looking at some traffic calming along there, both short-term and long-term um plans, um, a possum town pike, uh, and the moder Avenue North Bence, South Bence area.

And with that, I'll be happy to try to answer any questions that you have, or I can certainly get you more information that you may need.

So I understand the the actual construction will start in 28.

That is the state's current estimate, yes.

And maybe I missed something, but I didn't see that the entire amount is funded.

For the construction of 15?

For construction.

Yes, it currently is funded.

It had been as um as um Alan had stated that it had been taken out of the CTP at one point.

The construction of a hundred 140.5 million.

Yes, I could go back and go back to the beginning here.

Um I don't pages aren't counted so, but yes, on that page.

Um so it's groundbreaking, I'm guessing in two 28.

Yes.

When do we expect it to be finished?

I do not have a uh uh schedule at this point, but certainly as they as they progress through the design and before they start construction, they'll have a schedule that you know it's the state's project, they will put it out, but we will certainly um uh repeat that on our channels to make sure the public is well aware of of the of the schedule of the project.

Yeah, I think that's gonna be really important, especially because many of those cars are gonna not want to deal with that and maybe get off and jump on Manoxa Boulevard to try and you know just get around it entirely.

Right.

So yeah, that would be great.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

I'll just say I appreciate the updates.

Um I'm kind of lucky because being on the Active Mobility Advisory Committee, we monthly get updates on a lot of these projects.

So um that's a great opportunity for the public also to learn about what we're doing.

But it's uh it's really great to have this opportunity to um let folks know that there's a lot of progress being made and that there's a lot of cooperation and collaboration so that we don't do things twice or we don't uh have unintended consequences.

You can't present prevent all of them, but um the this the teamwork there is strong.

So thank you.

You're welcome.

Appreciate it.

Uh, certainly from a staff level, we do our best uh with these projects to try to minimize the impacts to the public um and get the projects done as quickly as possible so that the public can enjoy the benefits of them.

This is a state highway project, but again, we're working very closely with them on it because it will impact our our residents.

So thank you very much.

Thanks, Zach.

Is there anybody that'd like to make public comment on this?

Come on up, good afternoon again, Bruce Dean.

And I don't really have any comments about Zach's presentation.

It was fabulous as a citizen.

I greatly appreciate it.

Like the fact that they're thinking about those of us who travel the major routes under those bridges, that's gonna be a nightmare.

I'm hearing it's gonna be about a four-year construction project.

But I really came up here to thank both of you for your years of service.

I don't know if I will see you again in an official capacity.

Um I know I will see you again in an unofficial capacity because you were both so involved in the city of Frederick.

And I can't imagine um it's gonna be weird not running into both of you on such a regular basis, but I just wanted to say I won't say that every second of our relationships has been a pleasure, but overall it has been wonderful working with both of you.

You've been amazing uh citizen representatives for the city of Frederick for many, many years, and it's greatly appreciated.

So I just wanted to say thank you for all your years of service.

Anyone else?

All right.

Well, with that, we'll we will adjourn.

Thank you.