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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Frederick Planning Commission Meeting - July 8, 2024

Planning Commission — Monday, July 8, 2024

BodyFrederick, Maryland

SessionPlanning Commission

DateMonday, July 8, 2024

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:04:41

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

0:11

We have heard from Lance and we're good to go.

0:14

So welcome to the July 8th, 2024 Planning Commission hearing.

0:23

Sorry, after all that where to go.

0:28

I got the wrong page.

0:31

Here we are.

0:33

All right.

0:34

So before we get started tonight, I'm gonna give you all everybody a little bit of a background on the planning commission and the procedures that we're gonna follow tonight.

0:42

Um members of the planning commission are all residents of the city and are volunteers appointed by the mayor and board of aldermen.

0:49

Uh the commission is made up of five regular members and one alternate.

0:52

Its powers and duties are assigned by the charter of the city of Frederick and described in section 202 of the land management code.

1:00

Um all of tonight's cases have been appropriately advertised pursuant to section 301 of the land management code and will be presented to the planning commission um in the following format.

1:10

First, we will have an introduction of the case, then the staff will present um their report on the case and their initial recommendations.

1:20

Then we will have a roll call questioning of the staff by the commission.

1:25

Um after that, we will ask the applicant to come up and give their presentation and remarks, and then we will have a roll call of the commission questions to the applicant.

1:36

Following that, we will have public comment.

1:38

Um the applicant will get a chance to respond to public comment.

1:43

Finally, we will have discussion up here of the commission and questions amongst ourselves, and finally we will take action.

1:50

Um so let me remind you again for public comment.

1:53

Um, we will start with the people who have signed up on the list, um, and then I will give anybody else who's decided that they would like to make public comment the chance to speak.

2:03

Um so please, if you know you want to make public comment, sign up before we get to the first public comment.

2:10

Um in support of tonight's meeting.

2:12

We have um members of the um staff members from the city planning department, engineering department, and legal departments.

2:19

Um at this point, anybody and everybody who wants to make a statement before the um commission tonight needs to be sworn in.

2:28

So at this point, I would like everybody to stand up and raise your right hand.

2:35

Thank you.

2:36

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

2:44

If so, answer I do.

2:47

Thank you very much.

2:48

All right.

2:49

So tonight we are gonna start with any announcements from staff.

2:54

Thank you very much.

2:55

Um, just a couple this evening.

2:56

Uh first the planning commission workshop for next Monday.

2:59

We'll also be here at the Annex building, begins at 2 p.m.

3:02

And the agenda and the backup is online for that workshop.

3:05

Uh the same evening on the 15th.

3:08

Um, we have the citywide planning department community outreach meeting, and that will also be held in this room, and that begins at 6 p.m.

3:15

That meeting is uh an informational meeting to showcase uh the latest projects that have been applied for with the city.

3:22

So these are projects in their infancy.

3:23

Um they were just submitted with last month's review period.

3:27

Uh so this is a great opportunity to see what is up and coming.

3:31

And then lastly, just as a point of order for the agenda, we have the pre-planning commission meetings uh minutes available for a vote tonight.

3:38

I wasn't sure on Friday or Wednesday if we would have them, but John was able to pull those together so uh we can vote on those if the commission is ready.

3:45

Thank you very much.

3:46

Thank you.

3:47

And would you mind uh introducing yourself and by title, please?

3:50

Thank you.

3:51

I'm Gabrielle Collard.

3:52

I'm the deputy director for planning now, and very pleased.

3:55

Oh, is is that an interim or temporary position?

3:57

Oh, that is the real deal.

3:59

Real deal.

4:00

The permanent position.

4:03

I am I am extremely excited and humbled.

4:06

It has um been a great couple of weeks and just the support I've received and so many exciting opportunities are ahead of us all.

4:13

So I look forward to working with the community and of course with the commission moving forward and the board.

4:18

Thank you.

4:18

Congratulations.

4:19

Thank you.

4:20

Thank you for introducing that so nicely.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████25%

Transportation Safety██████████████14%

Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████14%

Schools█████████████13%

Public Engagement████████████12%

Procedural██████████10%

Planning Commission Training█████5%

Environmental Protection███3%

Mixed Use Development██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Frederick Planning Commission Meeting - July 8, 2024

The Frederick Planning Commission met on July 8, 2024, at 6:00 PM in City Hall, 101 North Court Street, to review the 2023 Annual Report, a final site plan for Yellow Springs Elementary School, and a zoning map amendment for Frederick County's Prospect Center. The meeting included staff presentations, applicant testimony, public comment, and unanimous votes on all actions.

Public Comments & Testimony

Hannah Nickerson (415 Sherman Avenue) voiced support for the Let's Move Frederick plan mentioned in the 2023 Annual Report, emphasizing the need for safe walking and biking infrastructure and a connected greenway.
Bob Ruby (East Second Street) declined to comment on the Yellow Springs Elementary School item.
Hannah Nickerson (415 Sherman Avenue) asked whether the elementary school would be built as a net-zero facility or participate in Maryland Green School programs, given the state's climate goals.
John Citroni (1117 Lake and Drive, president of Tuscora Creek Home Association) raised concerns about safety for children walking to Yellow Springs Elementary, noting four-lane roads (Christopher's Crossing) and multiple crossing points. He requested details on crossing guards and pedestrian protections.

