Germantown Design Review Commission Meeting – January 28, 2025
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Germantown Design Review Commission Meeting – January 28, 2025
The Germantown Design Review Commission (DRC) convened on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included the election of officers for 2025, adoption of the Germantown Forward 2035 Strategic Plan, annual legal training, and decisions on two development cases. Public comments were not offered. The commission approved a wall sign for The Urology Group and a final plan for The Square at Forest Hill Heights. The agenda item for Liquor Wine Beer (25-002) was withdrawn prior to the meeting.
Election of Officers
- Vice Chairman: Mr. Schmidt was elected (unanimous).
- