Commission recommends loosening R‑4 size and density requirements to Board

The Planning Commission voted on Nov. 5 to recommend an amendment to the R‑4 residential planned community zoning district that would remove the minimum contiguous‑100‑acre requirement and eliminate the explicit 4‑units‑per‑acre maximum. Staff said the changes would allow more flexible, smaller‑scale projects to use the R‑4 framework while leaving density and context review to the rezoning proffer process and comprehensive‑plan guidance.

Mr. Pearson (county staff) said the R‑4 district lets applicants craft a planned community when other zoning districts do not provide appropriate standards, but in practice the 100‑acre minimum and the 4‑units‑per‑acre cap have discouraged useful applications. "We think there are some good niche properties that would qualify well for an R‑4 rezoning," Pearson said, adding the comprehensive plan and rezoning process still allow commissioners and supervisors to set density and proffer conditions.

Commissioners asked how the county would ensure appropriate densities if the numerical cap were removed; staff pointed to comprehensive‑plan guidance and the rezoning review process that permits density caps and conditions on a case‑by‑case basis. Commissioners also raised concerns about potential uses such as data centers and urged staff to note such possibilities in future reports.

A motion to recommend the amendment (identified in discussion as Frederick County Code section 165‑501.06) passed on a roll call vote with all recorded commissioners voting yes. The item will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for consideration on Dec. 10.

The amendment would not change by‑right uses for any district immediately; instead, it alters the R‑4 district’s baseline design standards and relies on the rezoning and proffer process to tailor density and uses to each site.