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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Frederick Planning Commission Meeting – November 13, 2023

Planning Commission — Monday, November 13, 2023

BodyFrederick, Maryland

SessionPlanning Commission

DateMonday, November 13, 2023

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:28:57

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

0:11

It is six o'clock, so good evening and welcome to the November hearing for the City of Frederick Planning Commission.

0:20

So before we begin tonight's proceedings, I'd like to give a little bit of background on the Planning Commission and the procedures that we will be following.

0:28

Members of the Planning Commission are all residents of the city and are appointed by the mayor and board of Alderman.

0:34

The commission is made up of five regular members and one alternate, and our powers and duties are assigned by the charter of the City of Frederick.

0:43

With us this evening are Gabrielle Collard and other members from the city's planning department.

0:53

I don't believe Chairin is here.

0:55

And Scott Waxter from the city's legal department.

0:59

So at this time we will conduct a is Chairon here?

1:04

Okay.

1:05

At this time we will conduct a swearing in of the staff, the applicants, and anyone from the public who is here to give public comment.

1:15

If you would all stand and raise your right hand.

1:20

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

1:32

If so, say I do.

1:34

Okay.

1:34

Terrific.

1:37

Okay, let's turn it over to Gabrielle for announcements.

1:42

Thank you.

1:42

Uh good evening, everyone.

1:43

Uh, just two quick announcements.

1:45

One, we have our planning commission workshop next Monday, the 20th.

1:48

Uh, and the agenda and the staff reports are posted online already for that.

1:52

There are only two um items, but one of them is our let's move Frederick plan on being presented by our transportation planner.

1:58

So that is um kind of a comprehensive planning effort uh that's being provided for informational purposes, and I would encourage folks interested in transportation and bike and head improvements to check that out.

2:09

Uh that same evening at 6 p.m.

2:11

is our planning department community outreach meeting, which is held at 6 p.m.

2:15

and that is held in this room.

2:16

Uh, it is also streamed online.

2:19

And this is an informational meeting where we uh show kind of showcase uh new projects that have just come in with our most recent submittal deadline.

2:26

So these are items that haven't been scheduled for a planning commission workshop, or hearing their kind of the latest and greatest new submissions, uh, and it's just an opportunity for applicants, the public, and planning staff to discuss those uh applications.

2:39

That's all I have.

2:40

Okay, and thank you, Gabrielle.

2:42

Now we are going to go through the most exciting part of the evening.

2:45

We have five sets of minutes.

2:48

So, first looking for a motion for the October 9th, 2023 Planning Commission meeting minutes.

2:56

I move for approval of the October 9th, 2023 Planning Commission meeting minutes.

3:00

Second.

3:01

That is a motion from Commissioner Strawson, second, Commissioner Beatty.

3:06

All those in favor.

3:07

Aye.

3:08

Aye.

3:08

Abstain.

3:09

Okay.

3:09

Uh that's four in favor, Commissioner Manales abstained.

3:14

Looking for a motion now for October 13th, pre-planning commission meeting minutes.

3:20

I move for the approval of the October 13th, 2023 pre-planning commission meeting minutes.

3:25

Second.

3:26

That is a motion from Commissioner Beattie, second, Commissioner Strausson.

3:30

All those in favor?

3:31

Aye.

3:32

Okay.

3:34

That's uh four in favor, and Commissioner Menales has abstained.

3:39

Um we have um looking for a motion for October 16th, 2023 Planning Commission workshop minutes.

3:49

I move for approval of the October 16th, 2023 Planning Commission workshop minutes.

3:54

Second.

3:55

That's a motion by Commissioner Strawson, second by Commissioner Beattie.

3:59

All those in favor.

4:00

Aye.

4:01

Aye.

4:01

And again, that's four in favor, and Commissioner Manales has abstained.

4:06

And we received these um as a commission just about an hour and a half ago.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Fencing Regulation███████████████████████23%

Procedural█████████████████17%

Public Safety██████████████14%

Forest Conservation█████████████13%

Parking Policies███████████11%

Urban Design█████████9%

Engineering And Infrastructure█████5%

Environmental Protection███3%

Transportation and Traffic███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Frederick Planning Commission Meeting – November 13, 2023

The Frederick Planning Commission held a regular meeting on November 13, 2023, at 6:00 PM in City Hall. The commission considered multiple agenda items including a fence modification, reconsideration of a master plan condition, a forest conservation plan revision, a car wash expansion, and a combined preliminary plat and final site plan for 65 townhouses. All votes were unanimous except where noted. The meeting adjourned after approximately two hours.

Consent Calendar

Approval of Minutes: The commission voted on five sets of minutes. Minutes from October 9, October 13, October 16, and November 9, 2023 were approved (4-0 with Commissioner Menelas abstaining on each). Minutes from October 17, 2023 were continued to December due to lack of a quorum.

Public Comments & Testimony

Grove Hill Townhouse Development (PC23-189PSU/FSI): Michael Banks, General Manager of WFMD/WFRE (5966 Grove Hill Road), spoke about safety concerns related to the adjacent radio towers. He noted that the towers are energized AM towers emitting radio frequency radiation, that guide wires pose a hazard, and that the new structures could affect broadcast patterns. He expressed disappointment that the developer had not contacted him to discuss fencing or other mitigation despite his prior outreach. The applicant responded that they are willing to work with the radio station and proposed installing a fence along the common property line.

