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Record of Proceedings

Planning Commission Meeting Summary - March 11, 2023

Planning Commission — Saturday, March 11, 2023

BodyFrederick, Maryland

SessionPlanning Commission

DateSaturday, March 11, 2023

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 42:11

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:01

Okay.

0:02

Okay.

0:02

Well, it is a three o'clock, so we will call the meeting to order.

0:07

And actually, I'm gonna ask Gabrielle again to introduce Monica so that, or just to Dorothy, Monica's on the phone.

0:18

And you've met her.

0:20

Hello.

0:22

I think I met Monica the last time we had at the workshop.

0:26

Yes, I think so too.

0:29

Okay, great.

0:30

Great, great, great.

0:31

So we'll jump right in into the agenda.

0:34

We have one consent item.

0:36

And this one is Pam's.

0:39

Yes, and Pam hopefully is welcoming her newest grandbaby into the world this afternoon.

0:45

So yeah, so um I've been heard back from her, but I'm gonna be covering her items this afternoon.

0:50

So I will uh take this one.

0:53

Um there were no um conditions of approval.

0:56

So this is that governor's play slot 4A.

0:58

It's a revision to the previous site plan.

1:00

This had to do with the um they had to remove several trees and re uh reconfigures and parking, the trees that were being removed were a result of changes that happened after you guys approved the site plan.

1:13

Then they went into the improvement plan phase and we're looking at their stormwater management and had to make some adjustments for that.

1:18

So that was the and that prompted the change.

1:21

Um one of the conditions of approval that you had on your previous plan was related to landscaping, so that's why it has to come back for your approval.

1:28

Um, but everything is squared away now, and there are no conditions of approval that were recommending, so it is on the consent agenda.

1:35

Okay.

1:36

Any questions from anybody?

1:38

No.

1:39

Uh Dorothy, any questions on this?

1:43

No, ma'am, thank you.

1:44

Okay, ma'am, ma'am.

1:47

Okay.

1:48

Uh number B is a continuance, and this is Gabrielle also.

1:55

Yes, this is the East Pat WAFS that's been continued a couple of times now.

1:59

Um, they were working through some issues with their archaeological investigation component of the project.

2:04

Usually that's all squared away um prior to when we get to planning commission.

2:08

Uh, that issue has been resolved and they have um completed that process.

2:12

So now they're able to get on back on the agenda.

2:14

Unfortunately, uh, they had to redo all of their public notice because the continuance had been for more than 90 days.

2:21

So we needed to restart that clock, and that's why we have one more 30-day continuance.

2:26

They're doing their public notice, and then that will be able to come before the commission.

2:30

All right.

2:31

Any questions?

2:32

Anyone?

2:33

No.

2:34

All right.

2:38

Okay, miscellaneous.

2:41

So capital.

2:43

I'll just um I know we talked about this um at the last workshop, and it all of us went away with a little bit of homework.

2:56

So I really don't intend to talk about that homework now, but just to remind everyone that it would really help the process if you all would come with items that you intend to um to ask the commission to be added to the letter if you would do a draft of the text.

3:17

So having said that, um, Gabrielle, what else would you like to say about this?

3:22

And then we'll see what everybody has to say in questions.

3:26

Um, not a lot, nothing was um added to the staff report.

3:29

It reflects the conversation we had at the last workshop.

3:32

Um, our recommendation is basically your recommendation.

3:35

Um, in this, we we aren't offering any recommendations on projects.

3:39

You have your previous um previous letters and our discussion last month.

3:44

So the goal would be to walk out of the meeting with a good list.

3:48

Um we can help formulate after the meeting if if everyone can reach agreement uh verbally and consensus, we can then I can work on drafting the letter up and we can have Barb sign that and forward to the mayor.

4:00

So um as as Barb noted, it is much information that we can collect at the meeting and be able to articulate, then we'll be able to uh produce that and get it on to the board of Alderman.

4:10

Yeah, and and the other thing um I wanted to just briefly talk about.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Site Plan Approval██████████████████████████████████████████42%

Mixed Use Development██████████████████18%

Procedural████████8%

Transportation and Traffic█████5%

Land Use Planning█████5%

Landscape Design████4%

Zoning And Land Use████4%

Architectural Design███3%

Stormwater Management███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Planning Commission Meeting Summary - March 11, 2023

This meeting of the Frederick Planning Commission covered a consent agenda, multiple site plan and architectural review items, a capital improvement program discussion, and two text amendments. Commissioners discussed modifications, conditions, and next steps for several development projects, with final votes scheduled for the following Monday.

Consent Calendar

Governor's Play Slot 4A (Site Plan Revision): Staff presented a revision due to tree removal and parking reconfiguration after stormwater management adjustments. No conditions of approval were recommended, and the item was placed on the consent calendar.
East Pat WAFS (Continuance): The project was continued for 30 days to allow redoing public notice, as the previous continuance exceeded 90 days. Archaeological investigation issues have been resolved.

