Historic Preservation Commission Hearing and Workshop - December 14, 2023
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Historic Preservation Commission Hearing and Workshop - December 14, 2023
The Frederick Historic Preservation Commission met on December 14, 2023, at 6:00 PM in a public hearing and workshop session. The commission heard four applications for work on historic properties, approved three with conditions, and discussed one workshop item. The meeting also included the approval of minutes and an administrative report.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes from the November 9, 2023 hearing/workshop and November 21, 2023 special hearing were approved unanimously.
- Staff reported 20 administrative approvals issued in November 2023.
Cases to Be Heard
- HPC23-1125 (103 W. 3rd Street): Approved unanimously. Applicant James Merry proposed a spiral aluminum staircase on the rear porch for exterior access. Staff noted minimal impact on historic fabric, and the porch had been rebuilt previously.
- HPC23-1136 (337 S. Market Street): Approved unanimously with conditions. Applicant Bruce Serio proposed extensive rehabilitation. Commission discussed window replacement, front door style, siding, and porch depth. The 10-foot covered porch was approved despite staff's initial recommendation of 6 feet, citing neighboring precedents. Conditions included use of true wood windows with simulated divided lights, replacement door specifications, traditional wood or HardiePlank siding, and submission of product literature.
- HPC23-1184 (191 W. All Saints Street): Approved 3-1 with conditions. Applicant Sam Oztan, agent for George Cokinos, sought to add ground-floor railings for tenant privacy and security. Commissioner Fitzgerald opposed, citing lack of historical evidence. Approved with requirement for access gates on the ground-floor porch.
- HPC23-1267 (101 E. 4th Street): Approved unanimously with conditions. Applicant Jessica Underwood sought paint removal from brick to correct overspray from HVAC line painting. Approved with requirement for test patch and standard pressure water rinse.
Workshop Agenda
- HPC23-1272 (179 W. All Saints Street): Workshop discussion only. Applicant Brandon Newman requested approval for a new rear basement entrance and window replacement. Commissioners expressed concern over lack of detail, impact on historic fabric, and the discovery that a basement was created without prior HPC review. Staff requested comprehensive documentation, including window schedule, scope of work, and structural details. Applicant was encouraged to resubmit with complete information.
Key Outcomes
- Approved minutes and administrative report unanimously.
- Approved three rehabilitation applications with conditions and one paint removal application.
- Voted 3-1 to approve the ground-floor railing at 191 W. All Saints, with Commissioner Fitzgerald opposing.
- Directed applicant for 179 W. All Saints to submit a complete application with detailed plans and scope of work for further review.
Public Comments
- No public comments were made during the hearing.
Announcements
- No announcements from staff.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I'd like to call order the Thursday, December 14th, 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 the board of Alderman and the Secretary of 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. Introductions this evening. On my left, the audience's right, we have the HPC's able administrative assistant Shannon Piles, uh, Commissioner Blair Wilson, myself, Commissioner Robert Van Rennes, Commissioner Paul Fitzgerald, Commissioner Ann Hart, and over to my far right, the audience's far left is Assistant City Attorney Michael Frye. Well, anyone who has business before the commission this evening, 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. Please be seated. I do. It is the purpose of the Historic Preservation Commission to safeguard the historic and historical and cultural heritage of the City of Frederick by preserving sites, structures, or districts that reflect the 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? With that, I will ask if the city staff has any announcements this evening. This is Christina Martin Kosky and I have no announcements. All right. Moving on. Approval of minutes. The uh minutes from the November 9th, 2023 hearing and workshop and the November 21st, 2023 special hearing. Commissioners, any concerns about those meeting, about those minutes or request for changes to those minutes. All right. Seeing none. Do I have a move to accept those minutes? Yes, sir. I move to accept both the November 9th hearing and workshop minutes as well as the special hearing minutes from November 21st. I'll second that. All right. Any further discussion. Seeing none, all in favor, please raise your hand. All right, that passes unanimously. Thank you. Any consent items this evening. I see none on the agenda. So moving on. Any continuances. Looks like none. Oh. Administrative report. Oh, I'm sorry. HPC business. I thank you. I looked right past that. The administrative approval report. Ms.
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