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Record of Proceedings

Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Hearing and Workshop - February 13, 2025

Historic Preservation CommissionThursday, February 13, 2025
BodyFrederick, Maryland
SessionHistoric Preservation Commission
DateThursday, February 13, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim
0:23

Good evening.

0:24

Welcome to the February 13th, 2025, Frederick City Historic Preservation Commission hearing and workshop.

0:33

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.

0:41

The Frederick City Historic Preservation Commission uses the guidelines adapted, adopted by the mayor and city council, and the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation, published by the U.S.

0:52

Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and these guidelines are made a part of each and every case.

0:58

All cases were duly advertised in the Frederick News Post in accordance with Section 301 of the Land Management Code.

1:05

Beginning with introductions, on my left, the audience's right is the HBC administrative assistant Tansi Creighton.

1:13

And then Commissioner Eva Soller, Commissioner Paul Fitzgerald, myself, Commissioner Robert Van Rennes, and Commissioner Ann Hart.

1:21

And we have excuse me.

1:31

Simply Division Manager for Historic Preservation Planning.

1:34

Division Manager for Historic Preservation Planning.

1:37

Christina Martinkowski, Historic Preservation Planner Sarah Hoffedz, and Assistant City Attorney Iris Anon.

1:46

Anyone who has business before the Historic Preservation Commission or wishes to speak during public comment or otherwise be heard, please rise and be sworn in.

2:02

Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the response is given and statements made in this hearing before the Historic Preservation Commission will be the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

2:11

If so, answer I do.

2:14

All right, thank you.

2:15

Please be seated.

2:18

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.

2:51

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.

3:01

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.

3:15

That being said, are there any commissioners with statements of eligibility?

3:20

Mr.

3:21

Commissioner, I need to recuse myself from HPC 24-702 at 127 East Sixth Street.

3:30

And also from HPC 24-824 at 101 West South Street.

3:41

All right.

3:47

Moving on to announcements.

3:53

Yes, staff has two announcements.

3:55

First, this is a reminder that historic preservation test credit applications are due April 1st.

4:01

If you have rehabilitated the exterior of your building in 2024, you may be eligible.

4:07

So please contact the planning department for more information.

4:25

Thank you.

4:35

Commissioners, any additions to those minutes, uh concerns about the contents?

4:43

I have a couple of corrections.

4:48

So under section six, under continuances, item five, the date should read February 13th, 2025.

4:58

Under section seven, cases to be heard.

5:01

The numerical sequence should be six, seven, and eight.

5:07

And with those corrections, I will move that we accept the hearing and workshop minutes for January 23rd, 2025.

5:17

All right, anything else?

5:20

I'll second any further discussion.

5:30

Hearing none, all in favor, please raise your hand.

5:33

All right, that passes unanimously.

5:35

Thank you.

5:42

Moving on to HPC business.

5:44

Uh administrative approval report.

6:03

In our report this time for the month of January.

6:07

And entered the record.

6:09

All right, thank you.

6:11

Moving on to HBC 25-18 DR, request for demolition review 401 Center Street.

6:19

Uh Ms.

6:20

Hoffeditz.

6:23

I'd like to enter the memo into the record.

6:25

Uh request for demolition review has been submitted per section 423 of the land management code for a dwelling at 401 Center Street.

6:34

Planning staff has determined that the structure is in whole or in part 50 years or older.

6:39

Based on this evaluation, the historic preservation commission is charged with determining if this property is potentially eligible for individual historic designation.

6:48

Please note that the applicant is seeking post-work approval uh review for the commission.

6:54

Demolition and alteration has already been completed.

6:58

A property is eligible for designation for a historic preservation overlay if it is at least 50 years, retains historical integrity and meets one of the following in the criteria listed below.

7:10

The dwelling at 401 Center Street was constructed in circa 1930.

7:14

City Directory indeed records suggests that the building was constructed by Philip Philip Wertheimer, who purchased the property from his father, Charles Warheimer.

7:26

The longest owners of the property were J.R.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Historic Preservation█████████████████████████████████████████████66%
Procedural███████11%
Public Art██████9%
Engineering And Infrastructure████6%
Public Art Commission██3%
Signage Regulation1%
Public Comment1%
Accessibility1%
Water And Wastewater Management1%
Summary of Proceedings

Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Summary – February 13, 2025

The Frederick Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) held a hearing and workshop on February 13, 2025, at 6:00 PM at City Hall, 101 North Court Street. Commissioners Robert Van Rens (Chair), Paul Fitzgerald, Anne Hart, and Iva Saller were present. Staff included Gabrielle Collard, Christina Martinkosky, Sarah Hoffeditz, and Iris Annan. The meeting covered demolition reviews, rehabilitation approvals, public art proposals, and workshop items.

Consent Calendar

  • HPC25-5 (226 W. South Street, Level 1 rehabilitation): Approved unanimously as part of the consent agenda.

