Planning Commission Workshop Summary – September 18, 2023
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The Frederick Planning Commission held a workshop on September 18, 2023, at 2:00 PM to discuss four agenda items. The workshop followed a format where applicants presented, commissioners asked questions, staff provided input, and public comment was invited. No final votes were taken; all items remain under review pending further submissions.
Sycamore Ridge – Architectural Review (PC16-436-07PND)
- The applicant, Nick Lee of Ryan Homes, presented architectural details for phase two single-family homes, including neutral color schemes, window grill patterns, and high-visibility lot treatments. A modification was requested for 1:1 ratio windows in powder rooms to provide natural light while preserving privacy. The comprehensive on-lot landscaping package includes upgraded plantings at all homes. Staff noted the landscaping is consistent with the development’s design booklet. No public comment was offered.
Frederick AutoSpa – Final Site Plan & Forest Stand Delineation (PC23-656FSI, PC23-926FSCB)
- David Trostel (Frederick Seibert & Associates) and Chad Bond (AutoSpa Express) presented plans to add 14 vacuum stations and three mat washers on an existing car wash site. The modification requested concerns a loading area: a 33'x44' space used during off-hours, exceeding the required 9'x20' standard. Staff noted that the forest conservation calculation must be corrected from 0.57 acres (disturbed area) to 1.12 acres (entire site); the applicant anticipates no fee-in-lieu. Stormwater management and APFO exemptions are pending final review. Commissioners discussed parking, vacuum station access, and stormwater recycling. No public comment was made.
Kellerton – Preliminary Forest Conservation Plan Revision (PC23-660PFCP)
- Mary Patton (Fox & Associates) presented revisions to the previously approved forest conservation plan for Kellerton Land Bays D and E. Changes include relocating eight forest conservation areas and requesting removal of two additional specimen trees (over 50% root zone impacted). The applicant stated that the total forest mitigation (14.74 acres) remains unchanged. Staff noted that the revision is required because individual stands changed by more than 10%. Commissioner Strawson questioned whether plan modifications could have saved the trees; the applicant replied that no alternatives were studied. Staff deferred to the certified arborist’s professional opinion. No public comment was offered.
Grove Hill – Preliminary Plat, Final Site Plan & Forest Conservation Plan (PC23-189PSU/FSI, PC23-191PFCP)
- Chris Smariga (Harris, Smariga & Associates) presented an 8.5-acre infill development of 16-foot and 20-foot townhomes, with alley-loaded garages, a north-south road connection, and private amenity spaces. The plan reduced units by three from the illustrative plan and responded to neighbor concerns by reorienting units away from adjacent backyards. Modifications requested include: 30-foot alleys (instead of 25 feet), sidewalk on one side only on some streets, a permanent T-turnaround, and reduced frontage for lots facing open space. Staff noted that the moderately priced dwelling unit (MPDU) agreement must be recorded before unconditional approval. The forest conservation plan proposes removal of two hollow specimen trees, with more street trees planted to compensate. Commissioner Strawson and others discussed homogeneity, pricing (mid-$300,000s), and architectural variety. No public comment was made.
Meeting Transcript
Ready? I'm gonna gabble a thing for this. Well, good afternoon. It is two o'clock, and welcome to the September workshop for the Planning Commission for the City of Frederick. Let's see. Um we have been following this same procedure for a while now. We invite the applicants up and we have them give the presentation. I think all of you here have been with us in the past, but we really, but I'll say it anyway. We ask the application, the applicants to not just say, are there any questions, but to actually walk us through the the um application, the summary points, um, the modifications, etc. After that, uh the commission will ask its questions, make its comments, the applicant can respond back. It's much more casual than the hearing. And what when we've sort of exhausted that conversation, we then go to staff and ask staff what else would they like to add to the conversation? Then we follow that with the commission's um questions and comments, and then the applicant has a chance to weigh in. So that really is a three-way conversation. Uh after that, we ask if there's public comment. If there is, the applicant can come back and address the issues and questions that were brought up in public comment. So with that, anyone here, applicants, staff, and other that is going to testify today. Would you stand and be sworn in? Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the responses given in the 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. All right. Um, our first agenda item is the architectural review for Sycamore Ridge, and that is PC 16-436. Good afternoon. My name is Nick Lee, Ryan Holmes, um, vice president and division yeah, all right. Um, so to walk us through SickMaro Ridge phase two, um, we are seeking to get architectural approval for the single family homes. Uh you can see on the map um on the screen here, it is uh the area highlighted in red, primarily the left, which would be the west side of the community. Sorry about that. This was not working the other day, and I forgot to check. It still isn't. So I see something. There's something unplugged underneath me. I wasn't gonna say that during the hearing here, but we'll should we sorry about that. We'll share this. You know what? I'll just look up on the screen. Sure. Yeah. Okay. Nick, I'm sorry. No problem. Um, so next getting into the color schemes. Uh, we're looking to stay with uh more neutral tones that are gonna be complimentary to the existing architecture in the community um with vinyl clad siding and stone as our uh uh masonry component. And then into the windows and entryway exhibits. Um depending on the product, we intend to offer both a traditional style um window grill pattern with with either six or nine lights, and then on our craftsman style homes, it'll be a uh single grill line down the middle to be complementary to the craftsman style architecture. At least 15% of the area of a street-facing facade, including the roof area and garage will include windows or main entryways, and all street facing windows will meet the the requirements of a one-to-one point five ratio, uh but not more than a four to one ratio. And then we've denoted what are the high visibility lots within the community will be. Those are all highlighted in red. Uh corner lots and lots where the side of the house is directly visible from the street, must have the adequate fenestration on the side exposure, uh, which is a minimum of three standard windows, two must be on the first floor, or one bay window. Where not in conflict, we will install shutters to be complementary of the front facade on the side window or side of the house windows.
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