Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Hearing and Workshop - February 26, 2026
Frederick Historic Preservation Commission Hearing and Workshop - February 26, 2026
The Frederick Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) held a public hearing and workshop on February 26, 2026, at the City of Frederick auditorium. The meeting included consideration of four applications: post-fire replacement work at 137 North Market Street, a rear yard patio and gazebo at 140 West Church Street, awnings for a condominium at 208 East 2nd Street, and a demolition and replacement plan for a barn at 220 East Patrick Street. The commission also heard public comments and conducted a workshop on the barn case. Votes were taken on several items, with one case continued to a future meeting.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The commission approved the hearing and workshop minutes from a previous meeting (motion carried 5-0), with corrections noted: Joshua Masser was not present at the hearing, and a wording correction in the workshop minutes regarding overshadowing by the proposed building.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Bob Robey, East Second Street resident: Raised concerns about exterior lights on the north face of the new building at 208 East 2nd Street. He stated that the lower-level lights shine directly into his residence and are very bright. The developer agreed to replace those fixtures with downward-facing lights. Robey also urged the commission to consider the color temperature and illumination levels of LED lights in future projects.
Discussion Items
- HPC 25-124 – 137 North Market Street (Post-Fire Replacement): The applicant (Jay Satch Dave, owner since 2010) sought post-work approval for vinyl siding, soffits, eight vinyl windows, and 12 LED light fixtures installed after a fire. Staff recommended denial of vinyl materials (citing guidelines requiring wood or matching historic materials) and approval of the LED lights. The applicant stated he replaced in-kind because the previous materials were vinyl and he was unaware of the need for prior approval. The commission noted the lack of photographic evidence of the pre-fire windows. After discussion, the commission voted to deny the vinyl siding, windows, and soffits (4-0, Commissioner Kinsey abstaining due to ineligibility) and separately approved the 12 LED light fixtures (4-0). Staff will coordinate next steps with the applicant.
- HPC 26-9 – 140 West Church Street (Rear Yard Improvements): The applicant (Jason West) proposed a 16x16 patio, 10x16 gazebo, lighting (uplighting and floodlights), gas fire pit, and L-shaped sitting wall. Staff recommended approval with the condition that floodlighting and uplighting be excluded, as such artistic lighting is not supported for residential architecture. The applicant agreed to remove those lights. The commission voted to approve the application as amended (5-0).
- HPC 26-10 – 208 East 2nd Street (Awnings for Unit 501): The applicant (Lance Jacquard, developer/architect) proposed four awnings on the south elevation for a condominium building. Staff found the awnings appropriate given the building is non-contributing and similar awnings were previously approved. The commission voted to approve the application as submitted (4-0, Commissioner Kinsey recused himself).
- HPC 26-11 – 220 East Patrick Street (Barn Determination of Contributing Resource): The commission considered whether a one-story frame outbuilding (constructed before 1887, used as a garage and hen house) is a contributing resource. Staff recommended it is contributing. After debate, the commission voted 4-1 to find the barn a contributing resource, with Commissioner McMahon opposed. The case then moved to a workshop for discussion of demolition criteria.
- Workshop on HPC 26-11 and HPC 26-12 (Demolition and Replacement Plan): The commission reviewed the structural engineer’s report, which found the barn structurally obsolete and recommended condemnation. The applicant (Kevin Roycroft) explained that initial plans to underpin and stabilize the barn proved unfeasible due to the lack of a foundation and severe deterioration. The replacement plan (HPC 26-12) includes regrading, paving for vehicle circulation, underpinning of a historic stone retaining wall, a new concrete retaining wall (with a stippled finish to match historic stone), and a mechanical pad. Staff noted that the regrading would trigger an archaeological review and require a revision to the approved site plan. Commissioners expressed differing views: some argued the barn is a symbol of Frederick’s industrial history and should be preserved, while others cited its poor condition, substandard construction, and the need for the hotel project. No vote was taken; the demolition and replacement plans are scheduled for the March 12, 2026 hearing at the annex building.
Key Outcomes
- HPC 25-124: Denial of vinyl siding, windows, and soffits (4-0). Approval of 12 LED light fixtures (4-0).
- HPC 26-9: Approval of rear yard improvements with condition excluding uplighting and floodlights (5-0).
- HPC 26-10: Approval of awnings as submitted (4-0).
- HPC 26-11: Determination that the barn is a contributing resource (4-1).
- Workshop: No decision; continued to March 12, 2026 hearing. Staff will require an archaeological application and revised site plan before a vote.
- Announcement: Historic preservation tax credit applications are due April 1, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the Historic Preservation Commission hearing and workshop for the City of Frederick. Today's date is February 26th, 2026. Start out there's uh some printed copies of the agenda over on the table by the door if you want to print a copy. I believe there's also a sign-up sheet uh if you want to speak tonight or a member of the public, uh you can sign in just so we can get your name properly, but it's not uh a requirement. And uh also if you have any trouble uh hearing in certain spots in the uh auditorium, uh we do have some uh assisted listening devices up here at the front. You can come up and see uh Tansi uh to get a listening device if one may be required. 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 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. For introductions, my name is Paul Fitzdow, proudly serving here tonight along with Commissioners Ann Hart, Ed McMahon, Carol Kelly, and our newest commission member, Charlie Kinsey. Join us with city staff is Provision Manager of Historic Preservation Planning, Christina Martinkowski, Historic Preservation Planners Sarah Hoffaditz and Josh Masser, Assistant City Attorney Iris Arnon, and administrative assistant uh Tanzi Brockenberry. All applicants and authorized agents and members of the public who wish to speak tonight must be sworn in. If you would please rise as you're able to solemnly swear or affirm that the response is given and statements made in the this hearing before the historic preservation commission will be the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so answer I do. All right, 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 site structures and districts for the education and welfare of the city residents of the city of Frederick. 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, a commissioner may satisfy the attendance requirement by reviewing a record of that meeting. That being said, are there any commissioners with statements of eligibility? Yes, uh, Mr. Chairman. Um I'm going to disqualify and recuse myself from uh HPC 26-10, which is the visitation residential application. There's a statements of eligibility. Do we have any announcements this evening? I have one announcement, and this is just a reminder to the public that historic preservation tax credit applications are due on April 1st. And if you have any questions, please reach out to the city's planning staff. Thank you. And then I also have an announcement for HPC 25369 under HBC business, a request for continuance. This case cannot be voted on due to no appearance of the applicant. The applicant is anticipating to request continuance for the April 23rd hearing and asking the Commission to move her case from the March 12th hearing to workshop. No action is needed now, but at the March 12th hearing, a vote will need to be made. So the March 12th, we will have a workshop on this application. Correct. That's the intent. All right, Commissioners moving on to approval of the minutes. Any corrections? Additions or motion. Corrections. Sarah, I have a couple. For the hearing minutes, Joshua Master was not present. And for the workshop minutes. The first one, the second bullet. Property to the left of the building overshadowed by the proposed building and not buildings. It is uh the application is for one building. Yes, sir. I gave you two. I'm sorry. So the one for hearing minutes. Joshua Mather not present.
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