Historic Preservation Commission Hearing and Workshop - April 13, 2023
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Historic Preservation Commission Hearing and Workshop - April 13, 2023
The City of Frederick Historic Preservation Commission met on April 13, 2023, at 6:00 PM at City Hall in a combined public hearing and workshop session. Chair Robert Van Rens presided over a meeting that included four public hearing cases, a workshop agenda item, and an administrative report. Commissioners present included Paul Fitzgerald, Anne Hart, Iva Saller, and others. Staff presented findings and recommendations for each agenda item.
Consent Calendar
- No consent items were presented.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public testified on the four hearing cases.
- During the workshop, Peter Samuel (102 West 3rd Street) spoke in favor of requiring a 12-foot setback from the northern property line for the proposed garage at 105 West 2nd Street, arguing it would allow future shared parking access for neighboring landlocked lots. No other public testimony was given.
Discussion Items
- HPC23-113 – 148 B&O Avenue (Partial Demolition): Staff recommended approval of the removal of a deteriorated wood-frame rear addition, conditioned on an approved replacement plan. The addition had lost historic integrity and posed structural issues. The commission unanimously approved the motion.
- HPC23-147 – 25 E. South Street (Masonry Repairs): Staff recommended approval for after-the-fact parging of a stone wall, noting the work was inconsistent with guidelines but that deviation was appropriate because the streetscape integrity was uncompromised and the resource remained contributing. The commission unanimously approved with a finding of deviation.
- HPC23-230 – 419 W. South Street (Chain Link Fence): The Frederick Rescue Mission sought to reinstall 148 linear feet of 72-inch galvanized chain link fence. Staff found it appropriate for an institutional site and unanimously approved the application.
- HPC23-240 – 28 W. South Street (Garage Door Replacement): The applicant proposed a metal overhead door with embossed panels that imitated wood paneling. Staff recommended approval only if the door had a flush panel or other non-imitative style. The applicant indicated a preference for embossed panels but accepted a conditional approval. The commission unanimously approved the motion requiring a non-imitative design.
- Workshop – HPC23-17 – 105 W. 2nd Street (New Construction Garage): The applicant presented a revised one-story garage design with a reduced height (12 ft 8.5 in) and four bays, addressing earlier commission concerns. Staff noted compatibility with the streetscape. Commissioners praised the revisions and discussed details such as roof seams, door style, light fixture scale, and painting of the wood doors. No vote was taken; the item was continued to the April 27, 2023 hearing.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the March 23, 2023 hearing and workshop minutes (unanimous).
- Unanimously approved HPC23-113 (148 B&O Avenue) conditioned on an approved replacement plan.
- Unanimously approved HPC23-147 (25 E. South Street) with a formal deviation finding from the guidelines.
- Unanimously approved HPC23-230 (419 W. South Street) as proposed.
- Unanimously approved HPC23-240 (28 W. South Street) with the condition that the garage door be a smooth, non-imitative design (flush panel or other style approved by staff).
- HPC23-17 (105 W. 2nd Street) workshop concluded; the applicant was directed to submit revised drawings by April 17, 2023, for the April 27, 2023 public hearing.
- Administrative note: 16 administrative approvals were processed in March 2023.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I would like to call to order the April 13th, 2023 hearing of the City of Frederick Historic Preservation Commission. Should you require a listening device, please sue Ms. Piles to your 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 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. At this time, I would like to introduce the Commissioners and City staff. To your right, we have HPC Administrative Assistant, Ms. Shannon Piles, and then Commissioners Blair Wilson, Miss Elizabeth Burns, glad you can make it. Commissioner Paul Fitzgerald, myself, Commissioner Carrie Alby, Commissioner Rob Van Rennes, Commissioner Ann Hart, and Historic Preservation Planners, Miss Lisa Morazick Murphy and Christina Martin Koske, City of Frederick Staff representatives, and Mr. Michael Fry, Assistant City Attorney. 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. 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, 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 that 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. In the absence of a statement of eligibility from a commissioner, it will be assumed that they have met the requirements to vote. That being said, are there any commissioners with statements of eligibility? Okay, seeing none, we'll move on to the agenda. Do we have any announcements this evening? No announcements. Thank you, ma'am. Moving on to the approval of minutes, the March 23rd, 2023 hearing and workshop minutes. Are there any comments or requests for revisions to be made from the commissioners? Or is there a motion? I move that the Historic Preservation Commission approve the March 23rd, 2023 hearing and workshop minutes. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Commissioner Van Rennes. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, please raise your hand. And that is unanimous. The motion carries. Moving on to HPC business. Uh Ms. Murphy. I'd like to enter that into the record and just note that we had 16 administrative approval cases for the month of March. Thank you. Excellent. Thank you, Ms. Murphy. We have no consent items this evening, and to my knowledge, we have no continuances. Um we will move on to the cases to be heard. Beginning with HPC 23-113, the property at 148 BNO Avenue. Is the applicant present? And if you will please introduce yourself.
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