Frederick Planning Commission Meeting – September 8, 2023

This was a worksession of the Frederick Planning Commission held on September 8, 2023, to prepare for the upcoming public hearings scheduled for September 11–12, 2023. The commission reviewed multiple agenda items including a rezoning for the police headquarters, the Brickworks master plan, architectural reviews for Kellerton and West Park Village, and site plans for East Park. No formal votes were taken; the discussion focused on clarifying application materials, modifications, and staff recommendations.

Discussion Items

Police Station Rezoning (East All Saint Street)

• Staff presented the second hearing for a request to place an Institutional Floating Zone on the property at 100 East All Saint Street to facilitate the new police headquarters.
• Staff noted no new substantive information beyond the August report; the only new content was the staff's recommendations (findings 1–6 related to population, transportation, compatibility with the comprehensive plan).
• Commissioner questions: The existing parking deck and building are on separate lots that have been combined. The police will use the parking lot on the new site, with the lower level of the parking garage reserved for restricted police access.
• The property is subject to Historic Preservation Overlay (HPO) and Carroll Creek Overlay, but the city is not required to follow its own zoning procedures for state-mandated projects. The final site plan will not come back to the commission; only HPO approvals apply.
• The floating zone is permanent as long as the institutional use continues; it is not temporary.

Brickworks Master Plan

• Staff summarized the September update package, which included all public comment received up to the hearing (one additional email received that day). Public comment letters were on pages 22–608 of the packet.
• A plan sheet erroneously showed an access point onto Monocacy Boulevard (a glitch in the file); the intent was to stub the road and not provide an entrance/exit at this time to preserve the arterial road's capacity.
• Commissioner Dorothy requested clarification on the scope of the vote: the commission will vote on the master plan performance standards (4-7-1), the Class A design for multi-family, and the Class A design for non-residential (604D). Modifications are part and parcel of the master plan and will not be voted on individually.
• Five modifications were identified for multi-family (parking, setbacks, building orientation) and three for townhouse units (setbacks, front-loaded parking pads, driveway coverage). Additional modifications relate to street standards and sidewalks. Commissioners requested a consolidated list of all modifications for the hearing.
• Staff explained that the justifications for modifications are based on three criteria: not contrary to purpose and intent, compensating design features, and consistency with the comprehensive plan. The same compensating features may be used for multiple modifications.
• The sidewalk modification: the applicant proposes sidewalk on only one side of a private street adjacent to an industrial site (Verizon). Staff's position is that all public infrastructure should have sidewalk on both sides.
• The master plan package includes a revised plan with markups showing changes; the August report and September addendum together constitute the full record for the hearing.

Kellerton Architectural Review

• No new information since the previous worksession. The cottage elevation for the Devonshire model was previously discussed. One action item: approval.

West Park Village Architectural Review

• No substantive changes. New elevations were clearly separated in the packet (six pages of new elevations, followed by previously approved plans with highlighted changes). Action: approval.

East Park Preliminary Plat and Final Site Plan

• Preliminary Plat: A modification to modify street standards for two main public streets (Lindley and East Parkway) to increase lane widths. Technical comments were updated; no changes since the workshop.
• Final Site Plan: Based on the revised preliminary plat, includes a modification for light spillover along two road frontages and against lot seven. No light spillover on the northern property line (large landscape buffer to residential neighborhood). One modification and vote on the plan.
• Staff answered questions about application forms and checklists; the city is transitioning to an online submission system with public access.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken. The commission will continue the hearings on September 11–12, 2023 (Tuesday night) for the Brickworks master plan and other items.
• The Winpenny annexation was deferred because the resubmission showed a connection to Winpenny Drive and an alternative connection to future land, requiring additional review and coordination with the county. It will return in approximately 30 days.
• The Brickworks hearing will include a consolidated list of modifications prepared by staff.
• The meeting adjourned at approximately 4:00 PM.