Today, the Community Development Division oversees Business Development and Retention, Permits and Inspections, Planning and Development Review, and Sustainability and Environmental Resources.
Under the Department are units for Inspection Services, Permitting Services, and the Office of Life Safety.
The five members of the Advisory Board are appointed to five-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent (Code Agriculture Article, sec. 2-504.1).
AGRICULTURAL RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE
Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Committee consists of seven members.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
The Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties for Frederick County is maintained by the Commission, which also reviews all petitions for designation to the Frederick County Register of Historic Places. In addition, the Commission submits recommendations to the County Council.
Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Commission consists of eleven members and two alternates who serve three-year terms (County Code, secs. 1-23-1 through 1-23-14).
PLANNING COMMISSION
The Commission consists of seven members appointed to three-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent (Code Land Use Article, secs. 2-101 through 3-304; County Code, Art. II, secs. 1-13-16 through 1-13-21; 1-19-2.160).
ZONING ADMINISTRATION
Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Board of Appeals consists of five members and one alternate who serve three-year terms (Code Land Use Article, secs. 4-101 through 4-406; County Code, secs. 1-19-1.100 through 1-19-11.100).
DEPARTMENT OF PERMITS & INSPECTIONS
The Department of Permits and Inspections started within the Department of Planning as the Permitting and Development Review Division to oversee Development Review Engineering, Development Review Planning, Life Safety, and Permits and Inspections. In February 2011, the Division was reformed as the Department of Permits and Inspections and placed under oversight of the Community Development Division.
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
The Department of Planning and Development Review is responsible for five units: Comprehensive Planning; Development Review; Strategic Planning; Sustainability and Environmental Resources; and Zoning Administration. The Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board, the Agricultural Reconciliation Committee, the Historic Preservation Commission, and the Planning Commission assist the Department.
AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD
The Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board advises the County Council on the establishment of agricultural districts and the approval of purchases of easements within the County by the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation.
Authorized in 1997, the Agricultural Reconciliation Committee arbitrates and mediates disputes involving agricultural operations conducted on agricultural lands. The Committee issues opinions on whether such operations conform with generally accepted agricultural management practices.
The Historic Preservation Commission adopts rehabilitation and new construction design guidelines and criteria for construction, alteration, reconstruction, repair, moving, and demolition of property in designated districts or individually designated sites or landmarks which are consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties.
At the request of an owner or applicant, the Commission may offer consultation with respect to changes to interior features. The Commission also reviews and recommends for action by the County Council the acquisition of historic preservation easements on designated landmarks, structures, or sites, and (when deemed appropriate by the Commission) sites or structures located in, or adjacent to, a designated district, consistent with the County's ordinances, resolutions, local public law, policies, and procedures.
In 1955, the Planning Commission was formed to prepare and administer County plans and development regulations. The Commission is responsible for site plans, subdivision plats, planned unit development plans, modifications to subdivision regulations, and for determining what public facilities are needed for new developments. Advising the Board of County Commissioners, the Commission makes recommendations on the adoption of County and regional plans, zoning map amendments, and zoning or subdivision text amendments.
(County Code, secs. 1-19-2.100 through 1-19-2.230)
BOARD OF [ZONING] APPEALS
The Board of [Zoning] Appeals hears and decides appeals where it is alleged there is any error in any zoning order, requirement, decision, or determination. It also interprets district boundaries on official zoning maps. Upon appeal, in specific cases, the Board may authorize such variances as will not be contrary to the public interest where, owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement would result in unnecessary hardship or practical difficulty.
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Office of Economic Development originated as Economic Development and reformed in February 2011 as the Department of Business Development and Retention within the Community Development Division. In March 2015, the Department reorganized as the Office of Economic Development.
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