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Ag Preservation Board approves agritourism, easement and solar requests; IPP ranking amendment fails
Summary
At its April 27 meeting the Frederick County Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board unanimously approved retroactive agritourism permission for Brookfield Pumpkins (now Three Brothers Farm), allowed 3.9 acres to enter an FRO easement on an IPP parcel, and approved a solar request on a MALPF easement; an amendment to change IPP ranking points failed and the staff recommendation passed 4-1.
The Frederick County Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board on April 27 approved three staff-recommended land-use items and declined an amendment to change how IPP applications are scored.
The board granted retroactive agritourism approval for the pumpkin patch operation formerly known as Brookfield Pumpkins and now operated by Three Brothers Farm, LLC, which Kelsey and Daniel Maslen purchased in 2025. Samuel and Mary Jane Roop retain a 1% ownership interest in the business. Lisa Gaver, the board’s vice chair, moved to approve retroactive permission for the agritourism operation; Caroline Orlowski seconded the motion, and the board voted 5-0 to approve.
Members also approved staff’s request to allow 3.9 acres of the Besmer/Walcott IPP easement (#26-12) to be entered into a Forest Resource Ordinance (FRO) easement as part of a county pilot to extend preservation funding. Caroline Orlowski moved to accept staff’s recommendation; Sandra Tucker seconded, and the motion passed 5-0.
On proposed changes to the IPP ranking system, staff’s recommendation was approved after an amendment offered by Caroline Orlowski (which would have reweighted owner-operator points to 20, increased development-rights points to a maximum of 60, and set concentration-of-preserved-land at 50 points) failed on a roll call. The amendment drew two votes in favor and three against; the original staff motion passed by a 4-1 vote.
The board also approved a request to permit ground-mounted solar panels on a MALPF easement for the Bauer/Fleming property. Lisa Gaver moved to adopt staff’s recommendation; the motion passed 5-0.
Routine procedural items were handled at the start of the meeting: the board approved the agenda and the minutes of the Feb. 23 meeting (both votes 5-0). There was no public comment. The meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
Each approval recorded at the meeting reflects the advisory board’s decision; several actions (for example, MALPF or Board of Public Works steps) may require further state or county approvals before settlements or easement changes become final.
