The Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Management Plan - 1st Draft

July 30, 2021 - The Livable Frederick Planning and Design Office announced that the Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Management Plan First Draft was available for public review. The Plan seeks to maintain rural character and scenic attributes, protect environmental resources, and enhance landscape quality in the Sugarloaf Mountain area. This "large area plan" begins to put into action the Livable Frederick Master Plan, Frederick County’s guiding policy document for how and where the county will grow, conserve, and preserve. 

August 17, 2021 & August 19 2021 - The draft of the Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Management Plan was introduced to the public at two virtual open houses from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM. After a brief presentation, staff invited members of the public to offer their feedback and ask questions. 

September 15, 2021 - The Planning Commission held the first of several workshops to review the first draft of The Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Management Plan including comments from the public and advisory group. Following the Planning Commission's full review of the draft Plan, which will include a public hearing, the Commission's recommended plan will be submitted to the County Council. The County Council review of the Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Management Plan will also include a public hearing.

Download: The Draft Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Management Plan

Plan Updates Since July 2021 Printing

Press Release

Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Management Plan Overview

The Sugarloaf Area Plan Briefing Book

The Briefing Book is a broad introduction to the Sugarloaf Area Plan including a brief listing of current conditions, some historical background, and a preliminary list of challenges and opportunities in the area. The Briefing Book facilitates discussion and engagement in the planning process while the county develops a plan for the Sugarloaf area.

Sugarloaf Area Plan Briefing Book

Sugarloaf Area Plan Kickoff

Sugarloaf Area Plan Kick Off, February 10, 2020

Press Release

Livable Frederick Master Plan

On September 3, 2019, Frederick County adopted the Livable Frederick Master Plan (LFMP), a community-driven document that ushers in a new and innovative way of planning for Frederick County’s future.  The LFMP focuses on four key policy themes including:  Our Community, Our Environment, Our Economy, and Our Health; as well as a general growth, redevelopment, and preservation strategy that articulates a clear direction for the county in the first half of the 21^st century.

The Livable Frederick Master Plan is organized into three (3) sections:

• Our Vision, focusing on community aspirations, ideas, and preferences;
• The Development Framework, addressing the forms and patterns that will determine the physical shape of Frederick County;
• The Action Framework, including recommended positions, policies, and actions

Additionally, the LFMP’s Thematic Plan Map is a broad and vivid representation of - and a visual and narrative guide to - the future growth, preservation, and mobility patterns envisioned by Frederick County and its residents during the development of the Livable Frederick Master Plan.

 www.LivableFrederick.org

One critical aspect of long-range planning that is often ignored, is the issue of plan implementation. How can a community translate its vision into tangible results? Fortunately, the LFMP describes new approaches to structuring comprehensive planning in Frederick County that are unlike past planning efforts.  Targeted planning initiatives - including the development of large area plans, where the focus is on broad and contiguous areas of the County -  are a featured component of our plan. To that end, the approved Implementation Plan for the LFMP includes the creation of our first large area plan, the Sugarloaf Area Plan.

Description of the Sugarloaf Mountain Area from the Livable Frederick Master Plan

Introduction to the Sugarloaf Area Plan as contained in the Livable Frederick Implementation Plan

A short video that explains the "why" behind the Sugarloaf Area Plan

Meetings & Open Houses

Frederick County Planning Commission Workshop meetings regarding the Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Management Plan are regularly held on the third Wednesday of each month. Meetings are located in the First Floor Hearing Room of Winchester Hall at 12 East Church Street.  Some meetings are held virtually and are broadcast live on FCG TV and the Public Portal is open for public comments, questions and voicemails.

Upcoming Meetings & Events

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Frederick County Planning Commission Workshop #3

9:30 am

*Please note: The Planning Commission has two (2) development review items on its agenda this day, so the Sugarloaf Workshop is estimated to begin around 10:30 am or 11:00 am.

Virtual

Broadcast live on FCG TV & Recording Available

Public Portal - Listen Live, provide public comments, or leave a voicemail.

1-855-925-2801 Code: 8768 and follow prompts.

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Frederick County Planning Commission Workshop #4

9:30 am

Virtual

Community Meetings & Open Houses

Previous Meetings

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Frederick County Planning Commission Workshop #2

9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Virtual

Agenda

Presentation: Slides

Presentation: Video

Public Comments as of October 8, 2021
Current Zoning & Land Use Plan Maps

Planning Commission Recommended Zoning and Land Use Plan as of October 13, 2021

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Frederick County Planning Commission Workshop #1

9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Virtual

Agenda

Presentation: Video

Public Comments as of September 7, 2021 #1

Public Comments as of September 7, 2021 #2

Tuesday, September 7, 2021
Informational Briefing to City Council

Agenda

Presentation: Video

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Open House

Virtual Meeting

Presentation: Slides

Presentation: Video

Public Comments

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Open House

Virtual Meeting

Presentation: Slides

Presentation: Video

Public Comments

Advisory Group Meetings

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Virtual Meeting

Presentation

Draft Plan Comments

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Bar T Ranch

6:30pm

Presentation

Draft Plan Comments

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Virtual Meeting

Agenda

Draft Plan Outline - October 2020

Presentation Materials

Monday, August 31, 2020

Virtual Meeting

Agenda

Outline for meeting discussion

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Agenda

Draft Plan Outline

Watch Video

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Agenda

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Agenda

Sugarloaf Community Meeting/Open House

On Thursday, February 27, 2020, approximately 100 people attended the County’s first Community Meeting for the kick-off of the Sugarloaf Area Plan.  A  wide variety of geographic information and other data about the Sugarloaf Planning Area was displayed at the meeting, with County Staff answering questions about the maps and information presented.  After a short powerpoint presentation, a question/answer period followed for people to obtain more information about the Sugarloaf Area Plan and its creation.

Sugarloaf Stakeholders’ Advisory Group

The County established a Sugarloaf Stakeholders’ Advisory Group to provide input and perspective as the county seeks to gain a broader and deeper understanding of the issues, challenges, and opportunities that exist in the Sugarloaf area.

Members: 

• Janine Borofka, Tina Theme Brown, Dakota Durcho, Martha Hartlaub, Michael Kashiwagi, Mike Kay, Andy MacIntosh, Jim MacIntosh, Gary Magnuson, Blanca Poteat, Steve Poteat, Joe Richardson, Ingrid Rosencrantz, Russell Thompson, David Webster, John Webster

Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Management Plan Overview

East View Overlook, July 2019

Potomac Overlook, July 2019