Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – September 26, 2024
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – September 26, 2024
The Frederick City Historic Preservation Commission met on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting included a public hearing, consideration of minutes, a demolition review, a case for a splash pad and landscaping, and workshop discussions on a multi-building development project and a rear addition to a historic home. Key actions included approving minutes, deciding not to pursue historic designation for a farm property, approving a park improvement with conditions, and setting future workshop dates for two pending cases.
Announcements
- The election of officers, originally scheduled for this meeting, was postponed to the next agenda (October 10, 2024) due to an omission in the agenda.
- Case HPC24-702 (127 E. 6th Street) failed to meet public notice requirements; no action was taken. The project will be reviewed at the October 24, 2024 meeting.
- Case HPC24-705 (18 Lord Nickens Street) was continued to the October 10, 2024 hearing.
- Commissioner Paul Fitzgerald recused himself from HPC24-702.
Approval of Minutes
- The minutes from the September 12, 2024, hearing and workshop were approved unanimously.
- The minutes from the September 12, 2024, site visit to 127 E. 6th Street were approved unanimously.
HPC Business – Demolition Review
HPC24-679DR – 8907 Gas House Pike (Molin Property)
- Staff presented a request for demolition review for all existing buildings at the Molin property. Five structures under 50 years old were cleared for demolition; the remaining structures (built 1889 and later) were evaluated for historic significance. Staff determined the property lacks historic integrity and significance due to extensive alterations and loss of early farm buildings.
- Commissioner Anne Hart questioned the significance of agricultural land; staff replied that better-preserved farmsteads exist in Frederick County.
- Decision: The Commission voted unanimously not to pursue historic designation for the property, effectively allowing demolition.
Cases to Be Heard
HPC24-743 – 101 N. Bentz Street (Tally Recreation Center Playground Improvements)
- Applicant Brent Turner presented a proposal for a splash pad, seat walls, pathways, site furnishings, and removal of three trees (one existing Zelkova and two cherry trees to be relocated). Staff noted that the scope of work lacked detail on a proposed wire fence.
- The Commission discussed tree removal, fence details, and appropriate materials. Commissioner Robert Van Rens supported the project, noting the materials were compatible with the historic district.
- Decision: The Commission approved the application unanimously with a condition that the applicant update the scope of work to include fence details for staff-level review.
Workshop Agenda
HPC24-477 – 1730 N. Market Street (Level 1 Amendment)
- Applicant Tim Kamas presented revised plans for a mixed-use development on the former Trout & Sons site. The amendment sought to reconfigure density, replacing a multi-family building with townhouses to create a transition to adjacent single-family homes. Key staff concerns included: reintroducing new construction close to historic buildings contrary to previous approval, increased massing, lack of detailed elevations initially, and insufficient green space near buildings.
- Commissioners discussed: building height (three-story townhomes with gabled roofs vs. previous three-story civic market building), lot coverage, and the need for more landscaping between buildings and parking. The applicant agreed to re-examine a three-building option from a prior expansion that better respects the historic cottage plan and to break up long roof lines.
- Outcome: The workshop concluded with a consensus to hold another workshop after the applicant revises plans. Action items include: reworking the two main buildings to reduce massing and lower heights, shifting back to the three-building plan, and providing clearer documentation of changes.
HPC24-739 – 147 W. South Street (Residential Addition)
- Applicant Mike Grewe proposed a two-story, 180-square-foot rear addition to a historic brick dwelling. Staff noted that the demolition of the entire rear brick wall (estimated 300-400 sq ft) would trigger demolition review; the guidelines strongly discourage removing exterior walls. The applicant expressed a desire for a large kitchen, but commissioners recommended using existing window openings to create doors instead of removing the wall.
- Discussion covered materials: the applicant proposed HardyPlank siding (smooth finish considered acceptable), a standing seam metal roof (product literature needed), and a PVC railing (Commission preferred wood matching existing). Commissioner Van Rens opposed removing the rear wall, stating it would damage historic fabric.
- Outcome: The case will be continued to a future hearing (likely October 24, 2024) after the applicant submits a demolition application or revises the design to reuse existing openings. Staff will assist the applicant in determining the correct demolition threshold.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes from September 12, 2024, approved unanimously.
- 8907 Gas House Pike – No historic designation; demolition allowed.
- 101 N. Bentz Street – Approved with condition to clarify fence details.
- 1730 N. Market Street – Workshop continued; applicant to revise plans focusing on massing, green space, and a possible return to a three-building layout.
- 147 W. South Street – Workshop continued; applicant to either submit a demolition application or revise design to preserve the rear wall.
- Next meetings: October 10, 2024 (includes election of officers) and October 24, 2024.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the Thursday, September seventeenth, Frederick City um historic preserv meeting of the historic Frederick City Historic Preservation Commission. 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. Frederick City Historic Preservation Commission uses the guidelines adopted by the mayor and 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. Anyone who has business before the commission or wishes to be heard for public comment, please rise and be smart in the second. 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 very much. 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 historical history or architectural history, sorry, to stabilize and improve our 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 site 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? All right, seeing none, let's see. Sorry, just one go ahead. I have a statement. Um I need to recuse myself from HPC 24-702. If that's going to be heard tonight. Interestingly, I think that's about to come up for announcements. And over to you, Christina. Okay, for announcements. I have two announcements, and I believe uh Sarah has one herself. Um first, uh the election of officers were supposed to be tonight, but we failed to put it in the agenda. So one, I apologize for that, but we will do it on the next agenda on the 10th. So I wanted one. It is it does, it does it does not sound great, so I'm hoping our AB department will fix that. Thank you. Second, uh, I want to note that HPC 24-702 at 127 East 6th Street failed to meet public notice requirements. There will be no action taken on this case. It will not be called. The project will be reviewed at the October 24th meeting. And I also have an announcement. Case number HPC 24-705 at 18 Lord Nickens Street has requested to be continued to the following hearing. No action is needed at this time. The date again. Uh the October 10th hearing. Yeah, ma'am. All right, thank you. Uh moving on to approval of minutes. So the uh minutes from the September 12th, 2024 hearing and workshop, and the September 12th, 2024, uh 127 East Sixth Street site visit. Commissioners, any concerns about the minutes, any uh requests for corrections or additions? All right, seeing none, do we have a motion? Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the September 12th, 2024 hearing and workshop minutes. I'll second. All right. Any further comment? All in favor, please raise your hands.
openpublica.com