Frederick Planning Commission Meeting - March 10, 2025
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Frederick Planning Commission Meeting - March 10, 2025
The Frederick City Planning Commission held its regular meeting on Monday, March 10, 2025, at 6:00 PM in City Hall. The meeting covered multiple items including recommendations on the Capital Improvements Program, annexation and zoning for High Glen and Faith Reformed Presbyterian Church, a final plat for the O'Rear property, and final site plans for Cabana Air hangar at the Frederick Municipal Airport. The commission approved all items on the agenda, with some votes including a 4-1 split on a landscaping modification.
Minutes
- The commission unanimously approved the minutes from the February 10, 2025 public hearing, February 18, 2025 workshop, and March 7, 2025 pre-planning meeting.
Capital Improvements Program (CIP)
- Staff presented the draft recommendation letter for the FY2026-2031 CIP, noting new additions such as the West Side Community Center, Sidewalk Retrofit, and equity emphasis area sidewalk repair. The Harry Grove Stadium renovations (funded by a $39 million state grant) were mentioned but not included as a CIP project.
- Public comment: Hannah Nickerson (East Frederick Rising) expressed support for the East Street redesign ($750,000) and other east side projects. She asked about the source of equity emphasis area data and possible federal funding impacts. Staff responded that data comes from MWCOG and that the city is reviewing federal funding.
- Discussion: Commissioner Beanie proposed removing the bullet supporting the Conference Center Parking Facility, as it appears to be moving forward. The commission agreed.
- Outcome: The commission unanimously approved the CIP recommendation letter, based on last year's letter with updated dates and removal of the Conference Center parking bullet.
High Glen Annexation (PC24-664ANX)
- Staff recommended approval of the annexation of approximately 72 acres (north of Christophers Crossing, west of Yellow Springs Road) with R4 Low Density Residential zoning. Five conditions were proposed, including limiting driveway access on Christophers Crossing, requiring on-site parkland and forest conservation, and a contribution for the shared use path.
- The applicant (representing Osherman Properties) requested amendments to several conditions, arguing that restrictions should be negotiated with the City Council. They opposed full on-site dedication of parkland and forest conservation, preferring flexibility.
- Public comment: Hannah Nickerson supported staff's recommendations for parkland and forest conservation.
- Commission discussion focused on the driveway condition wording. Some members considered a continuance to review the applicant's counterproposals, but ultimately decided to proceed with a vote.
- Outcome: The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the annexation with the five staff conditions.
Faith Reformed Presbyterian Church Zoning Amendment (PC24-665ZMA)
- Staff recommended rezoning 4.08 acres from R4 to the Institutional (IST) floating zone to legalize the existing church use. The church has approximately 200 members and has been at the location for over 50 years.
- The applicant supported the rezoning as essential after annexation to avoid non-conforming use status.
- Public comment: none.
- Outcome: The commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of the zoning amendment.
O'Rear Final Plat (PC23-674FSU)
- Staff presented a request to resubdivide two parcels at Shookstown Road and Willowdale Drive to create lots for a future 13-unit townhouse development. A modification to allow a 169.55-foot panhandle lot (instead of the 80-foot limit) was also requested.
- The applicant explained that the panhandle serves an existing single-family home and provides access to HOA open space.
- Commission discussion: Questions about the panhandle length and fire safety. Staff confirmed the driveway is at least 12 feet wide and provides adequate access.
- Outcome: The commission unanimously approved the modification and the final plat.
Cabana Air Final Site Plan (PC24-554FSI)
- Staff recommended approval of a 32,887-square-foot airplane hangar at the Frederick Municipal Airport, along with three landscaping modifications due to FAA restrictions on trees near runways: (1) no property trees instead of 21 required, (2) no street trees instead of 9 required, (3) no shade trees in parking lot interior landscaping while meeting the 10% area with shrubs.
- The applicant presented elevations and landscaping plans. Commissioner concerns included the lack of a full presentation and the visual impact of the building.
- Public comment: none.
