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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Frederick Planning Commission Meeting – May 13, 2024

Planning Commission — Monday, May 13, 2024

BodyFrederick, Maryland

SessionPlanning Commission

DateMonday, May 13, 2024

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 3:16:27

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

0:20

Well, good evening and welcome to the May hearing for the City of Frederick Planning Commission.

0:29

Let's let's see.

0:32

Before beginning tonight's proceedings, I'd like to give a little bit of background on the Planning Commission and the procedures that we will follow this evening.

0:40

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

0:46

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

0:54

Also with us tonight are Gabrielle Collard and other members from the city's planning department.

1:02

Cherion Eaton, I understand, is on his way and stuck in traffic from the engineering department and Scott Waxter from the city's legal department.

1:12

So at this time we will conduct a swearing in of staff of applicants and anyone from the public who is here to give uh testimony.

1:21

If you'd all stand and raise your right hand.

1:25

Okay.

1:26

And of course, I don't have this right here in front of me.

1:30

Um Joan always has it.

1:37

Sorry.

1:38

I'm so prepared, except I don't have this, and you think the number of times I've said it, it'd be right here in front of me.

1:48

Stop that.

1:49

Really?

1:49

I'm embarrassed.

1:50

Um it's here somewhere.

1:57

Oh, Lordy.

1:59

Do you have it?

2:02

Do you solemnly 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.

2:12

Thank you, and thank you, Joe.

2:15

So at this time, I'll turn it over to Gabrielle for the announcements.

2:20

Thank you very much.

2:21

Uh good evening, everyone.

2:22

Just a couple of announcements.

2:24

Um, first, uh, there is no community meeting next Monday, the 20th, uh, due to a lack of new submissions that require that component of public notice or our submissions that came in last month.

2:34

Um, didn't have any that required attendance at the all um the planning department community outreach meeting, so there will be none.

2:40

Uh the planning commission workshop will be held next Monday, the 20th at 2 p.m.

2:44

starting in this room, or in this room starting at 2.

2:46

Um, and backup will be posted online tomorrow.

2:50

Um, we'll let the commission know that as well.

2:53

In addition, I would like to take a moment to deeply appreciate and thank our chair Barb for her many years of service here.

2:59

Under Barb's leadership, the commission has navigated so many different situations, um, from very technically uh complex issues to some that are really philosophically challenging about our community.

3:10

Um she's really led by example and been thoughtful and deliberate in her actions.

3:15

She's challenged all of us to be better at what we do by asking thought-provoking questions that that challenge us to think critically.

3:23

Excuse me.

3:24

In addition, um Barb has really contributed to a significant um noteworthy amount to the city, and we will definitely miss her.

3:31

So, with that, thank you, Barb, for all of your years of commitment.

3:34

Um, it won't be the same without you.

3:36

Thank you.

3:47

Thank you, Gabrielle.

3:49

Um I actually on that, I would like to say a few words too, and um I have written them down.

3:56

So it has been an honor to have served on the planning commission for the City of Frederick these past 10 years.

4:03

I can honestly say that I have loved every, well, nearly every minute, and have enjoyed working with all of the planning commissioners as well as the city's planning and engineering staff.

4:15

And while it was my preference to have remained on the planning commission, I am confident that the current group of dedicated and hard-working commissioners will continue to serve the city and its citizens well.

4:27

On a final note, I want to give special thanks to Gabrielle Collard for her support, guidance, and responsiveness these past 10 years, especially during my years as chair.

4:38

Thank you.

4:40

And thanks to all of you.

4:42

So all right.

4:44

So on with the agenda.

4:50

Next we have the most exciting part our minutes.

4:54

So uh looking for a motion for the April 5th, 2024 pre planning commission meeting minutes.

5:04

I move for the approval of the uh April 5th pre-planning commission meeting minutes.

5:10

Second.

5:11

Okay.

5:12

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

5:16

All those in favor.

5:17

Aye.

