Pre-PC Meeting: March 8, 2024 – Agenda Prep for March 11 Planning Commission Hearing
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Pre-PC Meeting: March 8, 2024 – Agenda Prep for March 11 Planning Commission Hearing
This pre-Planning Commission (PC) meeting was held on March 8, 2024, at 3:00 PM to review items on the upcoming March 11, 2024, Planning Commission hearing agenda. The meeting was chaired by Ron (acting chair in the absence of the other two chairs) and attended by commissioners Sherry, David, Gabriel, and Dorothy. Staff members included Gabriel and David. The meeting covered the consent calendar, a fence modification request, a formal recommendation for the "Let's Move Frederick" policy plan, and updates on the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Key discussions focused on the scope of the recommendation vote and the need for a streets master plan.
Consent Calendar
- The minutes from the previous meeting were listed as a routine action item for approval on March 11.
Discussion Items
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Architectural Review for Sycamore Ridge (Sherry’s project): Sherry reported no updates since the workshop. A photo illustration requested by Joan had not been obtained, but the applicant’s booklet was deemed sufficient. No questions from the commission.
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Fence Modification for 324 Heather Ridge Drive: This request (to place a fence beyond the front facade of a dwelling) was discussed at the prior workshop. The lot has a unique layout relative to a private drive. Staff recommends approval without conditions. The applicant’s fence contractor indicated the property owner would attend the March 11 hearing.
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Let’s Move Frederick Plan: David presented updates to Draft 7, including an executive summary, additional language on parking policy challenges, updated sidewalk project lists in the appendix, and modifications to pedestrian project dollar amounts. The Planning Commission does not have a legislated role in this policy document, but staff recommends providing input to the Mayor and Board. Gabriel outlined options for the commission’s recommendation: a simple approval/disapproval, a conditional recommendation, or a decision to postpone the vote until April to allow for drafting of specific language. The commission discussed the possibility of taking a straw poll on March 11 and then voting on a formal letter in April. Commissioners expressed appreciation for this flexibility.
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Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Streets Master Plan: Gabriel shared updated maps for major road improvements. The discussion included a need for a streets master plan as a separate planning effort (not a CIP project) to evaluate future road connections and infill infrastructure. Commissioner Ron raised the topic of a smart traffic system analysis, which had been discussed in previous years. David noted a grant application for sensor-controlled traffic signaling on 7th Street was not funded and that current signal systems are camera-based but not networked. The group considered recommending that the Mayor and Board study a smart traffic system as part of a broader streets master plan. Ron agreed to draft language for the March 11 meeting.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes were taken at this pre-meeting; the commission is preparing for the March 11 hearing.
- For the Let’s Move Frederick plan, the commission will discuss on March 11 and may either vote on a recommendation or postpone a formal vote to April to allow for written language.
- For the CIP, the commission will consider incorporating a recommendation to initiate a streets master plan and a study of smart traffic systems.
- The fence modification will be heard on March 11 with staff’s recommendation of approval.
- The architectural review for Sycamore Ridge will proceed as presented.
Meeting Transcript
Yes. I sent Joan email, so it should be prepared to share the meeting. That means we got Dorothy and so that's the rest of everything. Ron, you are um the the chair in the absence of the other two. Um boy, I was I was gonna say at our pre-PC meeting. Um I don't want to deprive you of any rights and responsibilities that you have. However, if you would like to me to kind of run through the agenda, I'm happy to do that too. I I would, if you don't mind, because I didn't have a chance to prep for that at all. Um fair enough. A surprise, uh pop quiz. No, I'm not I'm happy to run through that. Um let's see. It's oops, let me get my screens where I need to be. So it is three o'clock. We have David and Sherry. Um Monica won't be here. I'm just gonna go over her application real quick um this afternoon. And I think that's everybody. So if we're ready, we'll go ahead and get started and open the pre-PC meeting for March 8th. Uh and this is in advance of our March 11th planning commission hearing to discuss the items that are on the agenda. Uh the first uh items that you'll vote on are of course the minutes as always. And then our first miscellaneous item is the architectural review for Sycamore Ridge, and that is Sherry's project. And I'll turn it over here to her to give you any updates on that since the workshop. Oh so um not really any updates. Um everything, everything is good to go. The um, I believe at the workshop, they uh I think it was Joan maybe had asked for some type of photo illustration um of the product, and the applicant haven't been able to get back in touch with them. Um, so we could get those. But the I think they um the booklet that they provide for the architecturals. I think I think that they have a pretty good illustration of what it's going to look at look like. So hopefully that will suffice. Anyone have any questions on the Sycamore uh Sycamore Rich, Sycamore Spring? I get them all confused. Um the architecture no questions, thank you. Okay, thanks. Thanks, Sherry. Our next item, and then now we're moving on to the regular agenda. Uh, is the new business is the fence modification for 324 Heather Ridge Drive, and that was also discussed at our workshop just last month. Um, this was the request to place a fence beyond the front facade of the residential dwelling unit. And as we discussed at the workshop, um, this is kind of a unique layout in the configuration of the lots and their relationship to a private um private drive that provides access to them. Uh there were no follow-up items at the workshop. I believe the applicant who was the um fence contractor or representative for the fence contractor indicated that the property owner would be at the hearing on Monday. So hopefully they'll be in attendance as well to answer any questions. Um, but we are recommending approval without any um conditions and happy to answer any questions on that. I don't have any questions. No, thank you. No, thank you. Moving right along. Um, our next item is the uh plan for let's move Frederick that David presented at a couple past workshops. Um we're bringing it forward in a more formal capacity at this time to make a recommendation to the mayor and board, as we discussed at the workshop uh last month. I believe it was last month.
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