The first of several meetings on the Frederick County Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Review began on Tuesday.

In almost rapid succession, the Commissioners approved many of the long list of rezoning requests. The votes were mostly 4-1 with Board Member David Gray opposed.   Zoning requests were considered from the Adamstown, Brunswick, Middletown, Frederick, Thurmont and Walkersville Planning Regions.

One case involved a the Crum property north of Frederick, which was annexed by the city in 2009. Jim Gugel with the Community Development Division, says the previous board put a "Priority Preservation" Designation on the parcel in their 2010 Comp Plan. "That was put on there just as a way to document the disagreement of what the city did with annexing it," Gugel says. The Commissioners voted 4-1  to remove the designation, again, with Commission Gray opposed.

The Board also looked at a request from Resthaven Cemetery covering its property located east of Route 15, across from its present location. The cemetery plans to use that parcel to expand. "On the eastern part of the property, it will remain RC {Resource Conservation}, which they're okay with. They can't do anything in there anyway because {it's located in}  the flood plain," says Gugel. "And then the balance, the two-thirds, would go to ag {Agriculture}." The Commissioners voted 4-1 for this zoning change, with Commissioner Gray in opposition.

Next week, the Board will continue its review of zoning requests. On Tuesday, Feb. 21st, from 9:00 AM until 12:00, the Commissioners will consider the Town of New Market Draft Plan, and requests from the New Market Planning. On Thursday, Feb. 23rd, from 1:30 PM until 5:00 PM.  They'll  consider requests from the Urbana Planning Region.  And finally on Tuesday, Feb. 28th, from 9:00 AM until 12:00 noon, they'll discuss carry-over items and follow up issues.

All meetings will be held in the third floor meeting room at Winchester Hall.

During the 2010 campaign, a majority of the currentl Commissioners, when they were candidates, felt that the previous board "robbed"  citizens of their property rights by downzoning a lot of parcels as part of the 2010 Comp Plan.