Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – May 22, 2025
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Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – May 22, 2025
The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) met on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. Chair Robert Van Rens presided. The meeting included certification of the final batch of 2024 historic preservation tax credits, initiation of a historic overlay for a chapel facing demolition, and approval of two rehabilitation projects. The Commission welcomed new Commissioner Ed McMahon. No workshop was held.
Announcements
- Chair Van Rens welcomed new Commissioner Ed McMahon, citing his experience in historic preservation and urban planning.
Approval of Minutes
- The minutes from the May 8, 2025 hearing and workshop were approved unanimously.
Discussion Items
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Certification of 2024 Historic Preservation Property Tax Credits – Group IV
Staff presented the fourth and final batch of tax credit applications for the 2024 cycle. The batch comprised seven applications with a total investment of $555,669.43 and a recommended credit amount of $21,047.74. The Commission voted unanimously to certify the batch and forward the recommendation to the Director of Finance. -
HPC25-170DR – Demolition Review at 27 Franklin Street (St. Timothy Chapel)
Staff reported that the property owner had demolished a one-story vestibule and constructed a new addition without permits. The chapel, built in 1924 of locally sourced limestone in English Gothic style, was documented by the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties in 2013 as potentially eligible for the National Register. Staff recommended initiating a historic preservation overlay designation. The Commission discussed the building's significance as a mission chapel serving a working-class community and agreed it merits designation. A motion to initiate the historic overlay application passed unanimously. -
HPC25-72 – Rehabilitation at 173 W. All Saints Street (Mountain City Elks #382)
The project had been workshopped on April 24. Proposed work included a new front door, intercom/card reader, handrail, cornice medallions, window painting and reglazing, masonry repairs, gutters, and wood panels. Staff noted updates from the workshop: the door design changed from aluminum/glass to a six-panel wood door. Staff recommended approval with conditions: product literature for door hardware, an image of the side ramp railing, medallions matching original wood design, and brick replacement matching existing brick. The application was approved unanimously with those conditions. -
HPC25-100 – Rehabilitation at 19 Lord Nickens Street
The owner proposed adding 18 solar panels (six on front gable, 12 on rear), an EV charger, and a backup battery to a non‑contributing dwelling constructed in 2012. Eight solar panels were already installed under a previous approval. Staff found the addition on the non‑contributing building would not detract from the streetscape. The EV charger location and mounting details were not yet specified. Staff recommended approval with conditions: product literature for the EV charger with mounting details and painting the conduit on the west elevation to match the wall. The Commission approved the application unanimously with those conditions.
Public Comments & Testimony
- A citizen (a tax credit applicant) expressed confusion about having to attend the meeting for the tax credit approval that was already processed under the consent agenda. Staff clarified that her application was included in the batch approved earlier. She learned her credit of $7,500 (the maximum) was approved, and staff would process it. She had hired a babysitter unnecessarily.
Key Outcomes
- Certification of Group IV tax credits – Approved unanimously.
- 27 Franklin Street – Initiation of historic overlay designation – Approved unanimously.
- 173 W. All Saints Street rehabilitation – Approved unanimously with conditions.
- 19 Lord Nickens Street solar/EV/battery installation – Approved unanimously with conditions.
- Next Steps: Staff will prepare the historic overlay application for 27 Franklin Street for commission review; tax credit certifications will be sent to the Director of Finance; applicants for the two approved projects must satisfy the listed conditions.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the Thursday, May 22, 2025, Frederick City Historic Preservation Commission hearing and workshop, which there is no workshop this evening. 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 adopted by the mayor and city council 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. This evening, seated on my left, the audience's right, our administrative assistant Tansi Creighton, Manager of Historic Preservation, Christina Martin Koskey, and Historic Preservation Planner Sarah Hoffeditz, and then excuse me, Commissioner Eva Soller, Commissioner Paul Fitzgerald, myself, Commissioner Robert Van Renz, and on my right, the audience's left commissioner Ann Hart and our new commissioner this evening, Ed McMahon. I get that right? That's right. All right. And then Assistant City Attorney Iris Anon. All applicants and authorized agents, members of the public who wish to speak tonight, uh must be sworn in. Please stand if you are able. Do you solemnly swear or affirm 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 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 architectural history to stabilize and improve the 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. That being said, are there any commissioners with statements of eligibility? All right, hearing none. Any announcements this evening. Thank you so much for joining the Historic Preservation Commission. You have outstanding experience in historic preservation and urban planning, so I I know you'll be a great asset to our team. Thank you. All right, moving on to the minutes. Uh minutes from the May 8th, 2025 hearing and workshop. Any concerns regarding the those minutes? Any uh requests for additions or corrections. Hearing none, can I get a motion to accept the minutes? I second. All right. Moved and seconded. All in favor, please raise your hands. Thank you very much. Moving on to HPC business. Uh certification of the 2024 report on historic preservation property tax credits and recommendation to the director of finance, group four. Excuse me. I am pleased to announce that this is our last batch of historic preservation tax credits. This has been a great effort and a lot of work, but so worthwhile. Staff has been submitting the 2024 Historic Preservation Tax Credit applications to the Historic Preservation Commission for certification in multiple groups. The commission previously certified nine applications at their April 10th meeting, seven applications at their April 24th meeting, and 11 applications on May 8th. And this is all in accordance with Section 810 of City Code. Now this fourth and final batch is comprised of uh seven applications and includes an investment amount of approximately 500 um 500,000 555,000 dollars. I'm gonna try that again. It's a big number. 555,669 dollars and forty-three cents and a recommended credit amount of 21,047 and 74 cents. A detailed summary and photographs are attached, and staff requests that the commission review and certify the attached recommendations. Um if done, staff will forward the results to the director of finance. All right, thank you.
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