OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Frederick Planning Commission Workshop - August 21, 2023

Planning Commission — Monday, August 21, 2023
BodyFrederick, Maryland
SessionPlanning Commission
DateMonday, August 21, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:18

Good afternoon.

0:19

It is two o'clock, so welcome to the August 2023 workshop for the Planning Commission for the City of Frederick.

0:30

We have five items on the agenda here, but before we get to the agenda, we talk a little bit about what the procedures are.

0:38

The workshops are really a little bit more casual than the hearings.

0:42

We always start with inviting the applicants up to the table, and we have the applicants walk us through their agenda item.

0:52

We ask that they just don't assume that we've read it all through and say, I hope you've read it through.

1:00

Do you have any questions?

1:01

But actually give us a summary and uh highlight the project.

1:07

Um after that, we'll have questions and comments from the commission, and we'll go back and forth and in essence exhaust the conversation at that point.

1:18

Then we'll go to the staff and we'll have staff add some more comments.

1:22

We'll have questions and comments from the commission of staff.

1:26

Uh the applicant, if they have something to add, again, it's more casual, so the applicant will add.

1:31

And at the end of that conversation, we will ask for public comment.

1:35

Now, if there is anybody here for public comment outside the applicants, and they would like to sign in.

1:42

We do have a sign-in sheet.

1:44

So we have a sign-in sheet over there on the table.

1:48

And if you sign in, please put the number or the name of the item.

1:54

And we will call public comment on the list first, and then we'll ask if there's anyone else here for public comment.

2:01

So uh with that, we're gonna ask um anyone who is here that is intending to uh testify today, um, including the staff to raise or to stand and raise your right hand.

2:19

Okay.

2:20

Do you sound me swear or affirm that the responses given and statements made in this hearing before the planning commission will be the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

2:29

If so, say I do.

2:31

Okay, and thank you very much.

2:34

So, with that, we will get on to the um agenda.

2:38

The first is an informational item.

2:40

It's the presentation of the draft parks and recreation master plan.

2:46

Okay, you did not.

2:50

My name's Bob Smith.

2:51

I'm the deputy director of Parks and Recreation for the City.

2:55

Uh, we have Tom Deal and Lisa Wolf here with us today.

2:58

Uh they're with Barry Dunn.

2:59

Uh we've been working with Barry Dunn uh again in 2021 on a parks and recreation master plan.

3:06

Uh today, Tom and Lisa are going to walk us through uh what that what that process has looked like.

3:12

Uh we presented to Mayor and Board this past fall, uh the draft plan uh out of that discussion, uh the desire for perhaps some sort of an implementation plan.

3:23

Uh what was added to the request.

3:25

I've been working with Barry Dunn uh the past few months to get that implementation plan together.

3:30

Uh we're in a final draft format and in the process of moving forward for formal adoption.

3:35

So with that, I'm going to turn it over to uh to Tom and Lisa.

3:38

Thank you.

3:44

It didn't um excuse me, one of the commissioners and I really can't say this.

3:52

Have the three of you sworn in?

3:55

Uh you all sworn.

3:58

We can we didn't know we were.

3:59

We didn't know we had to.

4:00

It's anybody who uh testifies in front of us.

4:03

And does that include you then, Bob?

4:05

Okay.

4:05

Sorry.

4:06

Um thank you.

4:09

Is that including staff?

4:11

Um do you solemnly swear or affirm that the responses given in statements made in this hearing before the planning commission will be the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

4:20

If so, say I do.

4:21

I do.

4:22

Okay, thank you.

4:23

And that mic, these mics, you really need to get right up there, or nobody can right on top.

4:30

Uh thank you.

4:31

Got it.

4:34

Well, good afternoon.

4:36

Um thank you for having us today.