Discussion Items

Capital Improvement Program (CIP): Commissioners discussed the format for priority items to include in a letter to the Board of Aldermen. They agreed to continue using a list of priorities rather than a spreadsheet, with staff drafting the letter based on verbal consensus.
Kellerton Land Baby Architectural Review: Staff presented a request for one new model and two new elevations, along with a modification for square accent windows on street-facing facades. No new issues were raised since the workshop.
Free Med Architectural Review: Two townhome models (with and without integral garages) were presented for approval with no modifications. No issues were noted.
Chapel Alley Final Site Plan (APFO Extension): Staff requested a six-month extension of APFO certificates for a small project whose approvals would expire in April. The applicant expects to have building permits within the extension period. School testing was adequate based on the project size.
Frederick Commerce Center: Three modifications were discussed: parking lot interior landscaping (10% requirement not met in truck parking area), parking lot light spillover onto two county lots (houses to be demolished), and minimum parking (966 spaces provided vs. 1,017 required, with a compensating design feature of extra landscaping). Staff recommended demolishing the houses to eliminate the need for a 75-foot buffer. Commissioner asked for quantification of compensating features; staff noted the plan already shows 104 additional trees beyond requirements.
VFW Country Club: Three modifications were requested: side and front setbacks exceedances (with compensating design features including pedestrian-oriented building design) and lighting spillover (mitigated by shared parking agreement). Staff added a condition for a continuous 8-foot wide path (increased from a 5-foot sidewalk) to connect to the planned shared-use path along US 40. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the path location.
Text Amendment I (Mixed-Use): Staff summarized revisions: redefined "redevelopment" to include a time relationship to demolition, corrected the street connectivity ratio to 1.8 (modifiable by reviewing authority), and changed references from "Planning Commission" to "reviewing authority" in several sections. Commissioner Dorothy raised concerns about the ambiguity of the term "reviewing authority" in the draft ordinance, as the current definition in the LMC only covers the Carroll Creek Overlay District. She requested a clarifying revision before the Monday vote.
Text Amendment J (Zoning Map Amendment): First hearing for removal of the Institutional floating zone at 430 Pine Avenue, reinstating M1 light industrial zoning. Staff noted the applicant intends to use the property consistent with the base zone.

Key Outcomes

The consent calendar items (Governor's Play Slot 4A and East Pat WAFS continuance) were approved by acclamation.
Capital Improvement Program: Commissioners agreed to submit priority items in list form; staff will draft a letter based on verbal consensus at the meeting.
Frederick Commerce Center: Staff will update condition #2 (stormwater hotspot details) to be removed from the list. The three modifications will be voted on Monday.
VFW Country Club: Conditions 6, 7, and 8 regarding the 8-foot pedestrian path were added. The modifications and site plan will be voted on Monday.
Text Amendment I: Commissioner Dorothy requested a definitional revision for "reviewing authority" to clarify which body (Planning Commission or Mayor and Board) grants modifications. The amendment is scheduled for a vote on Monday.
Text Amendment J: First hearing conducted; a second hearing will follow.

Meeting Transcript

Okay. Okay. Well, it is a three o'clock, so we will call the meeting to order. And actually, I'm gonna ask Gabrielle again to introduce Monica so that, or just to Dorothy, Monica's on the phone. And you've met her. Hello. I think I met Monica the last time we had at the workshop. Yes, I think so too. Okay, great. Great, great, great. So we'll jump right in into the agenda. We have one consent item. And this one is Pam's. Yes, and Pam hopefully is welcoming her newest grandbaby into the world this afternoon. So yeah, so um I've been heard back from her, but I'm gonna be covering her items this afternoon. So I will uh take this one. Um there were no um conditions of approval. So this is that governor's play slot 4A. It's a revision to the previous site plan. This had to do with the um they had to remove several trees and re uh reconfigures and parking, the trees that were being removed were a result of changes that happened after you guys approved the site plan. Then they went into the improvement plan phase and we're looking at their stormwater management and had to make some adjustments for that. So that was the and that prompted the change. Um one of the conditions of approval that you had on your previous plan was related to landscaping, so that's why it has to come back for your approval. Um, but everything is squared away now, and there are no conditions of approval that were recommending, so it is on the consent agenda. Okay. Any questions from anybody? No. Uh Dorothy, any questions on this? No, ma'am, thank you. Okay, ma'am, ma'am. Okay. Uh number B is a continuance, and this is Gabrielle also. Yes, this is the East Pat WAFS that's been continued a couple of times now. Um, they were working through some issues with their archaeological investigation component of the project. Usually that's all squared away um prior to when we get to planning commission. Uh, that issue has been resolved and they have um completed that process. So now they're able to get on back on the agenda. Unfortunately, uh, they had to redo all of their public notice because the continuance had been for more than 90 days. So we needed to restart that clock, and that's why we have one more 30-day continuance. They're doing their public notice, and then that will be able to come before the commission. All right. Any questions? Anyone? No. All right. Okay, miscellaneous. So capital. I'll just um I know we talked about this um at the last workshop, and it all of us went away with a little bit of homework. So I really don't intend to talk about that homework now, but just to remind everyone that it would really help the process if you all would come with items that you intend to um to ask the commission to be added to the letter if you would do a draft of the text. So having said that, um, Gabrielle, what else would you like to say about this?

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