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Frederick amends municipal code to move design standards out of code for administrative updates
Summary
Trustees approved an ordinance to remove detailed design standards from municipal code (Chapter 18, Article 4) and reference a separate design-standards document that staff can update administratively; the change includes creating a design-standards committee and assigning the town manager or designee final approval authority for updates.
The Board of Trustees voted to approve Ordinance 14O2, which removes detailed construction and design specifications from chapter 18, article 4 of the municipal code and instead references an externally maintained design-standards document. Staff said the change will allow for more efficient administrative updates to keep standards aligned with industry practice, while preserving that completed permit applications will remain governed by the law in effect at the time of a complete application.
Staff said a design-standards committee including representatives from engineering, planning, parks and public works will review proposed edits and recommend updates; the town manager or designee will have authority to approve final changes. Trustees asked whether standards could be changed during an in-process project and town counsel confirmed a completed application would be governed by the law in effect at submission, not by later amendments.
Trustees approved the ordinance in a recorded vote, and staff indicated they will solicit development-community feedback on drafts to avoid unintended consequences of administrative changes.