4:39

Uh, we're certainly excited to um to be here to present to you um the findings and where we are with the final draft of the master plan as Bob had said.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████████████████████55%
Site Plan Approval██████████12%
Architectural Design█████████11%
Procedural████5%
Zoning And Land Use████5%
Building Codes██3%
Wellhead Protection██2%
Land Use Planning██2%
Transportation and Traffic██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Frederick Planning Commission Workshop - August 21, 2023

The Planning Commission held a workshop on August 21, 2023, at 2:00 PM in City Hall. The agenda included five items: an informational presentation on the draft Parks and Recreation Master Plan, architectural reviews for two residential developments, a final plat subdivision, and a final site plan revision. No formal votes were taken; the workshop facilitated discussion among commissioners, staff, and applicants.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public signed up or spoke during any of the five agenda items. The chair asked for public comment after each item, and none was offered.

Discussion Items

  • Item 1: Informational Item – Draft Parks and Recreation Master Plan

    • Presenters: Bob Smith (Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation), Tom Deal and Lisa Wolf (Barry Dunn consultants).
    • The plan, initiated in 2021, includes a community engagement process with over 2,000 participants, eight focus groups, nine stakeholder meetings, and over 1,000 statistically valid surveys.
    • Key demographic data: Frederick population 79,400, median age 37.2, median household income $351,555 (reported as such), and average household size 2.81.
    • Park users preferred trails, open spaces, and pathways; communication was identified as an area for improvement.
    • The proprietary GRASP system scored each park; two parks ranked in the top 130 of 5,000 parks nationally, and three in the top 10.
    • Six top recommendations: improve organizational efficiencies, increase financial opportunities, develop recreation programs, invest in existing/facilities, expand trails/greenways, and improve indoor facilities.
    • Implementation plan added after presentation to Mayor and Board in fall 2022; final draft is now ready for formal adoption.
    • Commissioners discussed the use of parkland dedication fees and fee-in-lieu, noting that current policy restricts fee-in-lieu to new park construction, while some commissioners suggested using funds for improvements to existing parks, especially in infill areas.
    • Next step: Presentation to Mayor and Board on September 7, 2023, for adoption.

  • Item 2: Architectural Review – Kellerton Land Bay B (PC13-195-12)

    • Applicant: Ed Mangold (Keystone Custom Homes) presented a new elevation (the sixth) for the Devonshire home model, designed to have an English cottage look and meet design guidelines.
    • The elevation meets at least five of nine design requirements (main entrance, windows/entries, exterior finishes, high visibility, front facade/streetscapes).
    • High-visibility sides include stone water table and landscaping, consistent with prior approvals.
    • No questions or concerns from commissioners; staff noted continuity across the development.

  • Item 3: Architectural Review – West Park Village (PC17-1077-03)

    • Applicant: Paul Crone (representing Ryan Holmes) introduced the Symphony series, a 22-foot-wide townhome with three new elevations (Tempo, Overture, Sonata) featuring thicker 2x6 walls for better insulation, more stone masonry, and board-and-batten siding.
    • An outdoor living space (patio within building footprint) is included for privacy.
    • The new elevations are consistent with the overall community and meet the Land Management Code (LMC) requirements.
    • Commissioners requested the new product be placed at the front of the packet for easier reference at the hearing.

  • Item 4: Final Plat – 704 & 706 Trail Avenue (PC23-472FSU)

    • Applicant: Steve Wenth (Meridian Surveys) proposed subdividing an existing duplex into two fee-simple lots to allow sale of each unit.
    • Variances for lot width, size, and side setback were approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals in April 2023 due to the neighborhood’s lot configuration.
    • Discussion included the wellhead protection overlay (an antiquated restriction) and the need for a firewall between units; staff confirmed that a firewall must exist and will be verified before recordation.
    • No changes to the existing structure; the subdivision is for zoning compliance only.

