Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - June 22, 2023
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Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - June 22, 2023
The City of Frederick Historic Preservation Commission met on June 22, 2023, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The commission heard several cases, including approvals for a police headquarters addition, a new storefront, and a gas meter, as well as a denial and partial approval for window and door replacements. A workshop covered a porch extension and a new construction project, with feedback provided.
Announcements
- HPC23-460 (607 N. Market Street) requested a continuance, which was granted to the July 13, 2023 hearing.
Approval of Minutes
- The minutes from the June 8, 2023 hearing and workshop were approved unanimously.
Cases to Be Heard (Discussion Items)
HPC23-259 – 100 E. All Saints Street (City of Frederick Police Headquarters)
- Staff Position: The building is a non-contributing resource. The proposed one-story addition and modifications for adaptive reuse are consistent with design guidelines. Staff recommended approval.
- Applicant (Kevin Kneer, architect): Expressed no exceptions to staff report and thanked staff.
- Commission Discussion: No further questions; the proposal had been thoroughly workshopped on June 8.
- Outcome: Motion to approve carried unanimously.
HPC23-395 – 5 W. 2nd Street (New Storefront)
- Staff Position: The proposal to return the storefront to its historic appearance meets guidelines. Staff recommended approval with a condition that door hardware design and size be submitted for staff review.
- Applicant (Leigh Anne Thompson): Provided updated documentation addressing dormer work, shutter hardware, and cornice details. She confirmed no significant changes to other drawings.
- Commission Discussion: Questions about shutters were resolved (painted, not stain). No concerns about signage (not part of application).
- Outcome: Motion to approve with the stated condition carried unanimously.
HPC23-434 – 100 N. Court Street (Install Gas Meter)
- Staff Position: The meter will be placed under a front porch, with very limited visual impact. Staff recommended approval.
- Applicant (Tod Salisbury): Confirmed gas company could install under the porch.
- Commission Discussion: Agreed the location is appropriate and minimally visible.
- Outcome: Motion to approve carried unanimously.
HPC23-460 – 607 N. Market Street (Continuance)
- Outcome: A continuance to the July 13, 2023 hearing was granted unanimously.
HPC23-532 – 106 W. 3rd Street (Replace Windows and Door)
- Staff Position: The original door, transom, and windows appear repairable; replacement not justified. Staff recommended denial of the entire application.
- Applicant (Kathryn Wentzel, owner): Argued door is warped, difficult to lock, and not visible from public way. Windows are drafty and hard to open; contractors are unavailable for repairs. Proposed aluminum-clad wood windows and a new standard-size door (reframed opening).
- Commission Discussion: Split between windows and door. For windows: lack of evidence of irreparable deterioration, and aluminum-clad not allowed under guidelines. For door: security concerns and side location warranted flexibility. Staff noted the application could be separated.
- Outcomes:
- Window replacement (6 windows with aluminum clad): Denied 5–1 (Commissioners Wilson, Saller, Burns, Fitzgerald, Hart in favor of denial; Van Rennes opposed).
- Door replacement (as proposed): Approved 4–2 (Burns, Saller, Van Rennes, Hart in favor; Wilson and Fitzgerald opposed).
Workshop Items
HPC23-543 – 179 W. All Saints Street (Porch Extension)
- Applicant (Brandon Newman): Wanted to extend a two-story side porch to match existing. However, during site visits commissioners discovered the existing porch had been demolished without a permit.
- Staff Comment: The application only covers the extension, not the missing porch. Code enforcement has been notified.
- Commission Guidance: The applicant was advised to work with code enforcement and HPC staff to submit a revised application addressing replacement of the entire porch. The workshop was effectively deferred.
HPC23-547 – 210 E. 2nd Street (Level 2 New Construction – Five-Story Condominium)
- Staff Position: The design deviates from the approved Level 1 in the central recessed bay (fiber cement paneling instead of brick) and fenestration (storefront windows in fiber cement). Staff recommended reintroducing brick, adding punched openings, and a more prominent entry (canopy or double door).
- Applicant (Lance Jaccard and Jim O'Hare): Agreed to correct the material inconsistency (likely return to all brick for the central bay) and consider a canopy for the entry. They noted design constraints from the elevator core.
- Commission Discussion: Concerns about the central bay's lack of prominence, the misalignment of window types with material, and the penthouse setback not being deep enough. Pairing windows in the center was suggested. The historic masonry wall along 2nd Street was noted to hide much of the ground floor.
- Outcome: No vote; workshop feedback only. Applicant will refine design and return for Level 2 approval.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Like to call to order the Thursday, June 22nd, 2023 meeting of the City of 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. 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. I'd like to begin by introducing staff and commissioners who are present this evening. The audience's right will begin with our the HPC's administrative assistant Shannon Piles, and then Commissioner Blair Wilson, Commissioner Eva Saller, myself, Commissioner Robert Van Rennes, Commissioner Paul Fitzgerald, Commissioner Ann Hart, and then Historic Preservation Planners Larissa Lisa Mrochak Murphy and Christina Martinkowski. And joining us just now, Commissioner Elizabeth Burns. Excuse me. And then Assistant City Attorney Michael Frye. 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 an 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. It is presumed 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? All right. If we can um have anyone here this evening who wishes to be heard on any of the cases, please rise and be sworn in. 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 and nothing but the truth? If so, answer I do. Thank you. All right. Staff, are there any announcements this evening? Uh yes, I have one announcement. Uh HPC 23-460 at 607 North Market Street requested a continuance until the July 13th hearing. All right, thank you. All right, moving on to approval of minutes. The minutes from the June 8th, 2023 hearing and workshop. Commissioners, any questions or concerns about those minutes. Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the minutes and the uh workshop minutes and the hearing minutes for the historic preservation commission for June 8, 2023. And I second. All right. We have a motion and a second. Any questions? All right. All in favor, please raise your hand. I pass it unanimously. Thank you. All right, moving on to HPC business. Do we have any business this evening? There's um no items for HBC business or consent. Um or continuances. All right, thank you. All right, moving on to cases, moving on to this evening's cases. Um let's begin with HPC 23-259, 100 East All Saint Street. Ums Martin Koske. Yes, thank you. I'd like to enter the entire staff report into the record. This application.
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