Green infrastructure to hold first consultative meeting on Thursday

Frederick County will host the first meeting of an advisory group to examine green infrastructure issues on Thursday.

Green infrastructure refers to the management of natural areas to achieve a wide range of objectives related to access to recreation, greater biodiversity, water quality, air quality and to climate adaptation.

A press release says the county will seek to develop a robust plan around the interaction of natural and built environments, with a focus on adaptable and resilient communities and responsible environmental management.

“Sustainability is not just about protecting the environment; it’s also about creating a livable, vibrant future where everyone can thrive,” County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, D, said in the release.

The advisory group will be made up of 12 people, including farmers, environmentalists and a representative from the National Park Service.

Kimberly Gaines, director of Livable Frederick, a project developed within the Division of Planning and Permitting that aims to turn holistic goals into a plan for the county’s future, said in an interview that the process is expected to take 18 month.

Gaines said the advisory group would act as a “sounding board.”

“We go into a planning process like this with an open mind,” she said. “I’m sure there will be issues that come up at the advisory group meetings that aren’t on our radar. »

Gaines said the advisory group would provide feedback and recommendations, but the plan itself would be developed by county staff in conjunction with the Planning Commission.

Part of the green infrastructure plan will be establishing a network of hubs and corridors across the county. The aim of this system will be to reduce habitat fragmentation, promote wildlife migration, improve resilience to climate change and increase access to outdoor green spaces for recreation.

“We have a lot of emphasis in our office on infill development and redevelopment and partnering with our municipalities that want to grow,” Gaines said. “It’s really about looking at how we can grow in a smart way to preserve as many environmental resources as possible.”

Gaines said the process will also rely heavily on public input.

“Sometimes people are so intimately connected to a problem that they already have an idea of ​​the solution,” she said.

The inaugural meeting of the Green Infrastructure Advisory Group will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Division of Planning and Permitting office at 30 N. Market St. in Frederick.

DELIVERABLE FREDERICK WINS AWARDS

The Livable Frederick Planning and Design Office and county staff were recognized for their work with three awards at a conference.

The awards recognize the dual purpose of celebrating Frederick’s history, as well as how the county has approached planning for the future.

At the 2024 conference of the Maryland Chapter of the American Planning Association and the Maryland Planning Commissioners Association, Livable Frederick received three awards, according to a press release. These awards were:

*Zoning/Regulation/Process Reform Award: Recognizes efforts to update and expand the county’s Historic Preservation Ordinance, including adding archaeological review to the ordinance as well as protection of cemeteries.

*The Professional-Citizen Planner Collaboration Award: Recognizes Livable Frederick Historic Preservation Planner Amanda Whitmore and Citizen Planner Jim Jamieson for their collaboration in the designation of more than 1,100 acres of historic farmland in the Peace and Plenty Rural Historic District.

*The Sustainability and Transformation Award: Recognizes the “South Frederick Corridors Plan” which aims to redevelop a suburban industrial area into a mixed-use, walkable neighborhood with holistic and fiscally responsible goals.

“The Livable Frederick staff has worked diligently to ensure our community protects its rich history while adopting forward-thinking solutions,” Fitzwater said in the release.