Frederick Planning Commission Meeting - January 13, 2025
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Frederick Planning Commission Meeting - January 13, 2025
The Frederick Planning Commission held its regular meeting on January 13, 2025, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting included approval of minutes, election of officers, discussion of updates to the commission's Rules of Procedure, and action on four development applications. All applications were approved unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- The Commission unanimously approved the meeting minutes of December 9, 2024 (hearing), December 16, 2024 (workshop), and January 10, 2025 (pre-planning commission meeting).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Hannah Nickerson (resident of Sherman Avenue and member of East Frederick Rising) spoke during the Renn Quarter Phase 3 discussion. She asked about the status of shared-use paths connecting Monocacy Boulevard and Highland Street, questioned enforcement mechanisms, and inquired whether the project contributed to the active mobility fee fund. The applicant responded that the shared-use path is being constructed as part of the Monocacy Boulevard widening, which is underway, and that the project predates the mobility fee district but has a matrix of road improvement conditions tied to unit development.
Discussion Items
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Election of Officers: Chair Joan Strawson called for nominations. Commissioner Beattie nominated the slate: Joan Strawson as Chair, Dorothy Menelas as Vice Chair, and Natasha Valencia as Secretary. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Commissioners noted the value of rotating leadership.
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Rules of Procedure Updates: Deputy Director Gabrielle Collard presented proposed changes to the commission's Rules of Procedure, necessitated by recent updates to the city code. Key substantive changes discussed include:
- Attendance requirements (Section 2.6): Mirroring state law, a member who fails to attend at least 50% of meetings during any consecutive 12-month period shall be considered to have resigned. The provision for the commission to recommend removal was deleted; the city council will handle the process.
- Speaking time (Section 3.3): Clarified that individuals or groups cannot cede their speaking time to another person or group. Individuals get 3 minutes, groups 10 minutes.
- Voting and recusal (Sections 4.4-4.5): The commission discussed distinctions among recusal (conflict of interest, must leave room), abstention (qualified member chooses not to vote, still counts toward quorum), and ineligibility (unable to vote, does not count toward quorum). Staff will refine the language before the next meeting.
- Reconsideration (Sections 8.4-8.5): A petition to reconsider makes the original decision null and void; review cannot be limited to a single condition. This mirrors Historic Preservation Commission rules.
- Public notice for rule amendments: Changed from newspaper publication 15 days prior to 14 days to align with other public notice requirements.
- Liaison role: The liaison is not a member of the commission but must follow rules of conduct. Further clarification on duties is expected.
- The commission also discussed the need for regular training, especially for new members, and the ability to call special meetings for training (Section 2.5). No public comment was offered on the rules. The item will return for a vote at the February meeting.
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Stulz Air Systems Final Site Plan (PC24-757FSI): Planner Sherry Kelly presented. The applicant seeks approval for a 7,400-square-foot metal storage building at 1560 and 1572 Tilco Drive, replacing a tent structure. The 10.6-acre property is zoned Light Industrial and lies in the Airport Overlay District. The building will straddle two lots; a consolidation plat is under review. The plan meets bulk/dimensional standards, impervious surface ratio (0.77 vs. 0.9 max), parking (297 spaces after loss of 22, minimum 114 required), loading, landscaping (11 new street trees), and stormwater management. The FAA and MAA issued letters of no hazard to air navigation. Staff recommended approval with two conditions: update APFO dates and add archaeological assessment note. The applicant concurred. No public comment. The commission voted unanimously to approve.
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Frederick County Prospect Center Final Site Plan (PC24-559FSI): Planner Pam Reppert presented. The applicant requests approval for a 14,300-square-foot vehicle storage/maintenance building, a 3,500-square-foot data center (911 call center), an associated telecommunications tower, and renovations to the existing 207,843-square-foot building at 585 Himes Avenue to create a multifunctional government services center. The rezoning was approved by City Council on December 5, 2024, with conditions. A modification to LMC Section 605D (landscape buffer) is sought to eliminate level two screening along Oak Street due to underground utilities; compensating shrubs will be planted. The plan includes a 6,000-square-foot playground, solar arrays, covered bicycle parking, and maximized landscaping along Route 15. Staff recommended approval of the landscape modification and the final site plan with 10 conditions. The applicant answered questions about shrub species and heights (up to 25 feet). No public comment. The commission voted unanimously to approve both actions.
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Frederick County Prospect Center Forest Conservation Plan (PC24-560FSCB): Planner Reppert presented. This companion application seeks approval of a combined forest stand delineation and preliminary forest conservation plan, along with a modification to remove three specimen trees (Nos. 4, 6, 11) due to construction constraints. The site has an afforestation requirement of 3.9 acres; the applicant proposes off-site credits at three county properties (Rhodes Hill Manor, Montague Campus, Monta View Campus South) plus on-site planting. Staff recommended approval of the modification (finding unwarranted hardship) and the forest plan with two conditions. The commission voted unanimously to approve both actions.
