Frederick County planners review Madison 2 LLC rezoning; commissioners press for earlier commercial delivery, traffic fixes and design standards

Frederick County planning staff presented a rezoning application from Madison 2 LLC on the commission’s work-session agenda, proposing to rezone roughly 149 acres near Fairfax Pike from RA (rural) to the R-4 Residential Planned Community district to allow up to 866 mixed residential units and a minimum of 20,000 square feet of commercial space. "No action is required at this time," staff said, and the commission scheduled a public hearing for Dec. 3.

County staff told commissioners the request follows a comprehensive plan amendment (Policy Amendment 123) approved Jan. 10, 2024, that added the site to a Lake Frederick urban development area. Staff said the proposal does not fully implement the plan’s expectation that commercial and medical uses form the core of the neighborhood village and that the application provides limited detail on the quality of materials and site design.

The applicant’s proffers include a mix of design modifications and development commitments. Those elements noted in the staff presentation and draft voluntary proffers include: a density increase sought in the R-4 district from about 4 dwelling units…