(9/2022) In February of 2020, an advisory group began meeting to discuss what would eventually become The Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Management Plan. Since then, Frederick County staff have given briefings to the City of Frederick staff, Montgomery County Planning, and the Town of Mt. Airy. There have been open house meetings and Planning Commission workshops. On July 13th, the Planning Commission approved the final recommended Plan.
The Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Management Plan is a long-term planning document that is part of The Livable Frederick Comprehensive Plan. The Livable Frederick Plan, which was adopted in September of 2019, is a broad view of Frederick County’s plan of action regarding strategic decisions, policies and regulations in community, health, economy, and environment. Basically, it is a document to protect the future wellbeing of our County. Over the next several years, our staff will divide Frederick County into many sections and create similar comprehensive plans for each section.
Our County Council began the process of reviewing The Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Management Plan on July 26th. During that meeting, Tim Goodfellow, who is a Principal Planner in our Planning and Permitting Division, stated that the goals for the plan are to "protect and enhance the Sugarloaf Area’s natural resources and environmental assets, including its forests, waters, biodiversity, and wildlife habitats, strengthen the distinct place-based identity of the Sugarloaf area through the stewardship of its scenic and rural character, and its agricultural and cultural resources, and to foster resilient relationships between the natural and built environment through the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change."
Over the next several weeks, the Council will have meetings regarding The Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Plan. The following dates have been scheduled:
- Tuesday, September 13, at 5:30 pm – In Person Meeting at Winchester Hall
- Tuesday, September 27, at 5:30 pm – Public Hearing - In Person Meeting at Winchester Hall
- Tuesday, October 4, at 5:30 pm – In Person Meeting at Winchester Hall – (final plan adoption unless amended)
- Tuesday, October 11, at 5:30 pm (if needed) – In Person Meeting at Winchester Hall
- Tuesday, October 18, at 5:30 pm (if needed) – In Person Meeting at Winchester Hall – (final plan adoption if amended)
The Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Management Plan can be viewed at www. FrederickCountyMD.gov/4592/Planning-Permitting. Even though the Sugarloaf Area does not encompass District 5, I hope you will view the proceedings. The rest of the divided sections of Frederick County will have similar plans to be reviewed and adopted. The creation of the Northern Frederick County Plan is only a few years away.
