ICE Cooperation Limits and Industrial Zoning Headline Frederick County Council Agenda

Frederick County Council members face a packed agenda Tuesday, Oct. 6, with a scheduled vote on limits to county cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and possible final action on a disputed industrial zoning proposal.

According to The Frederick News-Post, Bill 26-11, known as the Immigration Enforcement Guidance or Values Act, would put existing non-cooperation practices from County Executive Jessica Fitzwater’s administration into county law.

Introduced by Council Vice President Kavonté Duckett and Council Member Renee Knapp, the proposal would generally restrict county employees from providing Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers access to county facilities and information without a federal warrant. The report says the bill includes exceptions when officers state that emergency circumstances exist.

Supporters at the public hearing largely backed the measure, although some argued that it should offer stronger protections for immigrants. Council Member Steve McKay has questioned whether its provisions can be enforced.

A separate decision concerns Investing in Workers and Workplaces, a plan to expand industrial zoning across six community growth areas. Council Member Jerry Donald is expected to move to return the proposal to the Planning Commission for additional review.

If that motion fails, the agenda calls for votes on the comprehensive plan and zoning code amendments needed to enact the proposal.

The largest component would change roughly 519 acres near Jefferson Pike, west of Frederick, from agricultural zoning to Light Industrial under the amended plan described in the report. Opponents have raised concerns about the area’s rural character, while supporters connected to real estate and development have argued that additional industrial land is needed for economic growth.

Public hearings on four other bills are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., with three minutes allotted to each speaker.

Bill 26-12 concerns shipping-container sales in General Commercial zones. Bill 26-13 would expand income eligibility for a tax credit for disabled military veterans, raising the individual cap from $100,000 to $150,000 and establishing a $300,000 cap for joint filers.

Bill 26-14 addresses an impact-fee exemption for rehabilitated homes with an existing residential tax history. Bill 26-15 would expand options for accessory dwelling units, including raising the size allowed without a special review process from 1,000 to 1,300 square feet.

These are scheduled actions and proposed changes; the agenda preview does not establish that any measure has passed.