Aldermen Review Agreements Covering Property Sale To Flying Dog

They’re expected to vote on the agreements on Dec. 15th.

 
Frederick, Md (KM) The Board of Aldermen on Wednesday reviewed four agreements covering the sale of land at Frederick Municipal Airport to Flying Dog Brewery. Economic Development Director Richard Griffin said these agreements allow the city to continue operating the airport after Flying Dog purchases the 31.69-acre property to build a new, state-of-the-art brewery.

“And it provides mutual access to the parties as well as insure equitable maintenance and repair of the same,” he said. “Things that are on our ground, we have responsibility for. Things that are going to be on ground that we’re selling them, they would have responsibility for maintenance.”

The city agreed last year to sell the parcel to Flying Dog for $2.55-million. The company plans to construct a $40-million, 150,000-square-foot facility for its state-of-the-art brewery, and a Farm Brewery.

This parcel is called Bowman Farm Site Lot 15, which the city bought  in 2008 for $5.4-million. It was to be used to upgrade facilities at the airport, including a control tower. Officials says  it’s surplus land which the FAA will not reimburse the city for its purchase.

One of the agreements covers an Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast facility, which helps pilots and air traffic controllers  track aircraft in the skies over Frederick. It’s located on the property being sold to Flying Dog.

Griffin says the city wants to  keep that facility at that site. He says currently, the city leases that parcel  to the contractor which operates the ADSB. “They {Flying Dog} agreed to allow that lease to be continued for up to 99-years. And they allowed the access for that contractor to be able to get into and out of that site, and maintain and keep it up,” he said.

This agreement is subject to FAA approval. Any future related easements, subdivisions or re-locations of the ADSB will be done at the cost of the Flying Dog, and subject to FAA approval, according the background material for Wednesday’s workshop.

The Board of Aldermen is expected to vote on these four agreements on December 15th.

“This is exciting! We’re moving forward,” said Alderwoman Kelly Russell.

By Kevin McManus