Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Hearing & Workshop - August 22, 2024
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Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Hearing & Workshop
The Frederick Historic Preservation Commission met on August 22, 2024, at 6:00 PM at City Hall to consider several applications including a consent item, an ADA ramp installation, and a partial demolition and addition project. The meeting also included a workshop for a proposed rear addition at 136 W. 4th Street.
Consent Calendar
- HPC24-693 – 100 E. All Saints Street (City of Frederick rehabilitation): Approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke.
Discussion Items
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes from August 8, 2024, were approved unanimously.
- HPC24-684 – 5 E. 2nd Street (ADA ramp with railing): Applicant Peter Brehm proposed installing an ADA ramp and railing at the front of the building. Staff recommended approval, noting the railing would not be anchored into the facade. The commission approved the application unanimously, with a condition that the railing be painted matte black.
- HPC24-695 – 136 W. 4th Street (Partial demolition): Commissioner Anne Hart recused herself. Staff presented that the property is a contributing resource to the Fredericktown Historic District. The commission voted unanimously to find the resource as contributing, which requires a subsequent hearing before a demolition decision can be made.
Workshop – HPC24-695 & HPC24-696 (Demolition and Addition)
- The commission held a workshop on the proposed partial demolition of approximately 225 square feet of roof at the rear and a new two-story addition to accommodate an accessible bathroom on the second floor for the homeowner to age in place. The applicant, Brian Bradfield, explained the interior layout constraints and the need for alterations. Key design elements discussed:
- New opening in the rear wall to connect second floor to new addition.
- Replacement of a rear window with a narrower unit to accommodate the new wall.
- A new roof sloping front-to-back to allow adequate headroom.
- A rear porch with a spiral staircase for secondary egress.
- Materials: HardiePlank siding, wood windows (one-over-one), composite decking with traditional tongue-and-groove profile, painted trim.
- Staff and commissioners provided feedback on materials, color, and detailing. The applicant plans to resubmit refined drawings and product specifications for the next hearing on September 12 or 26, 2024.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes approved (unanimous).
- Consent agenda HPC24-693 approved (unanimous).
- HPC24-684 approved (unanimous) with condition that railing be matte black.
- HPC24-695 determined contributing resource (unanimous); demolition decision deferred to subsequent hearing.
- The workshop concluded with direction for the applicant to provide additional material samples and clarifications for final review.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the August 22nd, 2024, Frederick City Historic Preservation Commission hearing and workshop. The technical qualification 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 the board of Alderman and the City of 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. To begin with introductions, on my left, the audience's right is the HPC administrative assistant, Tansi Creighton, and then Commissioner Paul Fitzgerald, Commissioner Eva Soller, I'm Commissioner Robert Van Rennes, and Commissioner Anne Hart. And we have over on my right, the audience's left. And Assistant City Attorney Iris Anand. Everyone who has business before the HPC or wishes to testify or otherwise 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. All right. 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 the 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? Mr. Chairman, I have a statement of eligibility. When we reach cases to be heard, HPC 24-695, I will be recusing myself. All right, thank you. Any others? All right, moving on. Um staff, do we have any announcements this evening? No announcements. All right. Let's go on to approval of the minutes. Um the minutes from August 8th, 2024. Uh is there anyone who has any questions or concerns regarding these minutes? Anything you'd like to see added or corrected. Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the hearing minutes for August 8th, 2024. All right. And I will second. Right. Any further discussion? All in favor, please raise your hands. All right, that passes unanimously. Thank you. Moving on to HPC business. Do we have any consent? Oh, we do have a consent item on the consent agenda this evening. Um HPC 24-693-100 East All Saints Street. Is there anyone who wishes to see this item removed from the consent agenda? All right. Is there any member of the public who wishes to see this item removed from the consent agenda? All right.
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