Frederick Planning Commission Workshop: Review of Six Development Applications - June 16, 2025
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Frederick Planning Commission Workshop: Review of Six Development Applications - June 16, 2025\n\nThe Frederick Planning Commission held a workshop on June 16, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM (with an evening hearing scheduled at 6:00 PM) to review six development applications. Chair Strawson announced the shortened timeline to allow preparation for the evening hearing. No final decisions were made; the workshop allowed applicants to present, commissioners to ask questions, and staff to provide input. Public comment was absent for all items.\n\n### Discussion Items\n\n#### 1. Zoning Map Amendment – 27 Franklin Street (PC25-187ZMA)\nChristina Martinkosky, Division Manager of Historic Preservation Planning, presented on behalf of the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). The applicant seeks a Historic Preservation Overlay (HPO) on the property containing the former St. Timothy’s Episcopal Chapel (built 1924). The HPC will vote on eligibility the next day (June 17). The Planning Commission’s role is to consider consistency with the Comprehensive Plan. Staff noted that NAC 12 formally supported the application. Commissioners clarified the timeline and process, noting that demolition work (vestibule removal) had already occurred without proper permits but would not need to be undone if HPO is applied. The case is scheduled for a public hearing on July 14, 2025.\n\n#### 2. Zoning Map Amendment – 300 Scotty’s Bus Lane (PC25-186ZMA)\nJeremy Holder (Osherman Properties) and Bruce Dean presented a request for an IST (Institutional) floating zone overlay on a city-owned property formerly owned by Frederick County. The site will be developed as a youth community center (ages 11-24), operated by the Osherman Family Foundation in partnership with the City. The IST zone is preferred for city-owned public-purpose properties. The project is under a time crunch to be approved by the City Council before the primary election in September to avoid a three-month election blackout. Commissioners expressed support and requested more details on interaction with the adjacent Boys and Girls Club for the public hearing.\n\n#### 3. Fence Modification – 111 E Second Street (PC25-159PCM)\nDan Cassidy, property owner, requested approval to install a railing on a retaining wall over 30 inches tall. He argued the railing is not a fence, which is prohibited in the flood zone by LMC Section 821. The Historic Preservation Commission had approved the railing type, but staff noted a discrepancy: the HPC application showed a 37-inch railing, while the packet proposed 42 inches, making the total height (wall + railing) exceed 6 feet. Commissioners asked about historic photos and attachment method. No public comment.\n\n#### 4. Lucas Village – Preliminary Plat & Site Plan (PC24-837PSU/FSI, PC24-838FSCB)\nDavid Ling (Ling Property Consulting) presented the redevelopment of the former Sagner Village (92 units demolished due to sinkholes) into 222 affordable multifamily units (7 buildings). Two modifications requested: a parkland waiver (0.78 acres) and a lighting spillover modification. The applicant argues that on-site private open spaces (art walk, pocket park, corner park) plus adjacent Lucas Village Park and Grove Park meet park needs. The Parks and Recreation Commission recommended approval of the waiver. Lighting spillover is minimal (0.1-0.2 foot candles) except one pole at 0.7 fc, which they will address with glare shields and lowered mounting heights. Commissioners asked about sinkhole remediation (stormwater holding area will be lined), pedestrian connectivity to Grove Park, and lighting impacts on adjacent duplexes. The applicant will revise the lighting plan and provide more detail at the public hearing.\n\n#### 5. Highland Trail – Preliminary Plat & Site Plan (PC25-50PSU/FSI, PC25-56PFC)\nChris Mariga (Harris Smariga & Associates) presented the first phase (100 rear-load townhomes) of a larger MU2 development. The project includes extension of Highland Trail and Big Al Cohen Boulevard, as well as a shared use path. Modifications requested: reduced sidewalk (one side instead of two) along open space area with stormwater management, and adjustments to street cross-sections (10-foot travel lanes instead of 11). Commissioners discussed the need for mid-block crosswalks to avoid long pedestrian detours, and bike lane connectivity – a public comment (not read but noted) contained specific suggestions. The applicant will revise open space calculations and provide clearer modification tables. No public comment.\n\n#### 6. Brickworks Lot 1 – Preliminary Plat & Site Plan (PC24-928PSU/FSI, PC24-929PFCP)\nMike Wiley (Piedmont Design Group) presented a four-story rear-load townhouse project (initially 99 units, now 91) at the northwest corner of East and South Streets. Modifications requested: reduced rear setback (5 ft from 20 ft), reduced side setback (3 ft from 5 ft), encroachments for stoops/stairs, and a street connectivity ratio of 1.33 (below required 1.8). Staff expressed concerns: the connectivity ratio is too low for walkability, parkland calculations need stormwater areas subtracted, the forest conservation plan is incomplete, and elevations were not submitted for review. Commissioners agreed the discussion was insufficient and decided to continue the workshop to a special July meeting to allow further dialogue between staff and applicant. No public comment.\n\n### Key Outcomes\n- 27 Franklin Street & 300 Scotty’s Bus Lane: Scheduled for public hearings on July 14, 2025.\n- 111 E Second Street (Fence Modification): Scheduled for public hearing; applicant encouraged to clarify railing height and resolve LMC conflict.\n- Lucas Village: To proceed to a public hearing on a future date (likely July or August) with updated lighting and connectivity details.\n- Highland Trail: To proceed to a public hearing on a future date with revised open space and sidewalk modifications.\n- Brickworks Lot 1: Workshop continued to a special July 2025 meeting; applicant to work with staff on connectivity, parkland, forest conservation, and elevations before the continued workshop.
