Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - October 12, 2023
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Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - October 12, 2023
The City of Frederick Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) met on October 12, 2023, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting included a public hearing, approvals of minutes and administrative reports, adoption of the 2024 schedule, election of a vice chair, three demolition reviews for properties on West Patrick Street, a consent agenda, and a case for partial demolition at 15 East 5th Street, followed by a workshop on an addition for the same property. All commissioners were present.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the September 28, 2023, hearing were approved unanimously.
- Administrative Approval Report: The report for September 2023, covering 10 administrative approvals, was approved unanimously.
- Approval of Draft 2024 HPC Schedule: The draft schedule for 2024, following standard meeting dates, was approved unanimously.
HPC Business
- Election of Vice Chair: Commissioner Eva Saller was nominated and unanimously elected as Vice Chair.
Public Comments & Testimony
- A neighbor spoke regarding the demolition review for 1431 West Patrick Street, agreeing with staff that the structure is not architecturally significant, but expressed personal concern about the reuse of materials. No other public comments were made.
Discussion Items
- Three Demolition Reviews (1431, 1433, 1435 West Patrick Street): Staff presented each property as a late colonial revival or Cape Cod brick dwelling (circa 1948–1953) originally part of the Elmwood Farm subdivision. Staff found no historical or architectural significance and recommended not designating them for the Historic Preservation Overlay. The commission voted unanimously on each case to not make an application for designation.
- HPC23-1024 – Partial Demolition at 15 East 5th Street: The application requested partial demolition of rear frame additions to a mid-19th century brick dwelling. Staff found the resource non-contributing due to extensive alterations (aluminum siding, window replacement, etc.). The applicant’s agent, Brian Bradfield, supported the finding. After discussion, Commissioner Fitzgerald abstained, and the commission voted 4-0-1 to find the resource non-contributing. They then voted unanimously to approve the partial demolition, subject to approval of a replacement plan.
Workshop Item
- HPC23-1025 – Addition at 15 East 5th Street: This item was the replacement plan for the approved demolition, proposing a two-story frame addition at the rear with fiber cement siding, compatible windows, and metal roofing. The applicant detailed plans to retain the existing footprint, align floor levels, and enlarge one window for egress. Commissioners expressed satisfaction with the design and agreed to place the item on a future consent agenda.
Key Outcomes
- 1431, 1433, 1435 West Patrick Street: Each property was found not to meet criteria for historic designation; motions to not designate passed unanimously.
- 15 East 5th Street (HPC23-1024): Resource found non-contributing (4-0-1); partial demolition approved subject to replacement plan (unanimous).
- 15 East 5th Street (HPC23-1025): Workshop discussion concluded with consensus to approve via consent agenda at a future meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I'd like to call to order the Thursday, October 12th, 2023 session 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 board of Alderman and the Secretary of Interior Standards for the rehabilitation published by the U.S. Department of Interior National Park Service. And these guidelines are made a part of each and every case case. All cases were duly advertised in the Frederick News Post in accordance with Section 301 of the Land Management Code. Let's begin with introductions. On my left, the audience is right. We have the HPC's very capable administrative assistant, Shannon Piles. We have Commissioner Blair Wilson, Commissioner Eva Saller, myself, Commissioner Robert Van Rennes, Commissioner Paul Fitzgerald, and Commissioner Ann Hart. And then Historic Preservation Planners Lisa Mot Lisa Mrochik Murphy, Assistant City Attorney Michael Fry. Anyone who has business before the Commission this evening, please rise and be sworn in. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the response is 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. Please be seated. 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 sit residents of the City of Frederick. In order to be able to, 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. That being said, are there any commissioners with statements of eligibility? All right, moving on. So that application is not need any uh review tonight. Thank you. All right. Always glad to hear of that. Okay, moving on to uh approval of minutes. Uh the minutes for September 28th, 2023 hearing. Commissioners, any um concerns or uh requests for corrections regarding those minutes. Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the minutes for HBC Commission hearing on September 28th for 2023. All right. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor, please raise your hand. All right, that passes unanimously. Thank you. Moving on to HPC business. Um administrative and Ministry of Approval Report. Okay. I'd just like to enter the Ministry of Approval report for the months of month of September into the record and note that we had 10 approvals last month. Thank you. All right. Does that does that include HPC 23792 or not? Just curious. Or that be included in October. The lead that was that fell under the October. I think that approval order was issued in October. So it'll be covered in the next one. That's fine.
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