Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Summary - January 8, 2026
Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Summary - January 8, 2026
The Frederick Historic Preservation Commission convened on January 8, 2026, for a hearing and workshop to review a range of historic preservation applications, including demolition requests, new construction approvals, and restoration projects. The commission addressed routine consents, discussed the contributing status of several properties within the historic district, and deliberated on requests that required modifications to comply with design guidelines. Key debates centered on preserving cultural infrastructure at 437 North Market Street, managing geological concerns regarding a massive rock formation at 30 East All Saints Street, and revising a large affordable housing addition to better match the scale and character of an existing historic home.
Consent Calendar
- HPC 25-379 (7 West 3rd Street) and HPC 25-395 (22 South Market Street): Approved unanimously (4-0) as routine items consistent with design guidelines.
- Note on HPC 25-300: Initially left off the agenda due to an administrative error, later corrected and moved from the consent agenda to the regular cases to be heard upon public request.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Louise Canelli (Frederick Arts Council): Expressed full support for recognizing 437 North Market Street as a landmark of unusual importance due to its 22+ year legacy as a hub for artistic production, housing accomplished artists and the Blue Elephant gallery. She argued that the building's cultural significance is as vital as its architecture and urged a creative approach to preservation.
- Adrian Geering (Artist at Blue Elephant): Stated that the building's history as an artist community since 2003 is integral to its significance and asked if this living cultural use factors into its contributing status.
- Joan Jenkins (Neighbor): Opposed the demolition at 437 North Market Street, questioning if the project is driven by profit versus community value. She raised concerns regarding geological integrity, specifically a sinkhole and the massive rock formation at 30 East All Saints Street, requesting a geological survey before any removal.
- Martha Huff (Neighbor): Expressed strong opposition to leveling the rock at 30 East All Saints Street, citing ongoing storm waste problems and the potential for massive subsidence or flooding issues if the bedrock is removed.
- Deborah Spry (Neighbor/Property Owner): Argued that the rock at 30 East All Saints Street is a two-story mammoth formation, not rocky terrain, and questioned the feasibility of removal without blasting, warning of potential damage to adjacent foundations and increased water runoff.
- Ruth Nicholson (Resident/Former Commissioner, read by proxy): Delivered a letter expressing fierce opposition to 30 East All Saints Street, stating the project does not comply with the streetscape and urging commissioners to vote against it to preserve the city's historical integrity.
- Jacob Finkelsen (Neighbor of 1730 North Market): Expressed gratitude to the Duffy Group for their continued efforts to improve the design proposal over several years.
Discussion Items
- HPC 25-634 (198 Monroe Avenue): A request for demolition review of barn and silo foundations damaged in a 2017 fire. Planning staff recommended not pursuing historic designation due to low historic integrity. The community noted the site is relevant to a future data center. The commission found the property not eligible for designation and voted not to pursue an overlay.
- HPC 25-635 (1200 West Patrick Street): A request for demolition review of a 1965 commercial building. Staff noted the building lacked architectural significance and historic integrity. The commission voted not to pursue designation.
- HPC 25-284 (437 North Market Street): A partial demolition request for a building housing artist studios and a gallery. Public testimony emphasized the site's "living cultural infrastructure" and its role as a center for artistic production since the early 2000s. Staff found the building a contributing resource. Commissioners agreed it was a contributing resource but noted it did not meet the standard for "unusual importance." The motion to find it contributing passed unanimously.
- HPC 25-300 (30 East All Saints Street): A Level One review for 12 new townhomes on a site containing a massive, historic rock outcropping and potential archaeological significance (Civil War/Hessian barracks). Public testimony raised severe concerns regarding geology, sinkholes, and the removal of the rock. The applicant confirmed a geotechnical study was completed and that the rock would be removed with machinery without blasting; stormwater management would be addressed via an easement on the adjacent property. Staff noted the design meets guidelines. The commission approved the application, with staff clarifying that geological and stormwater issues fall under the Planning Commission's purview, not the HPC.
- HPC 25-329 (1730 North Market Street): An amended Level One review for a mixed-use development (Oddfellows Home site). The applicant reduced the number of units and modified the site plan, including removing parking to create green space. Public comment was supportive of the iterative design improvements. The commission approved the revised plan.
- HPC 25-331 (115 East Fifth Street): A partial demolition request for a 1841 historic property to allow for a two-story addition. Staff recommended approval for the demolition of a non-historic rear dormer and a portion of the historic rear wall to accommodate the addition, conditioned on an approved replacement plan. The commission approved the demolition.
- HPC 25-332 (115 East Fifth Street): A replacement plan for a two-story addition at 115 East Fifth Street. The applicant requested deviations from the guidelines regarding the height (6 inches above historic ridge), roof color (white instead of red/green), and width (7.5 feet wider than the historic rear block). Commissioners debated the visual impact, with one commissioner opposing the width deviation entirely. The motion to approve passed 3-1, with Commissioner Kelly opposing based on the diminishment of the historic structure.
- HPC 25-344 (641 North Market Street): Restoration of the 7th Street Fountain Park. The proposal included sandblasting (supported by Preservation Brief 27 despite guidelines), adding a fourth tier, and installing submersible lighting. Conditions were set for product literature and test panels. The commission approved the application unanimously.
- HPC 25-386 (235 West South Street): Post-work approval for a front porch railing replacement. Staff noted the historic railing had been removed without documentation of irreparable damage. The applicant (Shepherd Pratt) indicated a cost-benefit analysis of in-kind repair versus replacement. The motion to approve was made contingent on the railing replicating the historic design and using non-pressure-treated wood. Approved unanimously.
