Planning commission reviews city capital improvements program; East Street, Rails-with-Trails and Westside center among priorities

Frederick City planning staff presented the commission’s annual review of the capital improvements program (CIP) at the commission’s Feb. 18 workshop and asked commissioners to recommend projects to the mayor and city council.

Gabrielle, a planning department staff member, opened the presentation: “This is our annual review of the CIP,” and walked the commission through project updates, new requests and projects that remain unfunded or in early stages of design.

Why it matters: The Planning Commission is required by state law and City of Frederick code (Chapter 2) to make recommendations on the CIP. Commissioners’ recommended projects are forwarded to the mayor and council and can affect what enters the city’s capital budget and short‑term work plan.

Most urgent items

- East Street design: Staff said East Street improvements — between Fifth and Market Streets and other segments — remain a priority; $750,000 was requested for design. Commissioners noted that adoption of the city’s form‑based code is intended to guide design and that staff intends the design work to follow code adoption so the right-of-way and public‑infrastructure assumptions align with new zoning rules. Commissioner Katie Manelas asked whether East Street work can begin prior to…