Planning Commission Meeting – September 9, 2024: Site Plan Approvals and Patrick Street Proposal
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Planning Commission Meeting – September 9, 2024
The Frederick Planning Commission convened on September 9, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. The meeting included the approval of three sets of minutes, three continuances for the Frederick Commerce Center South project, a unanimous approval of a final site plan for a printing services building at 5 Davis Avenue, and a first public hearing (no decision) for a proposed 106-unit multifamily building at 404-420 East Patrick Street.
Minutes Approval
- August 12, 2024 Planning Commission Hearing Minutes – Approved unanimously.
- August 19, 2024 Planning Commission Workshop Minutes – Approved unanimously.
- September 6, 2024 Pre-Planning Commission Meeting Minutes – Approved unanimously.
Continuances
Three items for Frederick Commerce Center South (PC24-319PSU, PC24-321PFCP, PC24-320FSI) were each continued 30 days to October 14, 2024 without opposition. The continuances were requested because demolition review by the Historic Preservation Commission was scheduled for September 12, 2024, and the outcome was needed before proceeding.
Discussion Items
New Business: 5 Davis Avenue – Final Site Plan (PC23-1302FSI)
- Proposal: Construct a one-story 2,800 sq. ft. building for a printing services operation (Whip's Mark Marketing) with associated parking and loading on a 0.26-acre parcel zoned General Commercial. The site previously consisted of three lots being consolidated.
- Staff Recommendation: Approval with three conditions: (1) record a street tree maintenance easement, (2) update note 21 with APFO approval dates, (3) remove “customer pickup” label from loading space.
- Applicant Comments: Carrie Taylor, owner, expressed agreement with staff conditions and noted no objections from neighboring properties (which are already commercial).
- Vote: Motion to approve by Commissioner Beanie, seconded by Commissioner Manellas; approved unanimously.
New Business: 404-420 East Patrick Street – Final Site Plan & Urban Design Compliance (PC23-1411FSI)
- Proposal: A five-story, 106-unit multifamily building on a 0.9254-acre site within the Carroll Creek Overlay (CCO) and Downtown Commercial Residential (DB) zone. The project requires a Certificate of Urban Design Compliance and multiple modifications. At this first public hearing, no decision was made.
- Key Discussion Points:
- The applicant (Andrew Welker, Oshman Properties) highlighted changes since the workshop, including a one‑foot overall height reduction, a setback modification along Carroll Creek to allow balconies, and a request to exceed the 180‑foot maximum contiguous structure length (proposed 247 feet 4 inches).
- Staff reviewed the sky exposure plane and solar access concepts. The commission discussed the definition of “non-parking active uses” along the street-facing facade and the linear footage requirement (144 linear feet).
- Commissioner Beanie requested clearer graphic callouts for modifications at the next hearing.
- Commissioner Manellas asked about ADA accessibility (ramp from Wisner Street to the promenade), lighting, and shadowing impacts. The applicant explained that the building lies on the north side of Carroll Creek, so it minimally affects solar access on the promenade.
- Public Comment: Joan Jenkins (124 South Carroll Street) expressed concerns about potential blasting affecting historic properties and flood risks due to the site’s proximity to Carroll Creek. The applicant responded that no blasting is anticipated and that stormwater management has been coordinated with city engineering.
Key Outcomes
- 5 Davis Avenue: Final site plan approved with three conditions (unanimous).
- 404-420 East Patrick Street: No action; first public hearing held. The second hearing will address modifications and a Certificate of Architectural Compliance. Commissioners requested additional graphics and clarifications.
- Frederick Commerce Center South: Three items continued to October 14, 2024 (unanimous).
Meeting Transcript
It is six o'clock. The meeting is called to order, and I would like to welcome everybody to the September 9th, um, twenty twenty-four. Um wrong thing. Planning commission hearing. Set up the wrong set of notes. Um, before we begin the tonight's proceedings, I'd like to give everybody a little bit of background on the planning commission and the procedures that will follow this evening. Um, members of the planning commission are all residents of the city and are volunteers appointed by the mayor and the board of aldermen. The commission is made up of five regular members, one alternate. Its powers and duties are assigned by the Charter of the City of Frederick and described in section two oh two of the land management code. All of tonight's cases have been appropriately advertised pursuant to section six oh one six oh one three oh one of the land management code. Um cases tonight are going to be presented to the planning commission in the following format. Um first we will have the introduction of the case and the presentation of the case and initial recommendation by staff. Then we'll have the um commission question the staff. Um, after that, we will have the applicant or their authorized agent make remarks regarding this the case. Then the commission will question the applicant. After that, we will have public comment. Um, if appropriate, and the applicant wishes, the applicant is welcome to respond to public comment. We will then have um commission discussion of questions, followed by our commission action. Um support of the planning commission tonight. We have staff members from the city's planning department and legal department, no engineering, I don't see. And in order for us to proceed, everybody who is going to be speaking tonight, including staff, applicants, and the public, needs to be sworn in. So at that point, at this point, I'll have everybody stand if you're planning on making comments. Raise your right hand. And do you 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, answer I do. All right. And then the only other thing I want to say is that if we have anybody from the public making public comments, you're welcome to sign in on the sign sign-in sheet over on the desk at the side of the room. And individuals will have three minutes and anyone representing a group will have 10 minutes. All right. Before we get started today, I'm going to turn it over to Gabrielle for any announcements. Just to this evening, thank you. Um, our planning commission workshop is next Monday at 2 p.m. Uh, it's held in this room, and the backup materials will be online tomorrow for that. Uh, and then any of the commission members who receive paper copies will notify you when those are ready. Uh, that same evening we have our citywide planning department community outreach meeting, which is all of our newest applications, um, an opportunity to present those. We have the applicants and staff at the meeting to um answer any questions and just share information about those newest projects. So I'd encourage folks to um either attend in person that is here at City Hall at 6 p.m. or um tune in on channel 99 or catch the reruns on the public meetings page. Thank you. All right, thank you. All right, the one um the next item on the agenda is the approval of the minutes, and we have three sets of minutes for approval. Um, to start with, I am looking for approval of the August 12th, 2024 planning commission meeting minutes. I move for the approval of the August 12th, 2024 planning commission meeting minutes. Second. That is a motion by Commissioner Valencia, a second by Commissioner Beattie. All in favor? Aye, that looks like a unanimous. Um, next we have um a motion on the August 19th, 2024 planning commission workshop minutes. I move for the approval of the August 19th, 2024 PC workshop minutes. Second.
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