5:18

Aye.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Zoning And Land Use██████████████████████████████████████████42%

Urban Design███████████████15%

Affordable Housing████████8%

Procedural██████6%

Public Comment█████5%

Transportation Safety█████5%

Environmental Protection████4%

Public Engagement████4%

Planning Commission Training███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Frederick Planning Commission Meeting – May 13, 2024

The Frederick Planning Commission met on Monday, May 13, 2024, at 6:00 PM at City Hall to consider a consent agenda item, multiple miscellaneous items, old business, and new business. Key actions included approval of a final site plan for the Rose Hill Manor Carriage House, an extension for 800 E. Patrick Street, architectural elevations for Kellerton, a final plat for Barrick Addition, final site plans and forest conservation plans for 7615 Hayward Road Apartments and Patrick East Self Storage. The most heavily debated item—the Wormans Mill Court Apartments zoning map amendment and mixed-use master plan—was continued to the June 10, 2024 hearing to allow commissioners to develop detailed findings and conditions.

Consent Calendar

PC23-313FSI – Rose Hill Manor Carriage House (Final Site Plan): Removed from the consent agenda at the request of a commissioner due to a question regarding museum window guidelines and the use of the National Park Service Museum Handbook as a compensating element. After discussion, staff recommended and the commission unanimously approved the final site plan, finding it complies with LMC Articles 4-8 and will be adequately served by public facilities.

Public Comments & Testimony

Wormans Mill Court Apartments (Items D & E): Kevin Sellner (Fifth Street) expressed support for the project, emphasizing the need for affordable housing and encouraging the commission to creatively use exemptions or conditions (e.g., reduced parking, parkland fees in lieu) to move forward. He urged against sacrificing environmental protections.
7615 Hayward Road Apartments (Item G): Kevin Sellner requested clarity on the MPDU fee-in-lieu calculation under the new ordinance, noting the amount could double compared to the previous ordinance.
General: A representative from Citizens for Responsible Growth thanked outgoing Chair Barbara Nicholas for her decade of service, praising the commission’s thoroughness and responsiveness.

Discussion Items

PC23-1056ZMA & PC23-1057MU – Wormans Mill Court Apartments: The applicant (Standard Communities) seeks rezoning of 11.54 acres from Light Industrial and General Commercial to Mixed Use (MU-2) and approval of a master plan for up to 315 multifamily units (100% affordable at 60% AMI) and 5,000 sq ft of non-residential space. Staff recommended denial of the rezoning and master plan, citing inconsistency with the comprehensive plan’s mixed-use goals, insufficient non-residential allocation, inadequate compensating features for requested modifications (setbacks, building orientation, parking, floodplain), and unresolved traffic/access issues. Staff also recommended denial of modifications to reduce non-residential land, eliminate maximum front setback, adjust building orientation, and reduce parking requirements. However, staff supported modifications regarding lot frontage onto open space/private drives. The applicant argued the project meets many comprehensive plan goals (affordable housing, infill, pedestrian connectivity) and is feasible only with the requested flexibility. Commissioners debated the trade-off between affordable housing and code compliance. After discussion, a motion to continue the items to the June 10, 2024 hearing passed unanimously (5-0) to allow commissioners time to draft appropriate findings and conditions.
PC23-1044FSU – Barrick Addition to Barrick (Final Plat): Staff noted the originally requested modification was no longer needed. The plat approves resubdivision of an estate lot and farm tract in conjunction with the Sycamore Springs PND. The estate lot is not part of the PND and will be recorded with road frontage. The plat must be recorded prior to unconditional approval of the combined preliminary plat and final site plan. The commission unanimously approved with three conditions.
PC23-1417FSI – 7615 Hayward Road Apartments (Final Site Plan): Proposal for three four-story buildings, 112 multifamily units, plus two modifications: (1) reduce minimum access points to one public street access (relying on an emergency easement to adjacent property), and (2) allow light spillover onto Hayward Road and abutting PB-zoned properties. Staff supported both modifications and the final site plan, finding them consistent with the comprehensive plan and including compensating features (shared access easement, reduced light poles). The commission unanimously approved both modifications and the final site plan with six conditions.
PC23-1418FSCB – 7615 Hayward Road Apartments (Forest Conservation Plan): The commission unanimously approved the combined forest stand delineation and preliminary forest conservation plan, which meets planting requirements via street tree credits and a fee-in-lieu of $14,056.50.
PC23-807FSI – Patrick East Self Storage (Final Site Plan): Proposal for a one-story self-storage facility in two phases (21,726 sq ft) with a requested modification to reduce parking from 22 to 7 spaces. Staff supported the modification and plan, citing reduced impervious surfaces and environmental benefits. The commission unanimously approved both.
PC23-808FSCB – Patrick East Self Storage (Forest Conservation Plan): The commission unanimously approved the combined forest plan with a fee-in-lieu payment of $2,352.30 for 0.18 acres.

