City continues to look at park as site for westside library

Despite concerns from some in the community and remaining questions from city aldermen, Frederick continues to look at possibly allowing Frederick County to build a library on the site of a park on the city’s western side.

The current proposal would build a $6.3 million, 15,000-square-foot library on the site of Hillcrest Park at 501 McCain Drive in the city’s Hillcrest neighborhood.

The aldermen will have to approve a rezoning of the park to an Institutional property, and agree to transfer the site to the county for the project to move forward. The timing for that vote has not been determined.

When the county asked about finding a location for a new library on the city’s western side, the city’s staff identified four possible spots, Marc DeOcampo, director of strategic planning and executive projects in Mayor Michael O’Connor’s office, told the aldermen during a meeting Wednesday night to discuss the feasibility plan that the county had commissioned for the project.

Three of the sites were in the city’s Westside Regional Park, which is currently being developed, and the fourth was the Hillcrest Park site, DeOcampo said.

One of the Westside Regional Park sites couldn’t be used because it fell within an easement for open space provided by the state, while the other two were considered to be too far to the east to serve much of the neighborhood’s population, he said.

A previously suggested site at a county property off Himes Avenue drew criticism from residents who said it was not accessible for students and others walking to the library.

The county needs four or five acres that can be developed for a viable site, Victoria Venable, director of government relations and strategic partnerships for County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, told the aldermen Wednesday.

Doug Pfeiffer, a consultant with Dewberry Architects, presented the findings from the feasibility study, and said the 4.15-acre site was well-suited to handle both pedestrian and vehicular traffic to the site.

The site is close to several bus routes, as well as within walking distance of both Hillcrest and Butterfly Ridge elementary schools, Pfeiffer said.

The schools’ location could help to make the library a “rallying point” for students to come after school, and help build a lifetime affinity for libraries, he said.

The site would have 90 to 110 parking spaces, and the report recommends planting additional trees and other vegetation to help shield the facility from surrounding homes, he said.

James Kelly, director of Frederick County Public Libraries, said that building a library on the western side of the city has been a priority since he took over the system six years ago, and such a facility is long overdue.

The 15,000-square-foot facility would be the same size as the library that recently opened in Middletown, Kelly said.

Alderwoman Katie Nash asked why the decision was made to plan for a 15,000-square-foot building rather than a larger one.

That’s the library system’s typical size, although its buildings in Thurmont, Urbana, and downtown Frederick are bigger, Kelly said.

It’s also more difficult to find a site in the city that could accommodate a larger building, he said.

Alderwoman Donna Kuzemchak said she still has some questions and concerns about the site, but Wednesday’s conversation made her more convinced that it could work.

Kuzemchak said she would absolutely be against the project eliminating Hillcrest Park if the city’s Westside Regional Park and Hill Street Park weren’t nearby.

O’Connor noted that the city’s budget includes capital projects to improve both of those parks, which he said would help mitigate the loss of Hillcrest Park.

Several aldermen asked whether the county could help provide additional open space or new amenities to other parks in exchange for the city transferring the library site.

But Alderman Ben MacShane said the Hillcrest Park site is the only truly viable site that the city could provide.

The aldermen helped kill the Himes Avenue proposal because residents came to them and said they didn’t want the library there, MacShane said.

“We’ve found the answer. This is the answer,” MacShane said.

Alderman Kelly Russell said she has supported the Hillcrest Park site since it was announced.

“If not here, where? If not now, when?” Russell asked.

Several people who live near the proposed site said they want the park to remain.

Lance English, a coordinator for the city’s Neighborhood Advisory Council 8, said no one objects to a library.

But the proposed location is not convenient for people who live nearby, he said.

Steve Jakubczyk, a city resident, said he understands the frustrations of people who live nearby.

But a library would still be a great asset for the neighborhood and the city in general, he said.

Jakubczyk encouraged the aldermen to transfer the property, so the library can be built.

“The county is giving you a library. Take it,” he said.