Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Hearing and Workshop - June 26, 2025
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Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Hearing and Workshop
The Frederick Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) convened on June 26, 2025, at 6:00 PM in City Hall for a public hearing and subsequent workshop. Commissioners Robert Van Rens (Chair), Paul Fitzgerald, Anne Hart, and Ed McMahon were present (Agenda also lists Iva Saller, but she was not present per transcript). Staff included Deputy Director Gabrielle Collard, Historic Preservation Manager Christina Martinkosky, Planner Sarah Hoffeditz, and Legal Counsel Iris Annan. The meeting began with swearing-in of all participants and approval of the June 12 and June 17, 2025 minutes unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- No consent items were presented.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during the hearing or workshop.
Discussion Items
Case HPC-25-120: 35 E. All Saints Street – Application to replace four windows at Unit 110 with Anderson Series 400 fiberglass windows in white on a non-contributing building constructed in 2007. Staff recommended approval, noting the building is non-historic and similar windows were approved in 2019. Applicant Peter Ring stated the elderly homeowner could not open the sticking windows. The Commission approved the application unanimously.
Case HPC-25-161: 21 S. Carroll Street – Adaptive reuse of a historic building as a small-scale food hall. Proposed alterations included removal of non-historic infill in three openings and installation of new doors, side lights, transoms, an awning window that lifts to become a canopy, a counter, gutters, and a concrete pad. Staff recommended approval with conditions requiring wood doors, metal awning window with true or simulated divided lights, and wood panel cladding. Applicant Alison Hegemeyer noted the building had severe water issues and relied on grants with tight timelines. After discussion, the Commission approved with conditions: north/south openings with wood doors (true or simulated divided lights, product literature to staff); center opening awning window of metal construction (product literature to staff); counter base clad in wood panel or engineered wood with smooth finish (details to staff). Motion passed unanimously.
Case HPC-25-164: 253 W. Patrick Street (Hearing) – The Commission first determined the contributing status of the building. Staff documented the building’s history as an 1880s bakery/dwelling shown on the 1887 Sanborn map. The Commission unanimously found the building to be a contributing resource to the Frederick Town Historic District.
Workshop (after break)
The Commission reordered the workshop agenda to discuss HPC-25-164 (partial demolition), HPC-25-165 (addition), and HPC-25-163 (window replacements) for 253 W. Patrick Street.
Partial Demolition & Rehabilitation (HPC-25-164 / 165) – The applicant proposed demolishing approximately 160 sq ft of rear L roof to construct a shed dormer, and rehabilitate the rear elevation by replacing T-111 siding with wood lap siding, replacing the corrugated metal roof with asphalt shingles, and installing new windows and gutters. Discussion focused on materials. The Commission strongly recommended traditional wood siding for the rehabilitation and for the new dormer to maintain consistency. The applicant initially proposed LP SmartSide engineered wood for the dormer but agreed to use wood siding. Staff noted that LP SmartSide had not been approved for additions on contributing resources. The applicant also agreed to use wood soffits, replace vinyl windows with wood, and infill a second-floor window (retaining evidence). The resubmission deadline for updated plans is Monday, June 30, 2025 at 11:00 AM. No vote was taken; this was a workshop to guide the applicant.
Window Replacement (HPC-25-163) – The applicant sought to replace 13 windows with wood double-hung units. The Commission noted that only two windows were vinyl (which they supported replacing with wood), while the 11 historic wood windows appeared repairable despite damage from AC units, drilling, etc. Commissioners emphasized that historic windows should be repaired rather than replaced unless severely deteriorated. The applicant agreed to withdraw the replacement request for the historic windows and will return for a future workshop if needed. The resubmission for the vinyl window replacement can be handled administratively.
Key Outcomes
- Approved minutes of June 12 and June 17, 2025 unanimously.
- Approved HPC-25-120 (35 E. All Saints Street window replacement) unanimously.
- Approved HPC-25-161 (21 S. Carroll Street adaptive reuse) with conditions.
- Found 253 W. Patrick Street (HPC-25-164) a contributing resource unanimously.
- Workshop on 253 W. Patrick Street: applicant to resubmit updated plans by June 30, 2025, incorporating wood siding for rehab and addition, wood soffits, and clarifying window openings. No vote.
- Window replacement (HPC-25-163): applicant will replace only the two vinyl windows with wood; historic windows will be repaired. No vote; further workshop possible.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the June 26, 2025, Frederick City Historic Preservation Commission hearing and workshop. The 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 the city council 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. All cases were duly advertised in the Frederick News Post in accordance with Section 301 of the Land Management Code. Introductions this evening. On my left, the audience's right is HPC Administrative Assistant Tansi Creighton. And then we have Commissioner Ed McMahon. Excuse me, Ed McMahon, Commissioner Paul Fitzgerald, myself, Commissioner Robert Van Renz, and Commissioner Ann Hart. And then we have Historic Preservation Planners Sarah Hoffaditz and Daniel Lecky, and uh Manager of Historic Preservation, Christina Martinkowski, and uh assistant city attorney Iris Anon. Anyone who has business before the commission or wishes to be heard this evening, 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, and 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 cultural, social, economic, political, archaeological, or architectural history. 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 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, seeing none. No, not tonight. All right. Moving on to approval of minutes. The uh June 12, 2025 hearing and workshop minutes. Commissioners, any additions, any cause for concern or corrections that need to be made to those. Second. All right. All in favor, please raise your hand. And that passes unanimously. And then the June 17th, 2025 special hearing minutes. Any additions or corrections to those Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the special hearing minutes for June 17th, 2025. I will second. All right. All in favor, please raise your hand. And that passes unanimously. Thank you very much. Moving on to HPC business. No, we do not. Outstanding. Anything for the consent agenda? Not tonight. And any continuances? No. Easy peasy leaving squeezy. Moving on to our cases for this evening. Start with HPC 25-120 35 East All Saint Street. Ms. Hoffeditz. I'd like to enter the whole staff report into the record.
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