The City of Frederick Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) convened a combined hearing and workshop on January 22, 2026, to review multiple historic preservation applications, approve previous minutes, and address public testimony regarding property development and preservation. The meeting included discussions on demolition review requests, partial demolition approvals conditioned on replacement plans, and design modifications for adaptive reuse projects in the historic district.
Discrepancy Note: The transcript lists the agenda item for the salvage project as "HBC 25-346" in one instance and "HPC 25-378" in the motion, while the address 20 South Carroll Street is the correct location for the Byerley Tannery salvage project. The motion correctly identifies the project number as HPC 25-378.
Good evening. Welcome to the City of Frederick Historic Preservation Commission hearing and workshop. Today's date is January twenty-second, two thousand twenty-six. Anybody would wish to have a printed copy of tonight's agenda. There's copies over on the side table by the door. There's also a sign-up sheet, while not mandatory, it's helpful if we have your name just so we get it right for the record. Um also some listening devices up at the end of the day as here. If anybody has trouble hearing tonight, uh the devices can help with that. Just uh see Jennifer at the end of the day as here. 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 guidelines adopted by the mayor and city council and secretary of the interior standards for rehabilitation published by the U.S. Department of the Interior and 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. For introductions, I'm Commissioner Paul Fitzgerald serving here tonight with Commissioners Ann Hart, Eva Sower, Carol D. Carroll Kelly, and Jerry DeYoung. And filling in tonight is administratively Jennifer DeGree. Thank you. 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, 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 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, Commissioner may satisfy the attendance requirement by reviewing a record of that meeting. It is presumed that if the 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 I do have one statement? I am familiar with HPC 25-238 at 111 East 7th Street, and also HPC 25-369, also at 111 East 7th Street. Um, not this one. And so there is no conflict of interest. Stating there is no conflict of interest. Correct. Okay, thank you. Individuals will be allotted three minutes to speak. If you are here representing an organization or community group, please identify as such, and you may speak on behalf of the members of that group, and you will be invited 10 minutes to speak. We ask that if you identify with a particular group, and that you let the designated representative speak for the entire group and not each member speaks separately. There is a timer uh up on the end of the day to keep track of the time. Again, three minutes for individuals and 10 minutes for a recognized organization or or group. So moving into the agenda, are there any uh announcements tonight? Um announcements other than it is um having trouble hearing. Nope, my apologies. No announcements other than to remind the public that it is historic preservation tax credit season. If you finished work on your property in the historic district uh last year, please consider applying to the city's 25% historic tax credit program. Um you can please uh contact city staff if you have any questions, and we'll be glad to send you information on the application and review process. Thank you. I will add that the tax credit uh application for the city for any work done is uh pretty straightforward and well worth the effort. Moving on to approval of the minutes. I move that we approve the hearing and workshop minutes from January 8, 2026. I second motion made and seconded to approve the hearing and workshop minutes for January 8th. All in favor, raise your hand. Motion carries what is it five five to zero. Thank you. First case under HPC business, HPC 26-3DR at 524 Wilson Place request for a demolition review. Mr.