Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - February 22, 2024
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Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - February 22, 2024
The Frederick Historic Preservation Commission held a hearing and workshop on February 22, 2024, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting covered four public hearing cases and two workshop items. A tie vote on the contributing status of 77 S. Market Street led to a continuance, while partial demolition at 71 S. Market Street and a historic marker at 158-160 W. All Saints Street were approved. Two workshop items were continued to March 14, 2024.
Consent Calendar
- HPC24-117 (55 E. Patrick Street, window replacement) was removed from the consent agenda because public notice requirements were not met; it will be heard on March 14, 2024.
- Minutes from the February 8, 2024 hearing, workshop, and site visit were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- 77 S. Market Street (HPC23-1262): John Dronberg (past chief, United Fire Company) expressed concerns about the impact of demolition and future construction on the fire company’s operations, historic status, site lines, and parking. He noted the fire company has been at its location since 1845 and is considered one of the longest-serving fire companies in its original building in the U.S. Attorney Stephen Holsinger (representing the fire company) argued that the building should be considered a contributing resource, citing a prior HPC decision on a nearby garage, and raised concerns about the replacement plan towering over the fire station and affecting easement parking.
- 216 E. Patrick Street (HPC24-55): Nicholas Rodine, a citizen, commented on the broader redevelopment project involving the former News-Post and FOE buildings, expressing skepticism about taxpayer funding and the progress compared to the Visitation Academy project. He did not oppose the partial demolition itself.
Discussion Items
HPC23-1262 – 77 S. Market Street (Full Demolition) Staff recommended the building be found non-contributing due to extensive alterations. The applicant (Andrew Welker, Clear Sail Associates) agreed, noting the facade was replaced less than 50 years ago. The fire company representatives opposed, arguing the building retains historic character and is integral to the streetscape. Commissioners Wilson and Hart moved to find the building contributing; Commissioners Van Rennes and Fitzgerald opposed. The motion failed 2-2. A subsequent motion to continue the case to March 14, 2024 carried 3-1 (Van Rennes, Fitzgerald, Hart in favor; Wilson opposed).
HPC24-55 – 216 E. Patrick Street (Selective Demolition) Staff recommended the building (former Fraternal Order of Eagles) be found a contributing resource. The applicant (Brian Bradfield) agreed. The Commission unanimously found the building contributing. Per the Land Management Code, no action on demolition could be taken at this hearing; the second vote will occur at the next meeting (March 14, 2024).
HPC24-120 – 71 S. Market Street (Demolition of Brick Wall and Gabled Entry) Staff recommended the wall and entry be found non-contributing resources. The applicant (Andrew Welker) noted the gabled entry was added for egress and the wall for screening, both less than 50 years old. The Commission unanimously found the structures non-contributing. A subsequent motion to approve demolition, conditioned upon HPC approval of a replacement plan and associated permit, passed unanimously.
HPC24-122 – 158-160 W. All Saints Street (Historic Marker Installation) Staff recommended approval of a freestanding historic marker on the sidewalk, part of a larger project to interpret African American history before emancipation. No public comments were received. The Commission unanimously approved the application as proposed.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Item: HPC24-117 continued to March 14, 2024.
- 77 S. Market Street: Continued to March 14, 2024 hearing for further deliberation on contributing/non-contributing status.
- 216 E. Patrick Street: Found contributing; demolition vote deferred to March 14, 2024.
- 71 S. Market Street: Demolition approved (non-contributing finding) contingent on replacement plan approval.
- 158-160 W. All Saints Street: Historic marker approved.
- Workshop Items: HPC23-1260 (69 S. Market Street) and HPC24-071 (31 W. Patrick Street) were continued to the March 14, 2024 workshop due to potential fire alarm interruption and absence of recording.
- All votes were unanimous unless noted.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the Thursday, February 22nd, 2024, City of Frederick Historic Preservation Commission meeting hearing and workshop. The technical qualifications of the Commission and 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. Is the microphone picking up okay? All right. Thank you. 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 with introductions. Over on my uh over on my left, the audience's right, filling in for our administrative assistant, who we is that position is currently uh vacant is the manager of community planning and urban design, Brandon Mark. Uh Commissioner Blair Wilson, myself, Commissioner Robert Van Rennes. We could fix that feed, thank you. Uh Commissioner Paul Fitzgerald, Commissioner Ann Hart, Historic Preservation Planners Christina Martin Koske, and Assistant City Attorney Iris Anon and our Aldermanic liaison, Donica Zamchek. Everyone who has business before the Commission this evening or wishes to be heard, 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. 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 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. Regarding cross-examination, the commission will proceed generally in the following manner. All persons who wish to speak or give testimony or who wish to cross-examine a witness on any case must be sworn in. Only sworn testimony may be considered by the commission in rendering its decision. You must give your full name and address prior to testifying or cross-examining. Reasonable cross-examination of witnesses is permitted as required by law. If you want to cross-examine a witness, please ask to be recognized by the chair prior to the time the witness has been dismissed. Once the witness is dismissed, any cross-examination of that witness will be deemed waived. Only one opportunity to cross-examine each single witness is available for each person wishing to ask cross-examination questions. When cross-examining a witness, you may only ask questions that are relevant to the witnesses' testimony. Cross-examination must be in the form of questions, must be brief, and must be related to the testimony of the witness. Cross-examination may not be repetitive of questions previously asked or testimony already provided. The question may not be preceded or accompanied by statements or speeches or be argumentative. The chair may make such rulings as may be necessary to conduct the hearing in an efficient and orderly manner. The chair may limit testimony and cross-examination, which is cumulative, repetitive, or which is irrelevant or immaterial. The chair has decided not to set a time limit on cross-examination at this time. Should the length or nature of the cross-examination during these proceedings become unreasonable. All right. That being said, um city staff. Do we have any announcements this evening? Yes, I do have uh two items to bring up. One, the historic preservation tax credit applications are due April 1st. If there's any questions, uh please call the planning department. Also, I want to note that HPC 24-177 at 55 East Patrick Street, which is currently on the consent agenda, cannot be heard tonight. They did not meet the public notice requirements, and this case will be heard on the March uh 14th hearing agenda. No action can be taken tonight. Is that 117? HPC 24-117, yes. All right. Thank you.
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