- Workshop: 100 South Market Street: Discussion on the adaptive reuse of the former B&O Railroad Station for permanent supportive housing, a health clinic, and community dining. Public presentation highlighted severe ADA accessibility issues in the current layout. The commission discussed proposals for an exterior ADA ramp, converting a historic window to a doorway in the courtyard, and adding a timber platform/patio. Commissioners suggested shifting the ramp location, matching the historic door style on the newer door, and ensuring courtyard lighting does not intrude into interior living spaces.
- Workshop: 20 South Keep Street: Discussion on the Downtown Frederick Hotel & Conference Center's reuse of stone from the Byerley Tannery for a new terrace wall and interpretive signage. Commissioners suggested the wall could be enhanced with artwork or lighting to better commemorate the tannery's industrial heritage and the creek's role in its history. The applicant confirmed the intent to maintain the landscape and noted the discovery of leather artifacts from the site.
- Discussion on Affordable Housing Addition (Unnumbered Case): Review of a large addition to a historic dwelling intended for affordable housing. Significant public debate occurred regarding the scale, noting the addition was nearly the same length as the historic structure. Commissioners suggested shifting the addition back to create a visual separation, reducing the width, and incorporating historic motifs like shingles or window patterns to better integrate with the historic style. The applicant agreed to revisit the design to create a "hyphen" connector and adjust the massing.
Key Outcomes
- HPC 25-634 (198 Monroe): Motion to not pursue historic preservation overlay designation carried 4-0.
- HPC 25-635 (1200 West Patrick): Motion to not pursue historic preservation overlay designation carried 4-0.
- HPC 25-284 (437 North Market): Motion to find the property a "contributing resource" carried 4-0. The building was not deemed of "unusual importance."
- HPC 25-300 (30 East All Saints): Motion to approve Level One application carried 4-0, conditioned on future Planning Commission reviews for geology and stormwater.
- HPC 25-329 (1730 North Market): Motion to approve amended Level One application carried 4-0.
- HPC 25-331 (115 East Fifth Street): Motion to approve partial demolition (contingent on replacement plan) carried 4-0.
- HPC 25-332 (115 East Fifth Street): Motion to approve the two-story addition with conditions (HVAC literature) carried 3-1. Commissioner Kelly opposed due to the width deviation.
- HPC 25-344 (641 North Market): Motion to approve fountain restoration with conditions (test panels, product literature, 4500K max lighting) carried 4-0.
- HPC 25-386 (235 West South Street): Motion to approve railing replacement (contingent on historic replication and wood specs) carried 4-0.
- Workshop Directions: For the 100 South Market Street project, the commission directed the applicant to refine the courtyard entry door match, ensure lighting does not intrude on windows, and clarify HVAC screening. For the Affordable Housing addition, the commission directed the applicant to shift the addition back, reduce its visual mass, and incorporate historic design motifs before resubmission.
- Next Steps: Several items, including the townhomes at 30 East All Saints and the Oddfellows Home, will proceed to the Planning Commission for site plan and permit issues. The affordable housing addition and the Byerley Tannery wall project are scheduled for follow-up workshops or hearings based on the proposed design changes.
Meeting Transcript
For a moment. We are waiting for one other commissioner to show up. She's running a little bit late. So we'll probably hold off for ten minutes or so. And hopefully she'll arrive. Good evening and welcome to the City of Frederick Historic Preservation Commission hearing and workshop. Today's date is January eighth, two thousand twenty-six. And uh happy new year to everybody. There's a coup print of copies of the agenda or the I don't know if there's still print printed copies over there by the side table if anybody wants to follow along with printed agenda. We do have listening devices up here on the end of the day, so you see Tanzy. All cases were duly advertised in the Frederick News Post in accordance with Section 301 of the Land Management Code. For introductions tonight, I'm Commissioner Paul Fitzgerald serving here tonight along with Ann Hart, Commissioner Eva Sower, and Carol Kelly. For staff, we have Division Manager of Historic Preservation Planning, Christina Martin Koskey, Historic Preservation Planners Sarah Hoffaditz and Josh Master. All applicants and authorized agents and members of the public who wish to speak tonight must be sworn in. If you would please stand as you are able. Thank you. 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 to stabilize and approve 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, the commissioner must first have made the required site visit and attended any and all meetings at which such an application was discussed. In the event a commissioner is absent from any such meeting, a commissioner may satisfy the attendance requirement by reviewing a record of that meeting. It is presumed that if a commissioner makes no statement at this time, 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. Moving on with the agenda. So I do want to acknowledge that initially when this agenda was published online. Uh HPC 25300 was not, it was uh accidentally left off the kitchen agenda, but was later uh adjusted correctly. Absolutely. Um just noting that there was a initial error when the agenda was published, but it was uh soon corrected and posted online so that HPC 25300 was uh moved or correctly uh placed on the consent agenda. Thank you. And that case number refers to 30 East All Saint Street. Yes. Okay. Any other announcements? An introduction, maybe oh, thank you. I do want to acknowledge that this is the first uh historic preservation commission with our new historic preservation planner. Um Joshua, um thank you so much for um uh joining us today. Joshua may sir. All right, great. Another staff member to harass. So approval uh the minutes commissioners. Any changes or corrections? Um I move that we approve the hearing and workshop minutes for December 11th, 2025. And I will second. All right, motion made and seconded to approve the hearing minutes and uh workshop minutes from December 11th, 2025. All in favor, raise your hand. Commissioner Kelly. Motion carries four to zero. Thank you. Under HPC business, a review of the administrative approval report. Yes, I want to enter the entire administrative approval report into the record and then acknowledge that 23 applications were reviewed and processed administratively by staff in the month of December. Any questions uh for the staff on the administrative report, Commissioners.
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