Historic Preservation Commission Hearing – April 14, 2022
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Historic Preservation Commission Hearing – April 14, 2022
The City of Frederick Historic Preservation Commission held a public hearing on April 14, 2022, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. Commissioners present were Chairwoman Alby, and Commissioners Burns, DePetro, Hart, and Van Renz. Staff included Christina Martinkosky, Lisa Mroszczyk Murphy, and others. The meeting covered demolition reviews, tax credit certification, and several case hearings.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes from March 22, 23 (site visits at 401 Linden Avenue), and March 24, 2022 (hearing and workshop) were approved unanimously (5-0).
- Administrative Approval Report: Staff reported 20 administrative approvals in March 2022; the report was entered into the record.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General Citizen Comment: At the end of the hearing, Alderwoman Donna Kuzemchak (City Council Liaison) thanked the commission and staff for their work during the pandemic, noting appreciation for their service.
- No public comments were made on any of the demolition reviews or cases.
Discussion Items
- 102 Pennsylvania Avenue – Demolition Review: Staff presented a frame bungalow (circa 1923) identified as contributing to the East Frederick Historic Survey District but without individual distinction. The commission voted unanimously not to designate it as an individual resource under Section 423D of the Land Management Code.
- 302 Center Street – Demolition Review: A one-story frame dwelling (circa 1941) contributing to the National Register Frederick Historic District. Staff found it did not meet individual designation criteria. The commission voted unanimously not to make an application to designate.
- 2021 Historic Preservation Property Tax Credits (Group I): Staff reported 26 applications totaling $387,342.44 in investments, with a property tax credit amount of $77,010.17. The commission certified the report and forwarded a recommendation of approval to the Director of Finance (unanimous).
- HPC21-1449 – 11 S. Bentz Street (Rehabilitation): Post-work approval to replace wood siding in kind and replace the front stoop with four horizontal rails. Staff recommended approval conditioned that pressure-treated wood be limited to ground-contact elements and all new wood be painted or stained with an opaque stain. The applicant (Melissa Aldridge) acknowledged the pressure-treated wood issue but agreed to the conditions. Commission approved unanimously.
- HPC22-79 – 410 N. Market Street (Fence): The applicant was not present. The commission automatically continued the case to the May 12, 2022 hearing per the rules of procedure (unanimous).
- HPC22-237 – 252 S. Carroll Street (Demolition): Staff found the 1953 ranch house and detached garage to be non-contributing resources. The applicant (Ron Hemby) noted the house is nondescript and proposed to build duplexes. The commission first voted unanimously that the dwelling and garage are non-contributing, then voted unanimously to approve demolition.
- HPC22-242 – 10 N. Carroll Street (Partial Demolition): A request to remove the second-story brick facade due to structural issues. Staff recommended the building be found a contributing resource (early commercial garage, built 1911/1922). The applicant (C. Marty Bates) concurred. The commission voted unanimously that the building is contributing. The partial demolition and replacement plan (HPC22-243) will be heard at a future hearing after workshop.
Key Outcomes
- Demolition reviews: Both 102 Pennsylvania Avenue and 302 Center Street were determined not to be individually eligible for designation; no further action to designate.
- Tax credits: The 2021 Group I report was certified and forwarded to the Director of Finance.
- Case approvals: HPC21-1449 (11 S. Bentz St.) approved with conditions; HPC22-237 (252 S. Carroll St.) demolition approved; HPC22-242 (10 N. Carroll St.) found contributing, partial demolition deferred.
- Continuance: HPC22-79 (410 N. Market St.) continued to May 12, 2022 due to applicant absence.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I'd like to call to order the April 14th, 2022 hearing of the City of Frederick Historic Preservation Commission. I do want to note that listening devices are available if anyone would like one. Please see Miss Eiler. The technical qualifications of the Commission and the staff are on file with the City of Frederick and are made a part of each and every case before the Commission. The Frederick City Historic Preservation Commission uses the guidelines adopted by the mayor and the Board of Aldermen and the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation published by the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service, and these guidelines are made a part of each and every case. All cases were duly advertised in the Frederick News Post in accordance with Section 301 of the Land Management Code. At this time, I would like to introduce the Commissioners and City staff. To your right, we have Miss Carrie Ann Eiler, Office Manager for the city. I'll be serving as the chairperson this evening. Please stand if you are able and prepare to take the oath. If so, answer I do. Thank you very much. In the event that a commissioner is absent from any such meeting, the commissioner may satisfy the attendance requirement by reviewing the record of that meeting. At this time, I would like to ask if there are any commissioners with statements of eligibility. Commissioner DePetro, I have reviewed the minutes of the last meeting, as I was not present and listened to the recordings on all the cases and workshops. Thank you, Mr. DePetro. Any others? Commissioner Van Renz. I have uh made independent site visits and uh viewed the minutes, reviewed the uh video and the minutes of the relevant meetings to the sites discussed today. Thank you, Mr. Van Renz. Welcome back, everybody. Okay. Um, with that, uh, I would like to ask if there are any announcements this evening. Yes, this is Christina Martin Kosky. I do want to announce that HPC 22-79 uh at 410 North Market Street cannot be heard tonight, and um I'll ask that the commission continue this case to the May 12th hearing. Excellent. Thank you, Ms. Martin Koskey. Any other announcements? Okay, with that, we'll move to the approval of minutes. Um we've have the March 22nd 2022 site visit minutes at the uh 401 Linden Avenue, as well as the March 23rd 2022 site visit minutes for 401 Linden Avenue, and of course the March 24th, 2022 hearing and workshop minutes. Are there any um questions or concerns or a motion to approve the minutes? Commissioner Hart, I make a motion that we approve the minutes. And that's a motion by Commissioner Hart. Is there a second? Commissioner Burns and I second. Seconded by Commissioner Burns. Any discussion on the motion. Okay, all those in favor of approving uh the minutes marked from March 22nd and 23rd site visits and March 24th hearing and workshop minutes. Uh please say aye. Aye. Commissioner Hart, aye. I know I forgot how this works, I apologize. Mr. Van Renz. Commissioner Van Rands, aye.
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