Good evening, everybody.

Welcome to the August 25th, 2020 meeting of the City of Frederick Zoning Board of Appeals.

Before we get started on tonight's business, and especially since we are meeting uh virtually, I'd like to give a little bit of background information about the ZBA and go over the rules of procedure that we're going to be following tonight.

Just as some background for anybody who happens to be watching at home or isn't familiar with what we do here on the zoning board of appeals.

It's the responsibility of the zoning board of appeals to authorize on appeal in specific cases a variance from the terms of the city zoning regulations to hear and decide special exceptions to the terms of the zoning regulations, or to hear and decide appeals of a grieved parties when it's alleged that there's an error in any order requirement decision or determination made by an administrative officer in the enforcement of the land use article of the annotated code of Maryland or any law adopted under that state law, which includes the City of Fredericks Land Management Code.

We conduct our responsibilities in accordance with the city's land management code and all Maryland state law.

Members of the zoning board of appeals, we are all volunteers, we're all residents of the city.

Members are appointed by the mayor, and those appointments are confirmed by the Board of Aldermen.

The zoning board of appeals is comprised of five voting members and one alternate.

If I do not see Mr.

Sisson's little icon with us uh here, but um uh I thought I saw his name pop up.

Tonight, Mr.

Sisson will be serving as our alternate.

Um board is also supported in our activities by SETI staff.

Um for everyone's benefit, I'd like to introduce uh some individuals who might be supporting us tonight.

Um we have Gabrielle Collard, um, Joe Atkins and Jessica Murphy from the planning department.

Um we may have uh Stephen Davis from the city's legal department as well.

Mr.

Chair, if I may, it's Gabrielle with the planning department.

We actually Rachel Depot.

Um with the Oh, we have Rachel tonight.

Fantastic.

Thank you.

So we have Rachel DePo who is the assistant attorney with the city's legal department.

I apologize.

I'm only seeing a couple of the icons here on my screen, and I missed a couple names.

So for our tonight's procedures.

Um, of course, tonight's procedures are going to be conducted virtually due to the ongoing health emergency.

And so, in accordance with the governor's executive orders, members of the ZBA, staff, uh applicants were all attending the meeting remotely.

The complete proceedings will be televised on Channel 99 and also available on the city's website.

Even though we're meeting remotely, public comment will be accepted on each agenda item.

Those making the wish, those wishing to make public comment will be asked to call 301 600 1213 during the staff presentation of the item that you would like to make comment on.

Please don't worry if you miss that phone number.

I will repeat it several times.

Each person wishing to make public comment will be asked to state their name and their general address, and then they will be sworn in by me before providing testimony to the board.

At that time, I will read the oath, and each member of the team should reply by stating their name and signifying I do thereafter.

Um and all team members not speaking uh should uh remember to please mute your microphones unless you are um participating in the presentation.

After the item has been voting on, we also ask that the applicants um promptly leave the meeting just so that's a little easier for us to manage the technology.

Under these unusual conditions, board members, staff, and myself, we're all going to do the very, very best we can under these circumstances.

Um we are almost assuredly going to make some mistakes, though the last couple times we've done this, we've at least been able to make it through unscathed.

Um, but we do appreciate everyone's patience and bearing through us, uh bearing with us as we work through any difficulties that may happen to arise.

So the general order of business for each case will be as follows.

Um, first, I will call and introduce the case.

I will conduct a roll call of board members asking that each respond with their name and present so that we have for the record that they are here and they are present for uh the case.

Second, I will ask for a presentation of the staff report and any staff recommendations.

Um staff members presenting will be asked to introduce themselves.

Staff members will be thrown sworn in.

Staff members will enter the report into the record.

Um, and then remember anybody wishing to get public comment on this case, now's the time to start calling in.

Area code 301 600 1213.

Third, ZBA members may question uh staff members at this time.

I will conduct a roll call and see if each of the members have any questions for the staff, or if they don't have any questions at this time, they can just answer that they don't have uh any questions.

Um fourth, I will then ask for the presentation of the case by the applicant.

The applicant will be asked to state their name, the name of all members of the team who are going to be presenting, um, so that we have that information for the record.

I will then swear the applicant and any team members in the applicant and the team members should respond by stating their name and saying I do.

Um that they um will follow uh the oath for sworn testimony.

Um and then I will ask the applicant to present their case to the ZBA members.

Um following that, much like with the staff report, I will ask if the ZBA members uh have any questions for the applicant.

I will poll them all individually, asking them if they have any questions, and of course, they may ask those questions or say that they don't have any at this time.

Um, following the applicant's presentation, we will then take any public comment.