Discussion Items

  • HPC25-18DR (401 Center Street, demolition review): Staff found the structure not individually eligible for historic designation. The Commission voted unanimously not to pursue a designation application. The work had already been completed.
  • HPC25-19DR (226 Dill Avenue, demolition review): Similar determination; Commission voted unanimously not to pursue designation.
  • HPC24-800 (500 N. Market Street, rehabilitation): Approval with conditions, including staff review of roof material, wood or smooth-finish fiber cement siding for the northeast rear wall (due to maintenance concerns), metal door literature, hand-tool repointing with lime mortar, and revised sign details (no plastic or cabinet style). Unanimous.
  • HPC24-810 (40 S. Carroll Street, public art “Welcome Tree”): Approved unanimously as the installation does not adversely affect historic resources.
  • HPC24-824 (101 W. South Street, rehabilitation after fire): Approved with conditions for power tools on horizontal joints only, test patch for paint removal, and matching mortar. A written public comment from Grant Saller was entered into the record. Commissioner Saller recused herself.
  • HPC24-825 (38 E. 6th Street, rehabilitation of rear sleeping porch): Approved with conditions that all wood components be painted/stained, lime mortar used, hand tools only, and brick infill recessed a minimum of 1 inch. Unanimous.
  • HPC25-12 (423A E. Patrick Street, key fob readers): Approved unanimously as compatible with the individually designated landmark for adaptive reuse.
  • HPC24-732 (168 W. All Saints Street, public art mural): Approved with conditions limiting power tools to horizontal joints, matching mortar, and a test patch. The Commission added a condition that only vapor-permeable coating (not latex) be used. Unanimous.

Continuances

  • HPC24-702 (127 E. 6th Street, demolition): Continued to March 27, 2025, at the applicant’s request. Commissioner Saller recused herself. Unanimous.

Workshop Items

  • HPC24-821 (113 E. 7th Street, tower alterations): Post-work approval for a Queen Anne style dwelling. The applicant withdrew the current application and will revise to restore the tower to its original design (wood windows, siding, decorative panels). Resubmission deadline March 3 for March 13 hearing.
  • HPC25-10 (40 S. Market Street, public art): Bronze sculpture of former Mayor Ron Young, approximately 7.5–8 feet tall on a granite pedestal at Carroll Creek Linear Park. No concerns from staff; the Commission asked about rotating the figure slightly. Will proceed to the February 27 hearing.
  • HPC25-13 (220 E. Patrick Street, rehabilitation for hotel loading area): The applicant plans to lower grade around a historic barn, underpin it, and add a concrete protective barrier. The Commission recommended a more sympathetic finish for the concrete (e.g., form liner, tinting) and a solid corner guard instead of bollards. The applicant will resubmit revised drawings and finish details by February 14 for the February 27 hearing.

Key Outcomes

  • Demolition Reviews: Two properties (401 Center Street, 226 Dill Avenue) found not eligible for historic designation; no further action.
  • Rehabilitation Approvals: Four applications (500 N. Market, 101 W. South, 38 E. 6th, 423A E. Patrick) approved with conditions.
  • Public Art Approvals: Two projects (40 S. Carroll Street sculpture, 168 W. All Saints Street mural) approved.
  • Continuance: 127 E. 6th Street postponed to March 27.
  • Workshop Guidance: 113 E. 7th Street applicant to restore original tower design; 40 S. Market Street sculpture set for hearing; 220 E. Patrick Street to refine concrete finishes and protective barrier.
  • Minutes: Approved with corrections (date and numerical sequencing).

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Welcome to the February 13th, 2025, Frederick City Historic Preservation Commission 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 adapted, adopted by the mayor and city council, 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. All cases were duly advertised in the Frederick News Post in accordance with Section 301 of the Land Management Code. Beginning with introductions, on my left, the audience's right is the HBC administrative assistant Tansi Creighton. And then Commissioner Eva Soller, Commissioner Paul Fitzgerald, myself, Commissioner Robert Van Rennes, and Commissioner Ann Hart. And we have excuse me. Simply Division Manager for Historic Preservation Planning. Division Manager for Historic Preservation Planning. Christina Martinkowski, Historic Preservation Planner Sarah Hoffedz, and Assistant City Attorney Iris Anon. Anyone who has business before the Historic Preservation Commission or wishes to speak during public comment or otherwise be heard, please rise and be sworn in. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the response is 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. That being said, are there any commissioners with statements of eligibility? Mr. Commissioner, I need to recuse myself from HPC 24-702 at 127 East Sixth Street. And also from HPC 24-824 at 101 West South Street. All right. Moving on to announcements. Yes, staff has two announcements. First, this is a reminder that historic preservation test credit applications are due April 1st. If you have rehabilitated the exterior of your building in 2024, you may be eligible. So please contact the planning department for more information. Thank you. Commissioners, any additions to those minutes, uh concerns about the contents? I have a couple of corrections. So under section six, under continuances, item five, the date should read February 13th, 2025. Under section seven, cases to be heard. The numerical sequence should be six, seven, and eight. And with those corrections, I will move that we accept the hearing and workshop minutes for January 23rd, 2025. All right, anything else? I'll second any further discussion. Hearing none, all in favor, please raise your hand. All right, that passes unanimously. Thank you. Moving on to HPC business. Uh administrative approval report. In our report this time for the month of January. And entered the record. All right, thank you. Moving on to HBC 25-18 DR, request for demolition review 401 Center Street. Uh Ms. Hoffeditz.

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