Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Summary – August 8, 2024
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Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Summary – August 8, 2024
The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) of Frederick, Maryland, met on August 8, 2024, at 6:00 PM in City Hall. The meeting covered several demolition review requests, an administrative approval report, and a level one review of a proposed infill project. The commission approved minutes with amendments, approved administrative reports, and made unanimous decisions on all demolition review cases, including a continuance for one property. The main case, HPC24-518 at 107 S. East Street, received unanimous approval to proceed to level two review.
Consent Calendar
- No consent items were presented at this meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- A representative from the Frederick Lodge No. 371 of the Loyal Order of the Moose (owner of 828 E. Patrick Street) asked for clarification regarding the staff recommendation not to pursue historic designation. Staff explained that while the lodge has community significance, the building itself does not meet high significance criteria for designation. The representative expressed relief and thanked the commission.
- No public comments were made regarding the demolition review for 1611 W. 7th Street (partial demolition) or for the continuation of 301 Grove Boulevard.
- For the 107 S. East Street project, one public comment letter was received from Jake Thurman of 814 N. Market Street, which was noted by staff as in favor of the project. The applicant, Ed Wormald of Wormald Development Company, highlighted that this was the only letter received and that it strongly supported the project, recognizing the need for residential dwellings downtown.
Discussion Items
- Administrative Approval Report: Staff reported that 23 projects were reviewed and approved administratively in July 2024. The report was entered into the record.
- HPC24-648DR – 828 E. Patrick Street (Demolition Review): Staff recommended not pursuing historic designation for the Frederick Lodge No. 371 building, constructed circa 1971, noting it is not individually eligible despite some community significance. The commission unanimously voted not to pursue designation, allowing demolition to proceed.
- HPC24-657DR – 301 Grove Boulevard (Demolition Review): The applicant requested a continuance to the September 12, 2024, HPC meeting. The commission unanimously approved the continuance.
- HPC24-676DR – 1611 W. 7th Street (Partial Demolition Review): Staff recommended not pursuing designation for the circa 1955 dwelling, as it does not meet criteria for significance. The commission unanimously voted not to pursue designation, allowing the partial demolition (rear wall and main roof) to proceed.
- HPC24-518 – 107 S. East Street (Level 1 Infill Review): This is a proposed up to seven-story infill project along Carroll Creek. Staff presented a detailed report noting that the design evolved through workshops to address commission concerns about massing, height, and scale. The project will require a phase one archaeological assessment before site plan approval. The commission praised the applicant's thorough response and approved the level one review, with a caution to better define rooftop mechanical equipment screening during level two review.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes Approved: The minutes from July 25, 2024, were approved unanimously with minor amendments.
- HPC24-648DR – 828 E. Patrick Street: Unanimous vote to not pursue historic designation; demolition certificate to be issued.
- HPC24-657DR – 301 Grove Boulevard: Unanimous vote to continue to September 12, 2024.
- HPC24-676DR – 1611 W. 7th Street: Unanimous vote to not pursue historic designation; partial demolition allowed.
- HPC24-518 – 107 S. East Street: Unanimous vote to approve level one review and proceed to level two review.
- Next Steps: For 107 S. East Street, the applicant must complete a phase one archaeological assessment before site plan approval. The commission will review final details (texture, openings, lighting, landscaping, etc.) during level two review.
Meeting Transcript
I'm calling to order the August 8th, 2024 Historic Preservation Commission hearing. 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's 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'll start with introductions. We have sorry. And then we have historic preservation planners, Christina Martinkowski, and Sarah Hoffeditz, Assistant City Attorney Iris Anon, and our Aldermanic Liaison is missing for tonight. A commissioner must first have made the required site visit and attended any and all meetings at which such an application was discussed. In the event a commissioner is absent from any such meeting, a commissioner may satisfy the attendance requirement by reviewing a record of that meeting. It is presumed that if a commissioner makes no statement at this time, 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? Seeing none, we can move forward to announcements. Do we have announcements this evening? Yes, I do have one announcement. The HPC was scheduled to consider a request for demolition review for 301 Grove Boulevard, HPC 24-657 DR. We did receive a written request to continue that to a future meeting on September 12th. So we'll make a vote on that when that case is called. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Moving on to the approval of minutes. Yes, ma'am. I'm prepared to make a motion with the following modifications, please. Under announcement fourth sentence in the HPC did not vote. We simply moved because the applicant had not had the proper signage posted. So it was not a continuance. We simply moved it. And then on this third page, item five. Okay. I'll second. Thank you. All in favor of approving with those amendments. And that's unanimous. Thank you. Moving on to HPC business for tonight. Number one is the administrative approval report. Yes, I would like to enter the entire administrative approval report into the record and note that 23 projects were reviewed and approved administratively in the month of July. Thank you. Thank you. The first um the first case here, we have a demolition review, HPC 24-648 DR request for demolition review at 828 East Patrick Street. Thank you. I'd like to enter the entire memo into the record. This uh request for demolition review was submitted for section 423A of the land management code for Frederick Lodge number 371 of the loyal excuse me. Technical issues. A request for demolition review was submitted for Section 423A, the land management code for Frederick Lodge number 371 of the loyal order of the Moose Building at 828 East Patrick Street. Planning staff has determined that the structure is in whole or in part 50 years of age or older. And based on this assessment, the historic preservation commission is charged with determining if the property is potentially eligible for historic designation. The memo goes on to uh identify the the potential or or the crit rather uh identifies the criteria uh for eligibility. Um but I do want to just move directly on to the historic context and evaluation. The lodge at 828 East Patrick Street is located outside the city's historic preservation overlay zone.
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