- Commission discussion: Commissioner Menelas voted against the street tree modification.
- Key Outcomes:
- Modification to property landscaping (no trees): approved unanimously.
- Modification to street tree requirements: approved 4-1 (Menelas opposed).
- Modification to parking lot interior landscaping (no shade trees): approved unanimously.
- Final site plan: approved unanimously with seven conditions as read by staff.
Cabana Air Forest Conservation Plan (PC24-659FSCB)
- Staff recommended approval of the combined forest stand delineation and preliminary forest conservation plan. Since there is no forest on the disturbed area, the applicant proposes a fee-in-lieu of $14,897 for the 1.14-acre afforestation requirement.
- The applicant noted that fee-in-lieu has been consistently used at the airport to avoid tree planting near runways.
- Outcome: The commission unanimously approved the forest conservation plan.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned after completing all agenda items.
Meeting Transcript
It is six o'clock. Are we ready to get going? Then I will call the meeting to order. And I would like to welcome everybody to the March 10th, 2025 meeting of the Frederick City Planning Commission. Before we do tonight's proceedings, um, I would like to give a little background on the planning commission and the procedures that were following this evening. Members of the Planning Commission and are all residents of the city and are volunteers appointed by the mayor and uh the city council. The commission is made up of five regular members and one alternate, and its powers and duties are assigned by the Charter of the City of Frederick 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. Cases will be presented to the planning commission tonight in the following format. We will first have the introduction of the case, then we will have the presentation of the case and initial recommendation by staff. We will do a commission questioning of the staff, then we will have the applicant or authorized agent make their presentation, followed by commission questioning of the applicant. Following that, we will have public comment, and if appropriate, give the commission um the opportunity to question the public comments. Um following the public comment, we'll give the applicant um the opportunity to respond to public comments, then we will bring it back up here for any discussion or questions that we might have up here, and then we will conclude with an action on each item. Um in support of the planning commission, um, we have staff members from the city's planning department. Do we have engineering department here today? No, no engineering department, um, and legal departments. Um, anybody who wants to wishes to speak tonight before the the board, um, including members of the public, the applicant, and staff all need to um be sworn in prior to giving their comments. And at this point, I will ask everybody who wants to make comments to stand, and I will do a group swearing in. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the responses given in the statements made in the hearing before the planning commission are the whole truth and nothing but the truth? If so, answer I do. All right, thank you very much. Um, I did forget to say that if you would like to make public comments, we have a sign-up sheet over on the table on um the side of the room. I will take commenters from there first and then give anybody else who wants to comment um the opportunity. But at this point, we will turn it over to Gabrielle for any announcements that she has. Thank you very much. Um we have our standard two announcements. Our workshop is next Monday, starts at 2 p.m. and it is in this room. Uh the backup should be available online tomorrow morning. We'll we'll notify the commission when it's ready. Uh and those are items that will be coming before the planning commission at subsequent hearings. That same evening at 6 p.m. We have our citywide planning department community outreach meeting. That's also held in this room and is streamed online uh as well as through channel 99 if you have cable in the city. And that is an introduction of all the newest applications that have just been submitted uh that were kind of in the infancy of reviewing, and that um some of them will be scheduled for future workshops and hearings, so great opportunity to learn more. And then lastly, I'm gonna welcome Christina Roderick, our new division manager of current planning. Uh, this is her first day of work, and she had uh decided that she wanted to come see planning commission already. Uh so we're excited to have her, and she will be working with the commission uh moving forward as she gets familiar with her role. So welcome. Well, thank you. Welcome. We're excited to have you. Okay. Um the next item on the agenda is the minutes, and we have um three minutes to approve. February 10th, 2025 planning commission hearing minutes, February 18th, 2025 planning commission workshop minutes, and the March 7th, 2025 pre-planning commission meeting minutes. Uh I move for the approval of the February 10th, 2025 planning commission meeting minutes. Second. So that is a motion by Commissioner Beanie, a second by Commissioner Valencia. All in favor. Aye.
openpublica.com