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Renn Quarter Phase 3, Section 2 Combined Preliminary Plat and Final Site Plan (PC24-555PSU/FSI): Planner Reppert presented. The applicant requests approval for 101 townhouse units (15 fee-simple, 86 condominium townhouses) on 28.38 acres south of Monroe Avenue. The development includes public roads (including Big Al Cohen Boulevard), alleys, and private streets. A modification to Standard Street Detail ST-11.2 is requested to remove a sidewalk on one side of Big Al Cohen Boulevard to preserve existing trees and provide an increased landscape buffer; compensating features include a crosswalk near unit 67. Staff recommended approval of the modification and the combined plat/site plan with five conditions. The applicant explained the condominium townhouses will be rentals. Public comment from Hannah Nickerson addressed shared-use path completion and APFO contributions. The commission voted unanimously to approve both actions.
Key Outcomes
- Election of Officers: Joan Strawson (Chair), Dorothy Menelas (Vice Chair), Natasha Valencia (Secretary) – approved unanimously.
- Rules of Procedure: Discussion held; revisions will be finalized and voted on at the February 2025 meeting.
- Stulz Air Systems Final Site Plan (PC24-757FSI): Approved unanimously with two conditions.
- Frederick County Prospect Center Landscape Modification: Approved unanimously.
- Frederick County Prospect Center Final Site Plan (PC24-559FSI): Approved unanimously with 10 conditions.
- Frederick County Prospect Center Forest Conservation Modification (specimen tree removal): Approved unanimously.
- Frederick County Prospect Center Forest Stand Delineation/Preliminary Forest Conservation Plan (PC24-560FSCB): Approved unanimously with two conditions.
- Renn Quarter Phase 3, Section 2 Street Detail Modification: Approved unanimously.
- Renn Quarter Phase 3, Section 2 Combined Preliminary Plat and Final Site Plan (PC24-555PSU/FSI): Approved unanimously with five conditions.
Meeting Transcript
City of Frederick Planning Commission hearing. Before we begin tonight's proceedings, I'm going to go give a little bit of background about the planning commission and the procedures that will be following this evening. Members of the Planning Commission are all residents of the city and are all volunteers appointed by the mayor and the city council. The commission is made up of five regular members and one alternate. Its powers and duties are assigned in the currently in the city code as and described in section 202 of the land management code. All of tonight's cases have been appropriately advertised pursuant to section 301 of the land management code, and we will use the following format to discuss cases tonight. First, we'll have an introduction of the case, then we will have a present presentation of the case and recommendation by staff. We will then have the commission questions of staff. Following that, we'll have the applicant or agent remarks regarding the case on the commission questioning of the applicant. Public comments, um any rebuttal that the applicant might have to public comment. Finally, um the commission discussion, any further questions and the commission action. Um in support of the planning commission this evening, we have um staff members from the city's planning and legal departments in attendance. Um and at this point, everybody who is um hoping to speak in front of the commission tonight, be it staff, applicants or public, needs to be duly sworn in. So at this point, if everybody would stand, raise your right hand. I will do a math swearing in. 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. Thank you very much. And at this point, I will turn it over to Gabrielle for announcements. Thank you very much. Good evening. Um, just our two basic announcements. Um, one that our workshop for planning commission uh is next week. It will be held on Tuesday instead of Monday because Monday is the holiday. So it'll be Tuesday the 21st at 2 p.m. in this room. And the backup for and the agenda items will be posted tomorrow online. Uh so we'll notify the commission when they are ready. And then that same evening we have the citywide planning department community outreach meeting, and that is at 6 p.m. And I think we discussed it last month, but um, we are having a special item. Uh we're doing kind of a preview of our small area planning efforts. This was uh a topic that was discussed a lot when we adopted the 2020 comprehensive plan. It has been a couple of years though, and we are getting ready to move into a more aggressive schedule and timeline for adopting small area plans. Uh so we want to give an opportunity just to kind of revisit the 2020 conversation, uh, introduce it kind of holistically and get get people excited and build some attention on that. Um so that is a special presentation in addition to all of our regularly scheduled items uh that were just submitted. So I'd encourage everyone to check that out and at 6 p.m. next Tuesday evening as well. Great, thank you. So our first item on the agenda is uh the approval of minutes, and we have um approval of the December 9th, 2024 Planning Commission hearing minutes and approval of the December 16th it's not on there, December 16th Planning Commission workshop minutes and approval of the January 10th, 2025 pre planning commission meeting minutes. Well, at this point, um I would we'll take a motion on the uh December 9th hearing I motion for approval of the December 9th, 2024 planning commission meeting minutes. Second that is a motion by Commissioner Beattie, a second by Commissioner Valencia. All in favor, aye. That's unanimous. Um I'll take a motion on the December 16th workshop minutes. And move the approval of the December 16, 2024 planning commission workshop minutes. Second. That is a motion by Commissioner Manellas, a second by Commissioner Beattie, all in favor. Aye. That's unanimous. And then finally, a motion on the January 10th pre-planning commission meeting minutes.
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