County Council considers bill to allow child care facilities in office, research, industrial zone

Ceoli Jacoby, The Frederick News-Post, Md.
·2 min read

Sep. 27—The Frederick County Council is considering a bill to allow day care centers and nursery schools to operate within areas zoned for office, research and industrial use.

The bill, which is co-sponsored by Councilmen Jerry Donald and Kavonté Duckett, was introduced after the County Council passed a similar bill last month allowing public schools in the office, research and industrial (ORI) zone.

That bill was signed by County Executive Jessica Fitzwater on Aug. 11 and will take effect on Oct. 7.

During the legislative process, the county's Planning Commission recommended that the council pursue separate legislation to address child care facilities in the ORI zone.

Most of the land zoned for ORI use in the current Countywide Comprehensive Plan is nestled along Interstate 270, where many Frederick County residents work in biomedical research and biotechnology.

According to the state Department of Commerce, Leidos Biomedical Research, Thermo Fisher Scientific and AstraZeneca all rank among the top 10 employers in Frederick County. Combined, the three companies employed nearly 4,000 people during 2021 and 2022.

In an interview on Wednesday, Donald said that a lack of child care often prevents people who are otherwise willing to work from taking certain jobs.

"This bill is giving businesses the opportunity to provide a service that other businesses in the area really need," Donald said.

Under the new bill, child care services could be offered within an existing building designated for another permitted use in the ORI zone or in a completely separate facility.

The bill proposes that child care centers in existing buildings be confined to 10% or less of the total floor area. Independent child care centers would require a lot area of at least 40,000 square feet. The bill says all play areas must be fully fenced.

All child care centers must comply with regulations established by the state Department of Education. Individuals or businesses wishing to open a child care center in an area zoned for ORI use would need to obtain site plan approval from the county's Planning Commission.

According to Jen Specht, a spokeswoman for the county's Division of Planning and Permitting, the Planning Commission is set to review the child care bill and make a recommendation to the County Council at a meeting on Oct. 11.

In an email to The Frederick News-Post on Wednesday, County Legislative Director Ragen Cherney wrote that the third reading and council vote on the bill is scheduled for Oct. 17.