An open house is planned for Monday, March 4th on the Landsdale Planned Unit Development and the Monrovia Town Center. The event, to be held at Windsor Knolls Middle School from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM, will address the Landsdale Planned Unit Development, and the Monrovia Town Center.

"We're going to make a more concerted effort to try to get some of the information on these projects out to the public," says Planning Manger Jim Gugel with the Frederick County Community Development Division.

Opponents of the two projects say the county and the developers have not made a lot of information available on both projects to the public, claiming that meetings and open houses have been held at inconvenient times. They also say the county is moving too quickly on both projects.

The Landsdale PUD has already been approved. It calls for 1,100 new homes to be built on 700-acres west of Ed McClain Road, north of Route 80 and west of Route 75. Gugel says at one time, this was an age-restricted community for those 55 and older, but that restriction has been removed.

County officials have not yet voted on the Monrovia Town Center, which calls for 1,500 new homes on 460-acres east of Ed McClain Road, and north of Fingerboard Road. Property in that area will be set aside for a new high school, a park and a fire station. There are plans to construct 280,000 square feet of commercial space at the intersection of Routes 75 and 80. Gugel says that means the end of the 75-80 Dragway. "That project will basically redevelop the 75-80 Drag Strip, yes," he says.

He also emphasizes that no decision will be made the evening of the open house regarding the Monrovia Town Center.

Opponents of both projects say they will increase traffic on roads in that area which cannot handle it. They say Route 75 is a country road, which the state has no plans to improve.

The Commissioners have already approved a Developer Rights and Responsibilities Agreement with the developers of the Landsdale PUD, which lays out conditions such as zoning and rules and regulations. It also outlines the developers' responsibilities, such as providing land or money for schools, and upgrading roads. A DRRA is being negotiated for the Monrovia Town Center.