WASHINGTON — Land preservation groups in Frederick County have taken legal action against the Board of Commissioners. They’re trying to stop the county from rezoning tens of thousands of acres of property.
Last year, 700 properties were rezoned in the county an attempt to curb development and prevent sprawl. The change meant that many landowners would not be able to develop their properties, thereby losing thousands — if not millions — of dollars.
In May, county commissioners began accepting requests from owners to have their zoning changed and 193 land owners submitted requests.
Three preservation groups want the proposed rezoning of the properties to be declared unlawful, saying the county does not have the authority to change the comprehensive plan. Their fear is that, if approved, the rezonings could lead to the development of 14,000 acres of farmland. They fear Frederick County will become as congested as nearby Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
“Blaine Young has never met a development project that he doesn’t like,” says Will Morrow, chairman of the Friends of Frederick County. His comments about the board’s president are in The Gazette.
But Young tells WTOP, “To those folks that are worried that Frederick County is going to end up like Montgomery County or Prince George’s County, tell them I have the same worry. I’m born and raised here.”
WTOP’s David Burd contributed to this report. Follow WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2011 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
