I support this project and the rezoning as amended by the planning commission. While I understand the neighbors' concerns, I believe they are overstated. The applicant has indicated that the property will not be used as intensively as feared by the opponents. I urge the council to move this project forward and make any necessary adjustments rather than rejecting it entirely. I prefer a cricket stadium or an event venue used mainly on weekends over more houses.
Rodney Martz, 53-yr pilot/50-yr tenant, Frederick, Md.
Very simply: This proposed 'stadium' is just too close to Frederick's economically-valuable airport; pilots are concerned about possible complaints, particularly from stadium patrons bussed-in from out of county and out of state!! Aircraft will be legally flying directly over-top the stadium at the FAA-dictated minimum safe altitude of 1000-feet, because, the location is directly under the standard flight path/pattern for most aircraft. The FAA/ATC tower will not be directing air-traffic outside of national standards. Most pilots at Frederick have seen 5 or 6 aircraft in the landing pattern at one time, all making multiple circuits for landing training or landing currency practice. When other non-training aircraft flights arrive at busy times (after work/evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays) the combined traffic would equate to 30-40 aircraft, per hour, over-flying this proposed stadium site. Overflights should not be 'too' loud or dangerous, but they are likely to be continuous, seemingly a nuisance to the unfamiliar. Stadium patrons from outside of the county/state have probably never experienced a general aviation 'training' airport environment's busiest hours. We need to protect the long-term viability of the City Airport.
Allen Schaeffer, Frederick MD --2. The rezoning of this property from its current designation to an institutional floating zone allowing for a stadium/event complex should be rejected for the following reasons. a.The property location is incompatible for the proposed use. The proposed property use would establish the largest event complex not only in the City but in the entire county, with inadequate services and access to transportation infrastructure.
As proposed, this event complex/cricket stadium will have five times the capacity of the existing Harry Grove Stadium which is about 5400 seats. The property is bounded by a river and an interstate highway on two sides with access to only a single roadway --Rt. 144-- to serve the property. The natural surrounding area, roadways and the populated surrounding area are incompatible with such a drastic change in use and cannot be reasonably modified to accept it. A year round burden on the unpaved land and its close proximity to the Monocacy River to accommodate thousands of people and vehicle and bus traffic is a legitimate concern.
c. The proposed institutional floating zone designation for an event complex to serve as many as 25,000 people will negatively impact land, air, and water quality.
The proposed event complex will increase vehicular traffic- both buses and personal vehicles coming to attend games or concerts at the property. This in turn will increase emissions in the area. Frederick is part of the Washington DC airshed that according to US EPA as of June 30, our area presently is designated as Moderate Non-attainment for ozone pollution.
Given the lack of paved surfaces and the Applicants representation of a large grassy lawn environment, the environmental impacts on the land will be significant. During rain or other precipitation, grassy areas that are heavily trafficked by people and or vehicles will turn into mud. Dozens of buses serving the facility and cars will track dirt and material onto the adjoining roadways, ultimately washing into the Monocacy river untreated. Tracked mud and grass onto the roadways will be followed by drying and subsequently the dispersion of fine dust particles into the air, potentially negatively impacting air quality on all surrounding properties and people.
The Council should reject the Special Events Complex designation and instead force the applicant to undergo a more appropriate interjurisdictional review as part of an Institutional Floating Zone.
Mohamed Ismail, Clover Ridge
I support this project and the rezoning as amended by the planning commission. While I understand the neighbors' concerns, I believe they are overstated. The applicant has indicated that the property will not be used as intensively as feared by the opponents. I urge the council to move this project forward and make any necessary adjustments rather than rejecting it entirely. I prefer a cricket stadium or an event venue used mainly on weekends over more houses.
Thank you
Rodney Martz, 53-yr pilot/50-yr tenant, Frederick, Md.
Very simply: This proposed 'stadium' is just too close to Frederick's economically-valuable airport; pilots are concerned about possible complaints, particularly from stadium patrons bussed-in from out of county and out of state!! Aircraft will be legally flying directly over-top the stadium at the FAA-dictated minimum safe altitude of 1000-feet, because, the location is directly under the standard flight path/pattern for most aircraft. The FAA/ATC tower will not be directing air-traffic outside of national standards. Most pilots at Frederick have seen 5 or 6 aircraft in the landing pattern at one time, all making multiple circuits for landing training or landing currency practice. When other non-training aircraft flights arrive at busy times (after work/evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays) the combined traffic would equate to 30-40 aircraft, per hour, over-flying this proposed stadium site. Overflights should not be 'too' loud or dangerous, but they are likely to be continuous, seemingly a nuisance to the unfamiliar. Stadium patrons from outside of the county/state have probably never experienced a general aviation 'training' airport environment's busiest hours. We need to protect the long-term viability of the City Airport.
Allen Schaeffer, Frederick MD --2. The rezoning of this property from its current designation to an institutional floating zone allowing for a stadium/event complex should be rejected for the following reasons. a.The property location is incompatible for the proposed use. The proposed property use would establish the largest event complex not only in the City but in the entire county, with inadequate services and access to transportation infrastructure.
As proposed, this event complex/cricket stadium will have five times the capacity of the existing Harry Grove Stadium which is about 5400 seats. The property is bounded by a river and an interstate highway on two sides with access to only a single roadway --Rt. 144-- to serve the property. The natural surrounding area, roadways and the populated surrounding area are incompatible with such a drastic change in use and cannot be reasonably modified to accept it. A year round burden on the unpaved land and its close proximity to the Monocacy River to accommodate thousands of people and vehicle and bus traffic is a legitimate concern.
c. The proposed institutional floating zone designation for an event complex to serve as many as 25,000 people will negatively impact land, air, and water quality.
The proposed event complex will increase vehicular traffic- both buses and personal vehicles coming to attend games or concerts at the property. This in turn will increase emissions in the area. Frederick is part of the Washington DC airshed that according to US EPA as of June 30, our area presently is designated as Moderate Non-attainment for ozone pollution.
Given the lack of paved surfaces and the Applicants representation of a large grassy lawn environment, the environmental impacts on the land will be significant. During rain or other precipitation, grassy areas that are heavily trafficked by people and or vehicles will turn into mud. Dozens of buses serving the facility and cars will track dirt and material onto the adjoining roadways, ultimately washing into the Monocacy river untreated. Tracked mud and grass onto the roadways will be followed by drying and subsequently the dispersion of fine dust particles into the air, potentially negatively impacting air quality on all surrounding properties and people.
The Council should reject the Special Events Complex designation and instead force the applicant to undergo a more appropriate interjurisdictional review as part of an Institutional Floating Zone.