City of Frederick Planning Commission Pre-Planning Meeting – August 1, 2023

The Planning Commission held a pre-planning workshop on August 1, 2023, to review and discuss multiple agenda items ahead of the regular public hearing scheduled for the following Monday. The meeting covered continuances, the annual report, a continued text amendment, and several site plans, preliminary plats, forest conservation plans, and zoning map amendments. No formal votes were taken; all items were discussed for preparation and potential motions at the upcoming hearing.

Discussion Items

• Continuances – The U-Haul applications (final site plan and combined forest conservation plan) were continued for a second time at the applicant's request due to utility relocation and right-of-way issues that disturbed landscaping and required building frontage adjustments. The commission granted a 30-day continuance.

• Annual Report – Gabrielle presented the required annual report covering calendar year 2022. The report is informational and does not require approval. Commissioners noted errors on the first page (e.g., Roger Wilson incorrectly listed as alderman for that period, missing members like April and Ben) and asked that corrections be emailed. The report will be published on the city website.

• Text Amendment (Continued) – The commission revisited a text amendment that had reached a stalemate at the previous hearing (4 voting members, no motion carried). Discussion centered on procedural options if a motion cannot pass. Staff proposed amending the rules of procedure to specify that failure to pass a motion on legislative changes equates to a decision to leave existing code unchanged. Any rule change would require proposal at one meeting and adoption at a subsequent advertised meeting. Commissioners stressed they would first attempt to reach a motion (for, against, or with amendments) on the text amendment at the upcoming hearing. One email of public comment was noted in the packet.

• Madison Street Final Plat (PC22-3168) – Staff reported no changes from the workshop; the plat was straightforward and no questions had been raised.

• Block M Lots 5 & 6, Linden Hills Final Plat (PC23-157) – No changes from the workshop. Discussion clarified that reorienting the lots makes both developable (the previous building envelope was unbuildable). The orientation creates the only side-yard condition on Linden Street, but staff found this acceptable.

• Madison on Market – Final Site Plan (PC23-7-4) & Preliminary Forest Conservation Plan (PC23-75) – Staff noted no modifications since the workshop but added conditions, including a requirement for the applicant to obtain fee-in-lieu of parkland from the Mayor and Board, national green building standards, and a private maintenance agreement for a new pump station. Forest conservation inspection notes (two-year survival, supplemental planting) were added as typical conditions.

• Gambrille View Final Site Plan (PC23-186) – The applicant proposes making front patios optional for all 300 units (190 multifamily, 110 townhouses) in Area A, similar to a prior phase. Modifications are needed for side-entry stoops (safety reasons) and fences/retaining walls in front yards (complying with sight triangle requirements). Staff conditions include verifying plant counts and including details in the design booklet. Retaining walls were noted as applicable to two-over-two units.

• Highland Trail Preliminary Plat (PC22-1097) – Staff reported that the applicant updated the modification letter but included an unnecessary standard detail (#12) that should be removed. Connections to Rencord and southern street connections were addressed at the workshop. The modification criteria for this plat differ from typical landscaping modifications (criteria under LMC §510).

• Highland Trail Forest Conservation Plan – No changes from workshop; a specimen tree modification was requested. Staff confirmed that compensating features are not required for specimen tree modifications, which are evaluated under different criteria (unwarranted hardship, special privilege, etc.). Inspection timelines are included on the plan.

• Strong Cottage Zoning Map Amendment (PC23-437) – This HPC-related designation application resulted from demolition review. The packet was updated to include the property owner's statement of opposition and approved HPC minutes that were omitted from the workshop packet. The HPC recommended expanding the district boundary from an initial 0.47 acres to 0.68 acres to include more open space southwest of the structure.

• West Ridge Shopping Center – Zoning Map Amendment (MU2) & Master Plan – This is the first of two hearings; no action was taken. Staff presented updates since the workshop, including revised street cross-sections for Key Parkway (with a protected bike lane concept) and two alternate street details (B1 and B2) to provide an 8-foot-wide path on the residential side of two perpendicular streets, with a future option for a 5-foot sidewalk on the commercial side. The applicant held a separate community meeting. The commission will receive public comment and hear full presentations at the upcoming hearing. The text amendment allowing modifications to all of §417 (mixed-use standards) for redevelopment was referenced, providing three specific criteria for master plan modifications. The commission discussed that a recommendation of denial would still forward the item to the Board of Aldermen.

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken; all items will proceed to the public hearing on the following Monday (August 7, 2023).
• The annual report will be corrected per commissioner feedback and then published.
• The text amendment stalemate may be resolved by attempting to pass a motion (with or without amendments) at the hearing; if not, a rule change process will be initiated to define the outcome of a failed motion.
• Continuances for U-Haul were granted (30 days).
• Staff reports and conditions for all other items will guide the commission's deliberations at the hearing.