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Board refers rear-load townhouse and utility-siting ordinance changes to committee, schedules public hearings
Summary
County planning staff asked the board to consider two zoning changes: adding a rear-load townhouse housing type in the RP district and moving public utilities transmission and distribution facilities in the RA district from a permitted use to conditional use with enhanced performance standards; the board authorized committee review and public hearings for both items.
Frederick County planning staff presented two preliminary ordinance amendments and the Board of Supervisors authorized staff to move both items to committee and to schedule public hearings.
Planner Tyler Klein described the first proposal as an amendment to Chapter 165 to allow a rear-load townhouse housing type within the RP (Residential Performance) district. Klein said the amendment would offer a new design option in which garages are accessed by a private alley behind the units, improving streetscape aesthetics while retaining the existing land‑use and density frameworks. Klein noted parking standards (2.5 spaces per townhome unit) and the county’s 30% open‑space requirement would still apply and that staff will compare code examples from other localities.
On public utilities, the Planning Commission recommended evaluating whether transmission and distribution facilities should move from a by‑right permitted use in the RA rural district to a conditional‑use process. Klein said options under consideration include enhanced buffering and screening, greater setbacks, earth berming, and explicit siting policies to reduce impacts near rural residences. The proposal would add a public hearing requirement and clearer performance standards rather than relying solely on administrative discretion.
Board members asked questions about market effects, parking, and openness to additional design standards. The board voted to send both items to the Development Review and Regulations Committee and to authorize staff to hold public hearings for further refinement and public input.