Discussion Items

2023 Annual Report: Gabrielle Collard, Deputy Director for Planning, presented the report in a new format requested by the state. The report summarizes all 2023 development activity (annexations, permit approvals). Commissioner Manellas asked about defining "Priority Funding Area" and adding a legend to the road classification map on page 19. Collard agreed to update the map title on page 4 to indicate ongoing residential development and to add definitions.
PC24-74SI – Yellow Springs Elementary School Final Site Plan: The applicant (Frederick County Public Schools) requested approval to construct a 59,770-square-foot elementary school on 45.97 acres, with a modification to Section 601E1 (access management) to allow a 108-space parking lot with only one access point to a public street. Staff recommended approval with six conditions. The applicant presented four design options, explaining that the chosen layout (bus loop on Christopher's Crossing, parent drop-off on Spring Run Drive) maximizes safety by separating traffic patterns and provides 65+ single-file stacking spaces for parent drop-off. A traffic circle at Walter Martz Road and Spring Run Drive will calm traffic. The school will be designed to LEED Silver equivalent, with infrastructure for future solar. The applicant noted ongoing discussions with Frederick City Police about crossing guards.
PC24-250ZMA – Frederick County Prospect Center Zoning Map Amendment: The applicant (Frederick County) requested rezoning approximately 19 acres of the 26-acre site at 585 Himes Avenue from Professional Business (PB) to Institutional (IST) to allow public safety and maintenance uses. The remaining 7 acres (northwest parking area) would stay PB to retain potential for residential development. Staff noted the split zoning is permissible but may create complexity. Alderman McShane and Commissioner Beattie questioned the clarity of the boundary and parking adequacy. The applicant clarified that the boundary follows Oak Street and that parking (1,172 spaces) far exceeds the 238-space minimum. The second hearing is scheduled for August 12, 2024.

Key Outcomes

June 17, 2024 Workshop Minutes: Approved unanimously.
July 3, 2024 Pre-Planning Commission Meeting Minutes: Approved unanimously.
2023 Annual Report: Approved unanimously with updates to include: (1) defining Priority Funding Area, (2) adding a legend to the road classification map on page 19, and (3) correcting the map title on page 4 to indicate ongoing residential development.
PC24-74SI – Modification to Section 601E1: Approved unanimously, finding the request consistent with the comprehensive plan and that a mountable curb and hardscape plaza provide compensating emergency access.
PC24-74SI – Final Site Plan for Yellow Springs Elementary School: Approved unanimously with six conditions (add approval date, complete APFO certificates, add shared-use path easement note, provide boundary evidence labels, make note legible, add road name labels).
PC24-250ZMA – Zoning Map Amendment: No action taken; continued to the August 12, 2024 meeting for the second public hearing and recommendation.

Meeting Transcript

We have heard from Lance and we're good to go. So welcome to the July 8th, 2024 Planning Commission hearing. Sorry, after all that where to go. I got the wrong page. Here we are. All right. So before we get started tonight, I'm gonna give you all everybody a little bit of a background on the planning commission and the procedures that we're gonna follow tonight. Um members of the planning commission are all residents of the city and are volunteers appointed by the mayor and board of aldermen. Uh the commission is made up of five regular members and one alternate. Its powers and duties are assigned by the charter of the city of Frederick and described in section 202 of the land management code. Um all of tonight's cases have been appropriately advertised pursuant to section 301 of the land management code and will be presented to the planning commission um in the following format. First, we will have an introduction of the case, then the staff will present um their report on the case and their initial recommendations. Then we will have a roll call questioning of the staff by the commission. Um after that, we will ask the applicant to come up and give their presentation and remarks, and then we will have a roll call of the commission questions to the applicant. Following that, we will have public comment. Um the applicant will get a chance to respond to public comment. Finally, we will have discussion up here of the commission and questions amongst ourselves, and finally we will take action. Um so let me remind you again for public comment. Um, we will start with the people who have signed up on the list, um, and then I will give anybody else who's decided that they would like to make public comment the chance to speak. Um so please, if you know you want to make public comment, sign up before we get to the first public comment. Um in support of tonight's meeting. We have um members of the um staff members from the city planning department, engineering department, and legal departments. Um at this point, anybody and everybody who wants to make a statement before the um commission tonight needs to be sworn in. So at this point, I would like everybody to stand up and raise your right hand. Thank you. And do you solemnly swear or affirm that the response is given and the statements made in this hearing before the planning commission will be the whole truth and nothing but the truth? If so, answer I do. Thank you very much. All right. So tonight we are gonna start with any announcements from staff. Thank you very much. Um, just a couple this evening. Uh first the planning commission workshop for next Monday. We'll also be here at the Annex building, begins at 2 p.m. And the agenda and the backup is online for that workshop. Uh the same evening on the 15th. Um, we have the citywide planning department community outreach meeting, and that will also be held in this room, and that begins at 6 p.m. That meeting is uh an informational meeting to showcase uh the latest projects that have been applied for with the city. So these are projects in their infancy. Um they were just submitted with last month's review period. Uh so this is a great opportunity to see what is up and coming. And then lastly, just as a point of order for the agenda, we have the pre-planning commission meetings uh minutes available for a vote tonight. I wasn't sure on Friday or Wednesday if we would have them, but John was able to pull those together so uh we can vote on those if the commission is ready. Thank you very much. Thank you. And would you mind uh introducing yourself and by title, please? Thank you. I'm Gabrielle Collard. I'm the deputy director for planning now, and very pleased. Oh, is is that an interim or temporary position?

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