  • Item 5: Final Site Plan – 550 Highland (PC23-525FSI)

    • Applicant: Luke Zeller (Harris, Smariga & Associates) presented a revision to a previously approved site plan for two warehouse buildings at the former AirPax site.
    • The revision adds a 15,000 sq ft building along Monroe Avenue (Phase 1) to allow existing tenants to relocate, enabling demolition of the old AirPax building.
    • A new third entrance on Monroe Avenue is proposed to separate commercial and vehicular traffic.
    • One new modification requested: use of truck parking spaces for vehicular parking to reduce imperviousness, since employees drive larger trucks.
    • Previously approved modifications (for minor light spillage and secondary connection) remain applicable; no new lighting is proposed.
    • Staff noted that APFO roads exemption and water/sewer certificates are still valid and need only minor updates.
    • Commissioners asked about traffic brief availability and parking totals; the applicant clarified parking counts (475 total, including 112 truck spaces).

Key Outcomes

  • No formal votes were taken; all items were discussed in workshop format.
  • The Parks and Recreation Master Plan will be presented to the Mayor and Board on September 7, 2023, for adoption.
  • The architectural reviews for Kellerton and West Park Village were well-received and will proceed to a public hearing (date not specified).
  • The final plat for 704 & 706 Trail Avenue requires confirmation of a firewall before the hearing; the item will be brought back for a formal decision.
  • The final site plan revision for 550 Highland will proceed to a hearing with the noted modification regarding truck parking spaces; the previously approved modifications remain in effect.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon. It is two o'clock, so welcome to the August 2023 workshop for the Planning Commission for the City of Frederick. We have five items on the agenda here, but before we get to the agenda, we talk a little bit about what the procedures are. The workshops are really a little bit more casual than the hearings. We always start with inviting the applicants up to the table, and we have the applicants walk us through their agenda item. We ask that they just don't assume that we've read it all through and say, I hope you've read it through. Do you have any questions? But actually give us a summary and uh highlight the project. Um after that, we'll have questions and comments from the commission, and we'll go back and forth and in essence exhaust the conversation at that point. Then we'll go to the staff and we'll have staff add some more comments. We'll have questions and comments from the commission of staff. Uh the applicant, if they have something to add, again, it's more casual, so the applicant will add. And at the end of that conversation, we will ask for public comment. Now, if there is anybody here for public comment outside the applicants, and they would like to sign in. We do have a sign-in sheet. So we have a sign-in sheet over there on the table. And if you sign in, please put the number or the name of the item. And we will call public comment on the list first, and then we'll ask if there's anyone else here for public comment. So uh with that, we're gonna ask um anyone who is here that is intending to uh testify today, um, including the staff to raise or to stand and raise your right hand. Okay. Do you sound me swear or affirm that the responses given and statements made in this hearing before the planning commission will be the whole truth and nothing but the truth? If so, say I do. Okay, and thank you very much. So, with that, we will get on to the um agenda. The first is an informational item. It's the presentation of the draft parks and recreation master plan. Okay, you did not. My name's Bob Smith. I'm the deputy director of Parks and Recreation for the City. Uh, we have Tom Deal and Lisa Wolf here with us today. Uh they're with Barry Dunn. Uh we've been working with Barry Dunn uh again in 2021 on a parks and recreation master plan. Uh today, Tom and Lisa are going to walk us through uh what that what that process has looked like. Uh we presented to Mayor and Board this past fall, uh the draft plan uh out of that discussion, uh the desire for perhaps some sort of an implementation plan. Uh what was added to the request. I've been working with Barry Dunn uh the past few months to get that implementation plan together. Uh we're in a final draft format and in the process of moving forward for formal adoption. So with that, I'm going to turn it over to uh to Tom and Lisa. Thank you. It didn't um excuse me, one of the commissioners and I really can't say this. Have the three of you sworn in? Uh you all sworn. We can we didn't know we were. We didn't know we had to. It's anybody who uh testifies in front of us. And does that include you then, Bob? Okay. Sorry. Um thank you. Is that including staff?

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com