Frederick Planning Commission Meeting – August 12, 2024

The Frederick City Planning Commission met on August 12, 2024, at 6:00 PM in City Hall (101 North Court Street) to consider a rezoning recommendation, three final site plans, and associated forest conservation plans. The commission approved all items, with one 4‑1 vote on the hotel site plan. Public comments addressed traffic, sustainability, and landscaping.

Consent Calendar

• No consent items were presented.

Minutes Approval

• June 10, 2024 Hearing Minutes – Approved unanimously (motion by Commissioner Beattie, second by Commissioner Menelas).
• July 8, 2024 Hearing Minutes – Approved unanimously (motion by Commissioner Menelas, second by Commissioner Beattie).
• July 15, 2024 Workshop Minutes – Approved 3‑0‑1 (Chair Strawson abstained; motion by Commissioner Beattie, second by Commissioner Menelas).
• August 9, 2024 Pre‑Planning Minutes – Approved unanimously (motion by Commissioner Lee, second by Commissioner Menelas).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Prospect Center Rezoning (PC24‑250ZMA): Jim Smersal (East All St.) argued the county had not adequately addressed financial impacts on the city via an intergovernmental agreement and that the vehicle storage and communication tower location was too visible from US 15. He urged conditioning the rezoning on site plan changes. The applicant (Kyle Buda, Site Resources) responded that the site was the best available after a county search, and that grading, utilities, and stormwater constraints prevented moving the tower or storage building; landscaping would be maximized at the final site plan stage.
• Hood College Parking Expansion (PC23‑1305FSI): Bob Roby (East Second St.) encouraged use of pervious pavement and inclusion of EV charging stations. The applicant (Jim Wanger, Dirck & Edson) noted that pervious pavement was not feasible under city code without costly subgrade storage, and that conduits for future EV stations would be installed.
• Frederick Conference Center Hotel (PC24‑199FSI): Bob Roby criticized the mobility fee district approach, arguing a traffic study should be performed even if failure is expected, to understand the degree of impact. Jim Smersal (East All St.) noted that the hotel site plan does not include the adjacent trolley barn or old news post building (labeled “future by others”), and urged coordination of the streetscape. Hannah Nickerson (415 Sherman Ave.) called for the hotel to be all‑electric to meet upcoming Maryland building energy performance standards, requested more bike parking, and suggested green street features such as bioretention and bike lanes on South Carroll Street.

Discussion Items

Old Business

• PC24‑250ZMA – Frederick County Prospect Center (Rezoning): The applicant seeks to rezone 19.5 acres at 585 Himes Avenue from Professional Business (PB) to the Institutional (IST) floating zone to build a multifunctional government services complex. The proposed complex includes a 3,500‑sq‑ft data center for the 9‑1‑1 call center, a 14,300‑sq‑ft vehicle storage/maintenance building with secured yard, switchgear, emergency generators, batteries, fuel tanks, and a communication tower. Staff reported that the site is centrally located, has adequate parking (200 spaces over requirement), and that the rezoning is consistent with the 2020 Comprehensive Plan (Municipal Growth Policy 6). The commission unanimously voted to recommend approval to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.

New Business

• PC23‑1305FSI & PC23‑1306FSCB – Hood College East Campus Parking Expansion: The applicant proposes to expand an existing parking lot from 212 to 239 spaces on 2.47 acres, demolishing the Strong and Carson cottages. Two modifications were requested: (1) reduction of 11 parking spaces from 18 ft to 16 ft length and drive aisle from 24 ft to 18 ft to preserve a specimen tree (tree #8), and (2) allowance of light spillover at crosswalks on Park Avenue and West Fifth Street (limited to 0.1 foot‑candles). Staff supported both modifications. The combined forest plan required removal of specimen tree #24 and increased critical root zone disturbance for tree #8 (from 21% to 37%). A modification to Section 721 was approved. The final site plan and forest plan were approved unanimously with conditions (add approval dates, correct case numbers, etc.).
• PC24‑70FSI – B&O Properties Lot 7 (Townhouses): The applicant proposes five four‑story townhouse units at 155 B&O Avenue (Lot 7) in the Downtown Commercial Residential (DB) zone. The project is within the Carroll Creek Overlay and Historic District. A correction plat to remove commercial use is under separate review. The site plan meets all zoning requirements; no parking minimum applies in the DB zone, but 10 spaces (2 per unit) are provided. The applicant will pay a fee‑in‑lieu of parkland ($1,000/unit). Two conditions: landscape plan must be signed by a registered landscape architect, and parkland fee must be paid. Approved unanimously.
• PC24‑199FSI & PC24‑200FSCB – Frederick Conference Center Hotel: The applicant proposes a 208‑room hotel with 22,093 sq ft of public meeting rooms, restaurant/bar/lounge, and a separate 2,678‑sq‑ft retail building at 200/212 E. Patrick Street. The project includes two underground parking levels. A modification to Section 605F (street trees) was requested to eliminate required street trees along South Carroll Street, with compensating design features including a 9‑ft sidewalk connecting to the Carroll Creek Linear Park. The hotel is within the Downtown Mobility Fee District, so it is exempt from traditional road adequacy testing; instead, a mobility fee of approximately $264,000 will be paid (due at building permit). The applicant presented a revised vehicular circulation plan (Exhibit 3) that moves truck maneuvering inside the building to reduce conflict with guest vehicles. The commission approved the street tree modification unanimously, but the final site plan approval was 4‑1 (one no vote) after adding an eighth condition to incorporate Exhibit 3. The associated forest plan (PC24‑200FSCB) was approved unanimously, requiring a fee‑in‑lieu of $5,357.88 for 0.41 acres of afforestation.

Key Outcomes

• PC24‑250ZMA (Prospect Center Rezoning): Unanimous positive recommendation to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.
• Hood College Parking Expansion: All three actions (two modifications and final site plan) approved unanimously.
• Hood College Forest Plan: Modification to remove specimen tree #24 and final forest plan approved unanimously.
• B&O Properties Lot 7: Final site plan approved unanimously.
• Frederick Conference Center Hotel:
  • Modification to eliminate street trees along South Carroll Street: approved unanimously.
  • Final site plan (with 8 conditions, including incorporation of Exhibit 3): approved 4‑1 (one commissioner opposed).
  • Forest plan: approved unanimously.
• Next Meeting: The next Planning Commission workshop is scheduled for August 19, 2024, at 2:00 PM, followed by a citywide community outreach meeting at 6:00 PM.