Discussion Items

Fence Modification – 800 Rosemont Avenue (PC23-924PCM): Staff presented a request to allow a hedgerow beyond the front façade. The applicant, Steve Barger, installed boxwoods that violate LMC Section 821. Staff recommended approval with a condition to maintain the hedge at or below 30 inches in height. The commission approved the modification unanimously (5-0).
Brickworks Master Plan Reconsideration (PC22-1160MU): The applicant sought reconsideration of Condition 9 requiring an environmental mitigation plan completed before building permits, citing new information from MDE. Chair Strawson and others disclosed ex parte conversations. After discussion, the commission voted unanimously to reconsider the master plan approval, specifically reopening Condition 9 for further hearing in December.
Kellerton Preliminary Forest Conservation Plan (PC23-660PFCP): Staff described revisions to mitigation areas, removal of two specimen trees for public infrastructure, and a phasing schedule. The commission approved the specimen tree removal (unanimous) and the forest conservation plan (unanimous) with two conditions.
AutoSpa Final Site Plan (PC23-656FSI) and Forest Plan (PC23-926FSCB): Staff and applicant presented plans for 14 vacuum stations, three mat washers, and a modification to forgo a loading space. The commission approved the loading modification (unanimous) and the site plan (unanimous) with five conditions. The combined forest stand delineation and preliminary forest conservation plan was approved unconditionally (unanimous).
Grove Hill Combined Preliminary Plat and Final Site Plan (PC23-189PSU/FSI): Staff presented plans for 65 townhouses, with modifications to parking and street standards. The radio station manager raised safety concerns. After extensive discussion, the commission approved the parking modification (unanimous), the street standards modification (unanimous), and the site plan (unanimous) with 10 conditions, including a new Condition 10 requiring a minimum 4-foot chain-link fence along the common property line with the radio station (except driveway).
Grove Hill Preliminary Forest Conservation Plan (PC23-191PFCP): Staff presented removal of one specimen tree and planting 0.09 acres. The commission approved the specimen tree removal (unanimous) and the forest conservation plan (unanimous) with three conditions.

Key Outcomes

Fence Modification (800 Rosemont): Approved with condition to keep hedge ≤30 inches tall.
Brickworks Reconsideration: Approved to reconsider Condition 9 at the December 2023 meeting.
Kellerton Forest Plan: Specimen tree removal and plan approved.
AutoSpa Site Plan and Forest Plan: All modifications and plans approved.
Grove Hill Site Plan: Approved with 10 conditions, including a fence along the radio station property line.
Grove Hill Forest Plan: Approved with conditions.
All votes were unanimous (5-0) except where noted. The next regular meeting is scheduled for December 11, 2023.

Meeting Transcript

It is six o'clock, so good evening and welcome to the November hearing for the City of Frederick Planning Commission. So before we begin tonight's proceedings, I'd like to give a little bit of background on the Planning Commission and the procedures that we will be following. Members of the Planning Commission are all residents of the city and are appointed by the mayor and board of Alderman. The commission is made up of five regular members and one alternate, and our powers and duties are assigned by the charter of the City of Frederick. With us this evening are Gabrielle Collard and other members from the city's planning department. I don't believe Chairin is here. And Scott Waxter from the city's legal department. So at this time we will conduct a is Chairon here? Okay. At this time we will conduct a swearing in of the staff, the applicants, and anyone from the public who is here to give public comment. If you would all stand and raise your right hand. Do you solemnly solemnly swear or affirm that the responses given and 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. Terrific. Okay, let's turn it over to Gabrielle for announcements. Thank you. Uh good evening, everyone. Uh, just two quick announcements. One, we have our planning commission workshop next Monday, the 20th. Uh, and the agenda and the staff reports are posted online already for that. There are only two um items, but one of them is our let's move Frederick plan on being presented by our transportation planner. So that is um kind of a comprehensive planning effort uh that's being provided for informational purposes, and I would encourage folks interested in transportation and bike and head improvements to check that out. Uh that same evening at 6 p.m. is our planning department community outreach meeting, which is held at 6 p.m. and that is held in this room. Uh, it is also streamed online. And this is an informational meeting where we uh show kind of showcase uh new projects that have just come in with our most recent submittal deadline. So these are items that haven't been scheduled for a planning commission workshop, or hearing their kind of the latest and greatest new submissions, uh, and it's just an opportunity for applicants, the public, and planning staff to discuss those uh applications. That's all I have. Okay, and thank you, Gabrielle. Now we are going to go through the most exciting part of the evening. We have five sets of minutes. So, first looking for a motion for the October 9th, 2023 Planning Commission meeting minutes. I move for approval of the October 9th, 2023 Planning Commission meeting minutes. Second. That is a motion from Commissioner Strawson, second, Commissioner Beatty. All those in favor. Aye. Aye. Abstain. Okay. Uh that's four in favor, Commissioner Manales abstained. Looking for a motion now for October 13th, pre-planning commission meeting minutes. I move for the approval of the October 13th, 2023 pre-planning commission meeting minutes. Second. That is a motion from Commissioner Beattie, second, Commissioner Strausson. All those in favor? Aye. Okay.

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