Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Hearing & Workshop - January 12, 2023
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Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Hearing & Workshop - January 12, 2023
The Frederick Historic Preservation Commission met on January 12, 2023, at 6:00 PM in City Hall to conduct a public hearing and workshop. The Commission considered several applications involving demolition, additions, and rehabilitation of historic properties, and made decisions on designations and approvals.
Commission Announcements
- Staff announced vacancies on the Commission (one full-time and one alternate) and encouraged applications.
- A tax credit workshop hosted by the city, Frederick County, and Maryland Historical Trust will be held on January 25, 2023, at 7:00 PM.
- Commissioner Hart was authorized to represent the Commission at the Maryland Association of Historic District Commission annual meeting on January 28, 2023.
Consent Calendar
- The Commission unanimously approved the hearing and workshop minutes from December 8, 2022.
- The administrative approval report for December 2022, which included eight administrative approvals, was entered into the record.
Discussion Items
1. Demolition Review – 220 N. East Street (HPC22-1116DR) Staff recommended making an application to designate the property, noting its history as an early municipal electric plant. The property owner, Mr. Welker, expressed openness to designation but requested flexibility for the non-historic portions of the site. After discussion, the Commission unanimously voted to make an application to designate the entire property for further evaluation.
2. Demolition Review – 720 N. East Street (HPC22-1140DR) Staff found the three structures (a frame dwelling, an outbuilding, and a garage) did not meet criteria for individual historic designation. No applicant representative was present. The Commission unanimously voted not to make an application to designate the structures.
3. Partial Demolition – 230 E. 7th Street (HPC22-1075) Applicant Brian Bradfield (Catworks Design) proposed partial demolition of a rear stoop, deck, and basement areaway of a circa 1925 twin dwelling. Staff noted these elements were altered and not character-defining. The Commission unanimously approved the application, subject to approval of a replacement plan.
4. Addition – 230 E. 7th Street (HPC22-1077) Bradfield proposed a two-story frame addition at the rear of the same property. Staff supported the application noting the modest size, rear location, and appropriate materials (fiber cement siding, composite decking). The Commission unanimously approved the application.
5. Partial Demolition – 319 E. 3rd Street (HPC22-1088) – Public Hearing Portion Applicant Clyde Berger (architect for David & Wanda Ford) sought demolition of a wood frame garage/former stable. Staff recommended the structure be considered a contributing resource but not of unusual importance. After discussion, the Commission voted 4-1 (Commissioner Fitzgerald opposed) to find the structure as a contributing resource to the historic district but not of unusual importance. The case was continued to the workshop for further discussion on structural condition.
6. Rehabilitation – 68 E. South Street (HPC22-1115) Owner Mary Anne Wampler sought post-installation approval for a new fiberglass door, storm door, and wood transom on a non-contributing building constructed in 1993. Staff supported the storm door and transom but not the fiberglass door due to its faux-wood texture. The Commission voted 4-1 to approve the storm door and transom and to grant an exception to the guidelines for the fiberglass door, finding it visually acceptable for the new building.
7. Workshop: Rehabilitation – 216 E. Patrick Street (HPC22-602) – (Third Workshop) Applicant Brian Bradfield and William Randall (AC LLC) proposed replacing six upper-level glass block windows on the west elevation with aluminum-clad wood six-over-six double-hung windows. The Commission discussed the proposal, with several members expressing support for the design as a compromise for adaptive reuse. No formal vote was taken; the application will proceed to a public hearing.
8. Workshop: Demolition – 319 E. 3rd Street (HPC22-1088) – Structural Discussion Following the hearing determination, the workshop focused on the structural condition of the garage. Applicant Berger presented a structural engineer’s report indicating severe deterioration, lack of foundation, and substandard construction. Commissioners expressed concern about the rarity of such outbuildings but acknowledged the extreme structural issues. Staff noted that the threshold for demolition of a contributing resource could be met if the structure poses an imminent danger to public safety. The Commission requested additional documentation of the engineer’s qualifications. The application is scheduled for a public hearing on January 26, 2023.
Key Outcomes
- Approved minutes and administrative report (unanimous).
- Voted to initiate designation application for 220 N. East Street (unanimous).
- Voted not to designate 720 N. East Street (unanimous).
- Approved partial demolition at 230 E. 7th Street (unanimous).
- Approved addition at 230 E. 7th Street (unanimous).
- Designated the garage at 319 E. 3rd Street as a contributing resource (4-1).
- Approved storm door and transom, and granted exception for fiberglass door at 68 E. South Street (4-1).
- Workshop provided guidance on 216 E. Patrick Street rehabilitation; formal application expected.
- Workshop discussed 319 E. 3rd Street demolition; applicant to provide engineer qualifications; hearing scheduled for January 26, 2023.
Meeting Transcript
I would like to call to order the January 12th, 2023 hearing of the City of Frederick Historic Preservation Commission. Listening devices are available. If anyone would like one, please see Ms. Piles here to your far right. 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 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 HPC Administrative Assistant, Miss Shannon Piles. This evening we have Commissioners Elizabeth Burns, Paul Fitzgerald, myself Carrie Alby, and Rob Van Renz and Miss Ann Hart. And with us this evening are historic preservation planners Lisa Morazic Murphy and Christina Martin Koskey and Assistant City Attorney Mr. Scott Waxter. All applicants and authorized agents and members of the public who wish to speak tonight must be sworn in. Please stand if you are able. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the responses given and statements made in this hearing before the Historic Preservation Commission will be the whole truth? If so, please answer I do. Thank you very much. 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, 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, a commissioner must have made the required site visit and attended any and all meetings at which such application was discussed. 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, are there any statements of eligibility from the commissioners? Thank you, Commissioner Burns. Moving on to announcements, uh Miss Murphy. Okay, a few announcements. Um the first is the commissioner has um the commission has some vacancies. Uh we have there's a full-time position vacancy and a alternate member vacancy. Um, so we are looking for members to apply to be on the commission. If you have a demonstrated special interest in historic preservation at a minimum, I would encourage you to go online uh to the city website and under the I Want To tab. You can go to that and there is a link to apply for commission vacancies. If you have any questions about what's involved in being the on the Historic Preservation Commission, feel free to call the planning department or send one of us an email. Um next, we are the city is co-hosting a tax credit workshop on January 25th at 7 o'clock in room C at the municipal office annex. We're co-hosting this with Frederick County and the Maryland Historical Trust so that the public can come and learn about all the various tax credit programs that are available for the rehabilitation of historic properties. And that uh as far as the city program goes, the city property tax credit applications for work completed in 2022 are going to be due April 1st of this year. And then the last announcement is the Maryland Association of Historic District Commission is holding their annual meeting on January 28th, and they have requested that commissioners send a member representative to the meeting where they will be voting on board members. And I sent that information around to the commissioners. I believe Commissioner Hart has indicated that she is interested in attending and representing the commission at that meeting. So we would request that the vote of the commission to authorize her to take on that role. And that's as far. That's all we have for announcements. Excellent. Thank you, Ms. Murphy. Is there a second? Second. Seconded. All those in favor, please raise your hand. And that is unanimous. Thank you, Ms.
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