C. Discussion of a request to amend the Resolution 09-23, which annexed 52 +/- acres on the eastern side of the City, south of I-70 and north of MD 144, known as the “Gateway Property” (the “Property”)
Reject the request. Why essentially hand over 16 acres of land dedicated to the City in the 2009 Annexation BECAUSE IT WAS FLOODPLAIN only to have graded? Why compromise the Monocacy River and the City's drinking water?
Don't be fooled by the "Park" and "River Walk" with little on-site parking for the public? Cultural events are established on the Creek, where they belong with several parking decks and sidewalk connections. This parcel doesn't offer a sidewalk connection, and the Applicant doesn't intend to invest in the needed infrastructure.
Have you looked up the value 16 acres of GC land that you'd be handing over with no economic return?
I am opposed to the proposed rezoning to allow construction of a cricket stadium and special event center. I live approximately 2,200 feet from the proposed site and rely on the same limited roadway network that would serve this facility. The Use Is Incompatible with the Location: At its core, this proposal would authorize the largest event complex in Frederick City and County history, with a proposed capacity of up to 25,000 people, nearly five times the capacity of Harry Grove Stadium. The subject property is: Bounded by the Monocacy River; Bounded by Interstate 70; Served primarily by a single two lane state roadway (Route 144). These constraints are permanent. No mitigation payment or operational plan can alter the physical reality of the site. A Planning Commission’s first responsibility is to determine whether a proposed use belongs at a given location. Here, the intensity of use proposed is fundamentally mismatched to the setting.The traffic impacts associated with this proposal are not speculative—they are unavoidable. Route 144 already experiences: Regular congestion from regional growth; Frequent I 70 backups diverting vehicles into the City. The applicant’s traffic plan relies heavily on shuttle buses and remote parking, a strategy that is unenforceable, untested at this scale, and inconsistent with observed behavior—particularly for concerts and non cricket events. Tailgating, personal vehicle use, and spillover parking are inevitable. When paved parking serves only a fraction of anticipated attendance, congestion and unsafe parking conditions are not possibilities—they are certainties. The Planning Commission’s acceptance of a proposed $1.5 million payment for road improvements reveals a significant procedural flaw. There is no clear public record showing How this figure was calculated, What specific roadway deficiencies it resolves, Whether it is proportional to the project’s impacts, How long term operational and maintenance costs would be addressed. This proposal fails on fundamental planning grounds: The use is incompatible with the location; Mitigation is used to justify unsuitability; Environmental and climate risks are understated; Historic landscape integrity is compromised; Long term public costs remain unresolved. For these reasons, I respectfully urge the City Council to reject the requested rezoning. Good planning protects the future of Frederick, not just the feasibility of a project.
I think Frederick could use a professional sports team! Cricket is the most popular sport in the world!
I think this is a good location for it, especially over some other industrial use it currently allows for. I appreciate it the park space as well.
I know people don't like change, but it's likely this will be a warehouse or some other industrial use if not a cricket stadium. I think this is a cool opportunity for Frederick that our restrictive zoning is currently in the way of.
The D.C. “Washington Freedom” plans a cricket sport venue for up to 25,000 (“marque events, per the applicant) spectators on the floodplain adjacent to the Monocacy River—with the only access in-or-out being Old National Pike/144. I do not believe there are 25,000 Frederick cricket fans who support this. (Note: Nymeo Field/Grove Stadium holds 5,500 and in stark contrast has adequate parking and access.)
This cricket venue will directly abut suburban/rural residents. We collectively —drivers, residents, and citizens— stand to lose if that happens. How?
— Increased traffic on 144, into and out of Frederick
— Noise and light pollution for the people who live here
— This is a historical site — with indigenous history, and later the Union
defense in “The Battle for Jug Bridge” in 1864
And let us not ignore the impact on the Monocacy River from fertilizer and pesticide runoff (a certainty for a playing field). This will affect the wildlife — including Bald Eagles which nest and hunt in this shrinking sliver of nature. As it stands, this is a floodplain which —local residents attest— periodically floods.
Part of this proposed site belongs to the City which is proposing to rezone this riverfront tract and provide it as part of a to-be-constructed privately-owned sports complex. (The larger parcel of land is currently the I70 Golf driving range and will be sold for the complex if the City approves the plan.)
The only group that WILL benefit from this stadium complex is the Washington Freedom and its ownership.
I am puzzled by the apparent commitment the City has here. There seems no reason to do so —other than potential tax revenue from DC area spectators.
Meanwhile, we will be forced to live with increased traffic, noise, and lights at night. And again, the clear consequences on nature. This promises to be a choke point for traffic into and out of Frederick —and— a permanent loss of part of the history of Frederick.
There are better places in Frederick for a sports stadium, places where surrounding neighbors support a sports stadium of 25,000 spectators, where the impact on nature is not profound, and places which can support such a real traffic impact. We are not opposed to a sports complex, and would support one in a fitting location. I am OPPOSED to a plan that benefits few and brings unwanted harm to many more.
