Frederick Planning Commission Meeting - August 11, 2025
Frederick Planning Commission Meeting - August 11, 2025
The Frederick Planning Commission held a public hearing on August 11, 2025, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting covered a range of items including zoning map amendments, a text amendment to mixed-use phasing requirements, architectural reviews, site plans, and a major redevelopment project. The commission voted on several items, including approvals, continuances, and recommendations to the City Council.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The commission approved minutes from the May 19, 2025 workshop, May 21, 2025 hearing, July 14, 2025 hearing, July 21, 2025 workshop, and August 8, 2025 pre-meeting. All votes were unanimous with qualifying members.
Public Comments & Testimony
- PC25-55ZTA (Text Amendment – MU Phasing): Multiple residents of the Ren Quarter neighborhood spoke, expressing disappointment over unfulfilled promises of retail and amenities. They requested transparency, accountability, and that the phasing schedule remain subject to commission oversight. Speakers included Mark Burroughs, Rob Thompson, Heather Goddard, Hannah Nickerson, Neelima, and Valerie Bromer. They emphasized the need for the originally promised mixed-use vision and for developer accountability.
- PC25-187ZMA (27 Franklin Street – Historic Preservation Overlay): James Gibbs, a neighbor and NAC 12 coordinator, spoke in support of the historic preservation overlay, citing the building's unique character.
- PC24-837/838 (Lucas Village): Residents Shelby Carmen, Mary Beth Angelo, and Caden Scott Angelo voiced concerns about parking, drainage, loss of the community center, and honoring the legacy of Claire D. Harris. Hannah Nickerson (East Frederick Rising) expressed support for the residents and asked about bike lanes and alternative mobility improvements.
Discussion Items
- PC25-186ZMA – 300 Scotty's Bus Lane Rezoning: Staff recommended approving the rezoning from General Commercial to Institutional to create a youth center. The applicant, Jeremy Holder (Osherman Family Foundation), presented the hub-and-spoke model serving youth ages 12-24, with behavioral health, workforce development, and recreational spaces. The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval to the City Council.
- PC25-187ZMA – 27 Franklin Street Historic Preservation Overlay: Staff (Christina Martinkosky) presented the Historic Preservation Commission's application, highlighting the building's architectural significance (1924, English Gothic) and its association with Mayor Lloyd C. Collier. The property owner's representative (Sean Hughes) and Pastor Louis Serrano noted they had invested nearly $1 million in restoration. The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval to the City Council.
- PC25-55ZTA – Text Amendment to Section 417 (MU Phasing): The applicant (Matten Companies) requested a change to allow phasing modifications via an administrative process rather than the current 75/25 residential/non-residential split. Staff supported the concept but noted concerns about transparency. The commission discussed the need for public engagement and accountability. After extensive debate, the commission voted to continue the item to the September 8, 2025 hearing to allow for further refinement of criteria.
- PC16-434-01MU – Summers Farm Architectural Review: Staff recommended approval of new single-family detached and townhouse elevations for the Summervale development, including a modification to allow square windows (1:1 ratio) for privacy. The commission voted unanimously to approve both the modification and the elevations.
- PC22-514-05PND – Sycamore Springs Architectural Review: Staff recommended approval of architectural elevations for Ryan Homes, including a modification for square windows. The commission voted unanimously to approve both the modification and the elevations.
- PC25-160FSI – Lumen Fiber Hut Final Site Plan: Staff recommended approval with conditions. The applicant (Ryan Jolene) described the addition of three prefabricated fiber huts and a generator to expand telecommunications capacity. The commission voted unanimously to approve with nine conditions.
- PC24-837PSU/FSI & PC24-838FSCB – Lucas Village Redevelopment: Staff presented a plan to redevelop 92 existing units into 222 multifamily LIHTC units, with street modifications, stormwater improvements, and a new park. The applicant (David Ling) detailed the road diet, perpendicular parking, and stormwater management. The commission approved all five actions: (1) modification to street standards, (2) modification to parking lot lighting, (3) recommendation to City Council to waive parkland dedication, (4) recommendation to abandon portions of Vermont Court and Pennsylvania Avenue, and (5) approval of the combined preliminary plat and final site plan. Also approved the forest conservation plan (PC24-838FSCB).
Key Outcomes
- PC25-186ZMA: Unanimous vote to recommend approval of the rezoning to City Council.
- PC25-187ZMA: Unanimous vote to recommend approval of the historic preservation overlay.
- PC25-55ZTA: Continued to September 8, 2025, for further discussion on criteria and transparency.
- PC16-434-01MU: Unanimous approval of architectural modification and elevations.
- PC22-514-05PND: Unanimous approval of architectural modification and elevations.
- PC25-160FSI: Unanimous approval of final site plan with nine conditions.
- PC24-837PSU/FSI: Unanimous approval of all five actions (modifications, parkland waiver recommendation, abandonment recommendation, and site plan).
- PC24-838FSCB: Unanimous approval of forest conservation plan.
Meeting Transcript
All right, it is six o'clock, and I'm calling the meeting to order. And I'd like to welcome everybody to the what is this August 11th, 2025 Planning Commission hearing. Before we proceed with tonight's um meeting, I'm gonna give a little bit of background on the planning commission and the procedures that we're gonna be following tonight. Members of the planning commission are all residents of the city and 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 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 301 of the land management code. Cases tonight will be presented to the planning commission in the following format. We will start by having an introduction of the case and then a presentation of the case with by staff with their initial recommendation. We'll then have opportunity for the commission to question the staff, followed by the applicant or authorized agent giving their remarks regarding the case. And then finally in action. And those three items are starting in the order of number one, PC 25-186 ZMA zoning map amendment 300 Scotty Bus Lane. So that would be the first one. The second one would be PC 25-187 ZMA zoning map amendment 27 Franklin Street. And then the third one would be PC 25-55 ZTA text amendment section 417 MU districts phasing. Do I have a second? So that is a motion by Commissioner Manellus. A second by Commissioner Lewellan. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. That's unanimous. And um just to let you know, we we had some comment the last time we had the text amendment on the agenda that that the public didn't like sitting through the whole the whole meeting. So that's why we're moving it forward. If you guys know of anybody who was counting on it starting a little later, send them a text message and um have them get here. So thank you. So the next item on the agenda is the minutes, and we have several sets of minutes. Um from May meetings that we now have a quorum to address. And um, so we will start with approval of the May 19th, 2025 Planning Commission workshop minutes. I move to approve the May 19th, 2025 planning commission workshop minutes. Second. So that is a motion by Commissioner Lewell and a second by Commissioner Um Valencia, all in favor. Aye, aye. So that is uh three commissioners in favor, and Commissioner Manellus is not eligible to vote. Um next is the May 21st Planning Commission meeting minutes. I move for the approval of the May 21st, 2025 Planning Commission meeting minutes. Second. So that is a motion by Commissioner Valencia, a second by Commissioner Manellus, all in favor. Aye, aye. That's three commissioners, and Commissioner Strawson is not eligible to vote. Um next is the approval of the July 14th, 2025 planning commission meeting minutes. I move to approve minutes from July 14th, 2025 planning commission meeting minutes. The second that is a motion by Commissioner Lewell and a second by Commissioner Manellus, all in favor. Aye. That's three commissioners for Commissioner Valencia is not eligible to vote. Um approval of the July 21st, 2025 Planning Commission workshop minutes. I move for the approval of the July 21st, 2025 Planning Commission workshop minutes. Second. That is a motion by Commissioner Manellas, a second by Commissioner Valencia.
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