Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - October 27, 2022
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Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Meeting
The Frederick Historic Preservation Commission met on October 27, 2022, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting included a public hearing, consideration of a consent item, a demolition review, a zoning map amendment, a workshop on Prospect Hall's site plan, and legal training. Several items were tabled due to missing public notice signs.
Consent Calendar
- HPC22-234: 3 E. 3rd Street – Rehabilitation by Thomas & Denise Loeper. Approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No citizen comments were offered during the designated period.
Discussion Items
- Announcements: Staff reported that HPC22-769 (18 E. 2nd Street) and HPC22-792 (106 E. Church Street) did not post required public notice signs; therefore, the commission took no action on those items.
- HPC22-935 – 256 S. Carroll Street (Demolition Review): Staff recommended finding the 1920s terracotta tile garage a contributing resource to the Frederick Town Historic District. Applicant Laurie Zook stated the garage was no longer sustainable due to roof failure and deterioration, and she had no immediate replacement plans, though she noted prior approval for 10 units on the property. After discussion, the commission voted unanimously to find the garage a contributing resource.
- HPC22-950ZMA – 1700 Atlas Drive (Historic Preservation Overlay): Staff presented the application for a historic preservation overlay on a relocated circa 1800 mill house. The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval, finding the structure eligible under criterion D1 because it embodies distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, and meets the 50-year age requirement with retained historic integrity.
- Workshop – Prospect Hall, 889 Butterfly Lane: The commission reviewed a revised site plan that reduced parking from 89 to 41 spaces and added a solar canopy. Applicant Michelle Sigler and consultants explained efforts to minimize visual impact by tucking parking away from the front vista. Commissioners expressed support for the revised plan, noting it better preserves the historic setting, and requested additional documentation submitted by October 31, 2022, for the November 10 hearing.
- Legal Training: Assistant City Attorney Scott Waxter provided training on quasi-judicial duties, including the importance of basing decisions on substantial evidence, avoiding ex parte communications, managing conflicts of interest, complying with the Open Meetings Act, and making clear findings for a defensible record.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the October 13, 2022 hearing and workshop minutes.
- Approved consent item HPC22-234.
- Determined the garage at 256 S. Carroll Street is a contributing resource.
- Recommended approval of the historic preservation overlay for 1700 Atlas Drive.
- No action taken on HPC22-769 and HPC22-792 due to missing signs.
- Workshop on Prospect Hall continued; formal hearing scheduled for November 10, 2022.
Meeting Transcript
Order the October 27th, 2022 meeting of the Frederick Historic Preservation Commission. 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. Frederick City Historic Preservation Commission uses the guidelines adopted by the mayor and the board of Alderman 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. I'd like to begin with uh introductions. Uh over on my left on the audience's right, sitting far over is our administrative assistant Shannon Piles, and then uh Commissioners Elizabeth Burns, Eva Saller, Paul Fitzgerald. I am uh Vice Chair Robert Van Rennes, and then uh excuse me, Commissioner Ann Hart. I apologize for my voice. I am losing my voice. I've been talking all day, and if it goes, I will do my best to keep up for the rest of the evening. And then further over to my right to the audience's left, we have uh historic preservation planners Lisa Mrochik Murphy, Christina Martinkowski, and Assistant City Attorney Scott Waxter, and our Alderman and Liaison, Donica Zamchek. All applicants and members of the public who wish to speak before the commission this evening, please rise. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that this the responses given and statements made in this hearing before the Historic Preservation Commission will be the whole truth and nothing but the truth? If so, answer I do. Thank you. It is the purpose of the Historic Preservation Commission to safeguard the historical and cultural heritage of the City of Frederick by preserving sites, structures, or districts that reflect elements of cultural, social, economic, political, archaeological, or architectural history to stabilize and improve property values of such sites, structures or districts, to foster civic beauty, to strengthen the local economy, and to promote the preservation and appreciation of such sites, such sites, structures and districts for the education and welfare of the residents of the City of Frederick. In order to be eligible to vote on an application, Commissioner must have made the required site visit and attended any and all meetings at which an application was discussed. In the event that a commissioner is absent from any such meeting, the commissioner may satisfy the attendance requirement by viewing the record of that meeting. It is presumed that if a commissioner makes no statement at this time that they have done so and are prepared to vote on the agenda this evening. That being said, are there any commissioners with statements of eligibility? Seeing not at this time, I will ask if the city staff has any announcements this evening. Um announcement pertaining to items three and four on the agenda. That's HPC 22769 at 188nd Street and HPC 22792 at 106 Church Street. Um both of those applications did not post the public notice sign as required, and so the commission will not be taking any action on those tonight. Thank you. Thank you. Let's move on to approval of minutes from previous meeting. Um the minutes from the October 13th, 2022 hearing workshop minutes. Or I'm sorry. That's okay. Uh before we move on, does any does anyone in the audience have any comments or questions about the minutes from the last meeting? All right. Thank you. Okay. I move to approve the hearing minutes and the workshop minutes from the October 13, 2022 hearing and workshop of the Historic Preservation Commission. Do I have a second? I second. All right. Any questions or comments? All in favor, please raise your hand. All right, that passes unanimously. Thank you. All right. Moving on to HPC business. And it looks like we have no other specific business this evening. So moving on to the consent items. HPC 22-2343 East Third Street. Ms. Murphy.
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