Meeting Transcript
So if we can wrap up our thank you, ramp up our conversations, and I would like to call the meeting to order and um welcome everybody to the June 15th, 2025 Planning Commission workshop. Um you guys can come in and have a seat at the back, just be quiet. You're like, no, we don't want to. I don't know. Before we start today's um proceedings, I'm gonna give us give an overview of the process that we're gonna follow today. There it is, um, because what we do for the workshop is a little bit different than what we use for the hearing. You guys are welcome to come in and sit. Um for the workshop for each of our agenda items, we're gonna start the conversation by having the applicant come up and present um their project through us and walk us through the project. Um for those of you who are new, we ask that in addition to just saying you've read the package, do you have questions? We specifically want you to walk us through the modifications that you're asking for, um let us know how what you're asking for is different from what's in the LMC, um highlight any compensating features that you're proposing, um, etc. Um following the presentation, then the commission will ask questions from the applicant following the question session. We will have the staff um present anything that they need to from their perspective regarding the the case. We will then have questions from the commission to um the staff because workshop is a little less formal. We probably will be due, you know, we'll have the opportunity for some back and forth questions between all three groups, and then finally there will be an opportunity for public comment. Um, and then we will move on to the next case since we don't make any decisions tonight. Um so at this point I want to tell everybody here that anybody who's making a statement before the workshop or before the commission at the workshop, including public comments, applicant staff need to be sworn in. So at this point, I'll ask everybody to stand, raise your right hand. Um 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. All right, thank you. Um I'm gonna say right now that because we have another hearing tonight, and the commissioners and staff and everybody um need to be bright-eyed and ready to think clearly at six o'clock. I'm going to stop at four. Um, or at least I'm not gonna open a new case after four o'clock, and I apologize if we don't get to everything, but perhaps if we're all very efficient, we can get through the agenda. So given that, um Gabrielle, do we have any announcements that we need to make before we get started? No, I think we'll save our announcements for this evening's meeting. Okay, perfect. Thank you. Um in that case, we will have um the first case, which is PC 25-187 ZMA, and this is a zoning map amendment for 27 Franklin Street. Thank you so much for accommodating uh me today. Um I'm Christina Martin Koske, Division Manager of Historic Preservation Planning. This is the um zoning map amendment application. I'm gonna get this, I'm not great with microphones, so thanks for the gentle keys. We just want to make sure that everyone can hear you. Understood, thank you. Um this is a zoning map app uh zoning map amendment application for 27 Franklin Street. The stone building was constructed in 1924. Um and for many years served as the St. Timothy's Episcopal Chapel Chapel, which administered to the spiritual needs of the working class community around it. So um, Jin, I might you might have to look out for my social cues for the slide change. Thank you. So this property is comprised of about 0.8 acres of land. It's zoned institutional with a airport overlay overlay zone. This application was generated through the demolition review process. The demolition review and the process is established in the land management code and addressed fully in the staff report. But to keep it short and concise, uh the Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning Commission serves as recommending bodies to a zoning map amendment uh from a demolition review application. The final decision ultimately lies with the council. Um this workshop um is a day before the historic preservation commission reviews the application. I'm sorry, we can't really hear you. I'm so sorry, I don't know what to do. Yeah, we're really serious, yeah.
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