Key Outcomes

Rose Hill Manor Carriage House (Final Site Plan): Unanimously approved.
800 E. Patrick Street (APFO Extension): Unanimously approved (6-month extension to November 11, 2024).
Kellerton Architectural Review (Nottingham cottage elevation): Unanimously approved.
Wormans Mill Court Apartments (ZMA & Master Plan): Continued to June 10, 2024 hearing (unanimous).
Barrick Addition to Barrick (Final Plat): Unanimously approved with three conditions.
7615 Hayward Road Apartments (Final Site Plan & Modifications): Unanimously approved.
7615 Hayward Road Apartments (Forest Conservation Plan): Unanimously approved.
Patrick East Self Storage (Final Site Plan & Modification): Unanimously approved.
Patrick East Self Storage (Forest Conservation Plan): Unanimously approved.
Chair Barbara Nicholas recognized for her 10 years of service on the commission.

Meeting Transcript

Well, good evening and welcome to the May hearing for the City of Frederick Planning Commission. Let's let's see. Before beginning tonight's proceedings, I'd like to give a little bit of background on the Planning Commission and the procedures that we will follow this evening. 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 power and duties are assigned by the charter of the City of Frederick. Also with us tonight are Gabrielle Collard and other members from the city's planning department. Cherion Eaton, I understand, is on his way and stuck in traffic from the engineering department and Scott Waxter from the city's legal department. So at this time we will conduct a swearing in of staff of applicants and anyone from the public who is here to give uh testimony. If you'd all stand and raise your right hand. Okay. And of course, I don't have this right here in front of me. Um Joan always has it. Sorry. I'm so prepared, except I don't have this, and you think the number of times I've said it, it'd be right here in front of me. Stop that. Really? I'm embarrassed. Um it's here somewhere. Oh, Lordy. Do you have it? Do you solemnly 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. Thank you, and thank you, Joe. So at this time, I'll turn it over to Gabrielle for the announcements. Thank you very much. Uh good evening, everyone. Just a couple of announcements. Um, first, uh, there is no community meeting next Monday, the 20th, uh, due to a lack of new submissions that require that component of public notice or our submissions that came in last month. Um, didn't have any that required attendance at the all um the planning department community outreach meeting, so there will be none. Uh the planning commission workshop will be held next Monday, the 20th at 2 p.m. starting in this room, or in this room starting at 2. Um, and backup will be posted online tomorrow. Um, we'll let the commission know that as well. In addition, I would like to take a moment to deeply appreciate and thank our chair Barb for her many years of service here. Under Barb's leadership, the commission has navigated so many different situations, um, from very technically uh complex issues to some that are really philosophically challenging about our community. Um she's really led by example and been thoughtful and deliberate in her actions. She's challenged all of us to be better at what we do by asking thought-provoking questions that that challenge us to think critically. Excuse me. In addition, um Barb has really contributed to a significant um noteworthy amount to the city, and we will definitely miss her. So, with that, thank you, Barb, for all of your years of commitment. Um, it won't be the same without you. Thank you. Thank you, Gabrielle. Um I actually on that, I would like to say a few words too, and um I have written them down. So it has been an honor to have served on the planning commission for the City of Frederick these past 10 years. I can honestly say that I have loved every, well, nearly every minute, and have enjoyed working with all of the planning commissioners as well as the city's planning and engineering staff. And while it was my preference to have remained on the planning commission, I am confident that the current group of dedicated and hard-working commissioners will continue to serve the city and its citizens well. On a final note, I want to give special thanks to Gabrielle Collard for her support, guidance, and responsiveness these past 10 years, especially during my years as chair. Thank you. And thanks to all of you. So all right.

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