Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - December 12, 2024
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Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – December 12, 2024
The Frederick City Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) held a hearing and workshop on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting included public hearings, votes on demolition reviews, approval of minutes and consent items, five contested cases, and a workshop. Commissioner Jessica Weeman attended her first meeting. Commissioner Melissa Fortune recused herself from HPC24-702 (127 E. 6th Street) and abstained from voting on minutes and cases due to eligibility requirements.
Consent Calendar
- HPC24-803 (231-233 E. 4th Street) – Rehabilitation approved unanimously without discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- HPC24-702 (127 E. 6th Street) – 16 community members signed a statement opposing demolition. Six residents spoke against the project, citing the loss of history, the stable’s age (at least 1930s), unique open space, and integrity of the block. The applicant’s team argued the dwelling has lost integrity and should be non-contributing; the property owner and architectural historian Kate Coranda testified the site no longer retains sufficient historical or architectural value.
Discussion Items
- Agenda Change Request – The commission unanimously voted to move HPC24-744 (118 W. 5th Street) to the first case under Cases to Be Heard.
- HPC24-986DR (405 Magnolia Avenue) – Staff found the dwelling does not meet criteria for historic designation. The commission voted unanimously not to pursue designation.
- HPC24-988DR (328 Madison Avenue) – Staff found the garage non-contributing. The commission voted unanimously not to pursue designation.
- HPC24-744 (118 W. 5th Street) – Applicant addressed previous workshop concerns: a hidden gate, spring hinge option, and use of non-pressure-treated lumber. Approved unanimously with staff comments allowing either hinge type.
- HPC24-477 (1730 N. Market Street – “Odd Fellows Home”) – Level one amendment for mixed-use development. Applicant reduced units from 249 to 212, added 202 trees, reduced parking and garages, and improved site plan in response to prior feedback. Approved unanimously.
- HPC24-685 (125 E. All Saints Street – Arch Society signage) – Installation of logos, banners, corner signage, and a plaque. Approved unanimously after minor modifications.
- HPC24-702 (127 E. 6th Street – Demolition Review) – Staff recommended the dwelling be contributing and the garage non-contributing. After extensive public and applicant testimony, Commissioner Hart moved to find both the dwelling and garage as contributing resources; Commissioner Fitzgerald dissented (3-1). Because both were deemed contributing, the demolition decision was continued to the next hearing.
- HPC24-739 (147 W. South Street) – Two-story rear addition. Applicant minimized demolition, used mahogany railing, and provided wood windows/doors. Approved with condition to submit roof scope-of-work details for staff review.
Workshop Agenda
- HPC24-796 (350 E. 3rd Street) – Proposal to demolish unsafe rear staircase and fill void with railing; also front porch step rehabilitation. The commission discussed using vinyl railing (matching existing) vs. wood; they agreed vinyl repair was acceptable. The applicant will return to a hearing with updated scope of work, product details for back railing, and a profile for front wood railing. Submission deadline: December 27, 2024 for January 9, 2025 hearing.
Key Outcomes
- Votes: Two demolition reviews (405 Magnolia Ave, 328 Madison Ave) – no historic designation pursued. Consent item approved. Four cases (118 W. 5th St, 1730 N. Market St, 125 E. All Saints St, 147 W. South St) approved with conditions. 127 E. 6th St found to have both contributing resources; demolition decision continued.
- Referrals/Next Steps: Applicant for 350 E. 3rd St must submit detailed plans by Dec. 27. The 127 E. 6th St case will return for a demolition determination at a later hearing. All administrative approvals from November were noted.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the December twelfth, twenty twenty-four. So Frederick City Historic Preservation Commission. Um excuse me. Uh hearing and workshop. And uh begin with uh called order. Technical 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 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 made are made a part of each and every case. All cases were duly advertised in the Frederick News Post in accordance with section three excuse me. Section 301 of the land management code. I get that correct, Weeman? Great. Thank you. And then uh Commissioner Eva Soller, Commissioner Paul Fitzgerald, myself, Commissioner Robert Van Renz, and then Commissioners Anne Hart and Commissioner Melissa Fortune. Then uh moving further over, uh historic preservation um remind me of the new title again, Christina. Division manager of historic preservation planning. Thank you. Division Manager of Historic Preservation Planning, Christina Martin Koske, and historic preservation planner Sarah Hofaditz, and then Assistant City Attorney Iris Anon. Everyone who has business before the uh 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. 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 requirement by reviewing the record of the of that meeting. It is presumed if 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 will be recusing myself from item number nine HPC 24-702 at 127 East 6th Street. All right, thank you. Mr. Chairman, I will also be abstaining from voting on approval of minutes and from voting on the cases to be heard before the committee today, as I do not meet the eligibility requirements at this time. All right, thank you. All right, moving on. Um staff has a few announcements this. Yes, thank you. Uh first I want to uh offer a warm welcome to Jessica Weeman at her first meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission as a commission member. Uh we appreciate your efforts and look forward to working with you. And I'd also like to make an announcement. Uh the applicant of HPC 24744 has requested a change to the agenda to be presented first, according to section 4.8 of the code. Um, there's allowed to be a change to the agenda if the vote is required. All right, so what exactly is the procedure for making the change? So for the city's rules of procedures, the commission needs to make a vote in order to change the agenda order. So under new business, as the first item the commission may choose to vote on this request and move that particular case up on the agenda order. All right, thank you. Moving on to approval of minutes. Uh the minutes from the November 14th, 2024 hearing and workshop. Uh commissioners, any questions or concerns regarding these minutes, Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the hearing minutes and workshop minutes for the HPC meeting uh on November 14th, 2024. And I will second.
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