Reject the request. Why essentially hand over 16 acres of land dedicated to the City in the 2009 Annexation BECAUSE IT WAS FLOODPLAIN only to have graded? Why compromise the Monocacy River and the City's drinking water?
Don't be fooled by the "Park" and "River Walk" with little on-site parking for the public? Cultural events are established on the Creek, where they belong with several parking decks and sidewalk connections. This parcel doesn't offer a sidewalk connection, and the Applicant doesn't intend to invest in the needed infrastructure.
Have you looked up the value 16 acres of GC land that you'd be handing over with no economic return?
I am opposed to the proposed rezoning to allow construction of a cricket stadium and special event center. I live approximately 2,200 feet from the proposed site and rely on the same limited roadway network that would serve this facility. The Use Is Incompatible with the Location: At its core, this proposal would authorize the largest event complex in Frederick City and County history, with a proposed capacity of up to 25,000 people, nearly five times the capacity of Harry Grove Stadium. The subject property is: Bounded by the Monocacy River; Bounded by Interstate 70; Served primarily by a single two lane state roadway (Route 144). These constraints are permanent. No mitigation payment or operational plan can alter the physical reality of the site. A Planning Commission’s first responsibility is to determine whether a proposed use belongs at a given location. Here, the intensity of use proposed is fundamentally mismatched to the setting.The traffic impacts associated with this proposal are not speculative—they are unavoidable. Route 144 already experiences: Regular congestion from regional growth; Frequent I 70 backups diverting vehicles into the City. The applicant’s traffic plan relies heavily on shuttle buses and remote parking, a strategy that is unenforceable, untested at this scale, and inconsistent with observed behavior—particularly for concerts and non cricket events. Tailgating, personal vehicle use, and spillover parking are inevitable. When paved parking serves only a fraction of anticipated attendance, congestion and unsafe parking conditions are not possibilities—they are certainties. The Planning Commission’s acceptance of a proposed $1.5 million payment for road improvements reveals a significant procedural flaw. There is no clear public record showing How this figure was calculated, What specific roadway deficiencies it resolves, Whether it is proportional to the project’s impacts, How long term operational and maintenance costs would be addressed. This proposal fails on fundamental planning grounds: The use is incompatible with the location; Mitigation is used to justify unsuitability; Environmental and climate risks are understated; Historic landscape integrity is compromised; Long term public costs remain unresolved. For these reasons, I respectfully urge the City Council to reject the requested rezoning. Good planning protects the future of Frederick, not just the feasibility of a project.
I think Frederick could use a professional sports team! Cricket is the most popular sport in the world!
I think this is a good location for it, especially over some other industrial use it currently allows for. I appreciate it the park space as well.
I know people don't like change, but it's likely this will be a warehouse or some other industrial use if not a cricket stadium. I think this is a cool opportunity for Frederick that our restrictive zoning is currently in the way of.
Thanks,
Jake Thurman
814 N Market
The D.C. “Washington Freedom” plans a cricket sport venue for up to 25,000 (“marque events, per the applicant) spectators on the floodplain adjacent to the Monocacy River—with the only access in-or-out being Old National Pike/144. I do not believe there are 25,000 Frederick cricket fans who support this. (Note: Nymeo Field/Grove Stadium holds 5,500 and in stark contrast has adequate parking and access.)
This cricket venue will directly abut suburban/rural residents. We collectively —drivers, residents, and citizens— stand to lose if that happens. How?
— Increased traffic on 144, into and out of Frederick
— Noise and light pollution for the people who live here
— This is a historical site — with indigenous history, and later the Union
defense in “The Battle for Jug Bridge” in 1864
And let us not ignore the impact on the Monocacy River from fertilizer and pesticide runoff (a certainty for a playing field). This will affect the wildlife — including Bald Eagles which nest and hunt in this shrinking sliver of nature. As it stands, this is a floodplain which —local residents attest— periodically floods.
Part of this proposed site belongs to the City which is proposing to rezone this riverfront tract and provide it as part of a to-be-constructed privately-owned sports complex. (The larger parcel of land is currently the I70 Golf driving range and will be sold for the complex if the City approves the plan.)
The only group that WILL benefit from this stadium complex is the Washington Freedom and its ownership.
I am puzzled by the apparent commitment the City has here. There seems no reason to do so —other than potential tax revenue from DC area spectators.
Meanwhile, we will be forced to live with increased traffic, noise, and lights at night. And again, the clear consequences on nature. This promises to be a choke point for traffic into and out of Frederick —and— a permanent loss of part of the history of Frederick.
There are better places in Frederick for a sports stadium, places where surrounding neighbors support a sports stadium of 25,000 spectators, where the impact on nature is not profound, and places which can support such a real traffic impact. We are not opposed to a sports complex, and would support one in a fitting location. I am OPPOSED to a plan that benefits few and brings unwanted harm to many more.