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Planning Commission reviews FY2027'2032 CIP priorities; East Street and rails-with-trails design work highlighted
Summary
Planning staff presented the city's CIP priorities, noting requested design funding for East Street, a $545,000 federal design allocation for the Rails-with-Trails bridge, ongoing downtown flood mitigation and sidewalk retrofit work, and continued development of the streets master plan; commissioners pressed for timelines and water-supply analysis tied to growth.
Gabrielle Collard of the planning department presented the Planning Commission's annual Capital Improvements Program (CIP) review at the Feb. 17 workshop, walking commissioners through projects the commission may recommend to the mayor and city council for FY2027'2032 priorities.
Collard highlighted East Street design work (between 5th and Market streets) and said $750,000 in design funding is being requested. She noted a $500,000 grant had previously supported a downtown streetscape study and that the Rails-with-Trails project has begun Phase 3 design for a pedestrian bridge with $545,000 in federal funds allocated to design. Staff also briefed commissioners on ongoing downtown flood mitigation work, the Modder Avenue improvement nearing completion, a stream-restoration plan within Renn Quarter, and an ongoing citywide sidewalk-assessment survey that will present prioritized repair recommendations this spring.
Commissioners pressed staff on sequencing, asking for more clarity on the streets master plan and traffic/transportation modeling to anticipate impacts from infill and large projects. Commissioner Roby emphasized the need to analyze traffic effects from projects such as the Brickworks development and the hotel at the south end of East Street. Collard and Zach Kirschner (COO) said the city is considering programmatic studies, including potential smart-traffic systems, and recommended the commission include specific project language in its recommendation letter to the mayor and council.
Commissioner Roby and others raised water supply and capacity concerns tied to anticipated growth and data centers, urging coordination with Frederick County and regional water entities; staff said work is underway on water and sewer capacity with county coordination and that a city-level water master plan is funded.
Members of the public, including Heather Goddard representing East Frederick Rising, urged the commission to keep East Street improvements at the top of its advocacy list and to complete stream restoration and path connections that support mixed-use development.
Staff asked commissioners to consider specific projects and programmatic recommendations for inclusion in the commission's CIP letter; no formal vote was taken at the workshop.
