Frederick County Planning Commission recommends renewal of 13 agricultural and forestal districts

The Frederick County Planning Commission on July 2 voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors renew all 13 of the county's agricultural and forestal districts for the five-year term 2025–2030.

Planning staff told commissioners the county currently has 17,617.95 acres enrolled in agricultural and forestal districts and that the districts must be reviewed every five years under state law. Staff reviewed each district on the agenda — Alban, Apple Pie Ridge, Back Mountain, Double Church, Green Spring, Hayfield, Long Creek Farm, North Frederick, Red Bud, Reliance, South Frederick, South Timber Ridge and Whitehall — and summarized parcel and owner counts, boundaries and acreage for each.

The largest district is the South Frederick Agricultural and Forestal District, which staff said includes 142 parcels with 52 property owners and totals 5,905.84 acres; several other districts range from about 221.5 acres (Reliance) to roughly 1,929.41 acres (North Frederick). Staff said district enrollment is voluntary and that landowners may petition to add or remove land at their own request and at the Board of Supervisors' discretion. Staff also noted that inclusion in a district does not eliminate all development options and that property owners may apply for conditional use permits; certain major subdivision actions would require removal from a district.

After opening a single public hearing covering all 13 districts, the commission received no public speakers and a planning commissioner moved to recommend approval of the renewals as presented. The commission then approved the recommendation by roll call. Commissioners recorded yes votes from DeHaven, Kern, Thomas, Markert, Snedden, Botorff, McKay, Brembach, Brumbach and the chair. The motion carries and staff will forward the recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for its meeting on Aug. 13, 2025.

Commissioners and staff emphasized that agricultural and forestal districts are voluntary and that county inclusion appears as a consideration in future land use reviews and the upcoming comprehensive plan update. Staff said the districts are intended to recognize and protect agricultural and forestry uses during a five-year term but do not permanently remove a property's development options if the owner later seeks different uses.

The commission's recommendation does not itself change tax status; staff explained land-use taxation and other incentives apply as provided under county policy and state law and that many properties already enrolled would retain eligibility under the county's land-use tax program.