Frederick Planning Commission Pre-Planning Meeting – January 11, 2023
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Frederick Planning Commission Pre-Planning Meeting – January 11, 2023
The pre-planning meeting for the Planning Commission's December workshop (rescheduled to December 17 due to the holiday) focused on procedural updates and preparation for the upcoming hearing. Key discussions included a second workshop for the Carroll Creek overlay text amendment, the feasibility of inviting external stakeholders to that workshop, and a proposal for quarterly informational sessions for commissioners. The meeting also previewed a six-item hearing agenda, with most items reported as unchanged from prior discussions.
Discussion Items
- Carroll Creek Overlay Text Amendment: The applicant requested a second workshop (scheduled for February) instead of proceeding directly to a hearing. Commissioners expressed a desire to better understand the interplay between the Carroll Creek overlay, the future form-based code, and the density enhancement area. They asked staff to invite Mark from the city to provide a tutorial on the overlay and to be available for questions. Commissioners also discussed whether it would be appropriate to invite representatives from the Downtown Frederick Partnership or NAC 11 to the workshop to share their perspectives. Gabrielle (staff) cautioned against speculating on the unformed form-based code and noted that inviting specific individuals could be perceived as favoring certain viewpoints. She suggested broader public outreach (e.g., posting on the city website and Facebook) rather than direct invitations. The matter of ex parte communication was raised, and staff agreed to follow up with the city attorney for guidance.
- Quarterly Informational Sessions for Commissioners: Commissioner Dorothy presented a proposal for quarterly 20–30 minute presentations (followed by Q&A) on topics relevant to the commission's work, such as affordable housing, available planning tools, CIP projects, and environmental design. The intent is to provide broader context for application reviews without adding significant staff burden. Dorothy and Commissioner Barbara will share a framework document via email for commissioner input on future topics. Gabrielle confirmed that her staff would not be directly involved, but she expressed support for the initiative.
- Hearing Agenda Preview: Staff provided brief updates on the following items scheduled for the upcoming hearing:
- East Pass Continuance: A 60-day continuance was requested due to ongoing archaeological investigations in a historically sensitive area.
- Annual Election of Officers: Nominations for chair, vice chair, and secretary will be taken; no public comment.
- Master Plan for Barrack Property: Second required hearing. Updates include reduction from four to three modifications and traffic analysis addressing Camp Lane and Christopher's Crossing completion. Staff highlighted that the updates were clearly noted in the report.
- West Patrick Street (417 West Patrick) Final Plat/Site Plan: No new issues; conditions of approval remain.
- Frederick Manufacturing Final Site Plan: No new issues; conditions of approval remain.
- Take Five Car Wash: One modification discussed at the workshop; six conditions recommended.
- Canon Hill Final Site Plan and Forest Conservation Plan: Staff noted unresolved lighting spillover (to be conditioned on adjustment), required multiple water/sewer connection approval from the mayor and board, MPDU payment agreement, and removal of off-site specimen trees. Property owners adjoining the site have signed agent authorization forms consenting to tree removal.
Key Outcomes
- The Carroll Creek overlay text amendment will be discussed at a second workshop in February 2023; staff will coordinate with city attorneys on inviting external parties.
- Commissioners will receive an email with the framework for quarterly informational sessions and are asked to suggest future topics.
- Hearing items will proceed as outlined: East Pass continuance (60-day), Barrack master plan, West Patrick Street plat/site plan, Frederick Manufacturing site plan, Take Five Car Wash, and Canon Hill site plan/forest conservation plan.
- No votes were taken during the pre-planning meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Three o'clock, and we are calling to order the Planning Commission pre-planning meeting for the month of December. Gabrielle, take it away. Thank you. Good afternoon, everybody. Um, just a couple kind of points of order. Um, first, we are preparing our workshop packets. Workshop this month is on the 17th, not Monday, because it is the holiday. So keep in mind it is Tuesday. Um, we will probably be a little delayed in having our information online as well as the paper copies. My goal is by the end of Tuesday next week. So it'll still give you a full week if we can get them online Tuesday, um, is to have them online, but packets won't be ready for pickup for those of you who pick up the paper copies uh until probably midday Wednesday, and then any time after. So just keep that in mind moving forward. I know Barb, um, you will not be at workshop next Tuesday. Um keep it both on the 17th, right? The 17th, not next Tuesday. I'm sorry, the week I'm always we're always a week ahead. Um the other thing um Barbara had referenced is the text amendment that we discussed last month at workshop for the Carol Creek overlay provisions dealing with density um and some of the existing constraints on that. The applicant has actually requested to have a second workshop instead of progressing to the hearing, and that workshop will not be until February. So um Barb won't miss that workshop coming up that won't be our on our our agenda coming up, that'll be a month out. Um they will plan on resubmitting some additional materials to us at the end of January, and then we'll be able to review those, digest them and package that into a new workshop summary, kind of repeat the whole thing um for February. So um we would like to have some questions about that, okay? Okay. Um I would you know, keep not substantial. No, no, no. Yeah, no, it's it is procedural questions. So I'm gonna turn it over to Commissioner Strason. Oh, right. Um, so things that we would like to know. Um we had there's a lot of questions about the relationship between the Carol Creek overlay, um, the E Street form based code, the density enhancement area, um, how some of these other things are going to be implemented and the uh impact that they'll have on the Carol Creek overlay, the relationship about which one takes precedence. We want to know who would be the best person in the city to answer those questions and ask that person to come to the workshop. Um it might be Mark, it might be somebody else. Let us know. Um let's see. We also had um how does the mute. I'm on mute. I'm not on mute there. I'm not okay. I was trying, I was hitting that button frantically. Um, so let me just kind of resay it so that I make sure I understand. Um you're interested in understanding how the Carroll Creek overlay and the future form-based code may interact and interact, but also what the future form-based code might look like, and if some of the provisions in that form-based code might be an appropriate way of dealing with some of the issues in the Carroll Creek Parkway um overlay, parkway. And Gabrielle, you and I talked a little bit about that. But what the other thing that uh Commissioner Strawson brought up was that the uh density enhancement area, just uh and it may be you, Gabrielle, but answering questions about that. And we also thought, would it make sense that um Mark? Um, and this was in a conference call that Commissioner Manales and I had this morning with uh Joe that the rest of you will hear about it. Well, it's you know, you can't get three commissioners together because that's a quorum. So but I've been sort of having these little, I've been having two sets of conversations. And Dorothy is just on fire with this project that I'll let her tell be you about it. We stood to an email. But the suggestion was to bring Mark to the workshop and um have him give um information, have him give a little tutorial on this Carol Creek overlay and maybe be open to questions. Was that right, uh Dorothy?
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