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Photo by Skip Lawrence
Jay Franzak practices golf Wednesday morning at the I-70 Golf Range. Frederick aldermen are discussing the potential annexation of the property.
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Despite the controversy City of Frederick annexations have stirred recently, discussion of another addition to city property drew nary a comment from the Board of Aldermen on Wednesday.
Landmark Development Group wants Frederick officials to annex a highly visible 50 acres at the eastern edge of the city along I-70 and Md. 144.
"It's been impressed upon us multiple times this is an important gateway property," said Rand Weinberg, an attorney for the developer.
The land, which fronts the Monocacy River, likely would be a site for commercial or retail development to include hotels and restaurants.
A golf driving range, an RV dealership and farmland occupy the site.
The developer's initial letter of interest indicated the site could handle up to 585,000 square feet of commercial space.
Alderman David Koontz asked what the developer plans to do with a historic house on the property. City historic planners noted the house, built in the late 1700s or early 1800s, was significant and could be considered for the National Register of Historic Places.
The developer plans to do an archaeological study of the site and will submit a plan during the engineering and planning phase of the project, Weinberg said.
"We have a lot to do to develop this property but we'd like to get it in the city and get started."
If approved, the property would become the ninth the current board has annexed.
City officials are defending their decision to annex two large farms on Frederick 's north end.
The Frederick County Commissioners are protesting the annexation of the Crumland and Thatcher farms along U.S. 15.
The commissioners object to annexation agreements they said do not obligate the developers to contribute to infrastructure improvements -- most notably an interchange needed at U.S. 15 and Biggs Ford Road.
The city would also sign off on a resolution with this most recent annexation under consideration.
The draft resolution guarantees the city a $500,000 payment for road improvements. The developer would also donate 16 acres for a park and establish a boat launch on the Monocacy River.
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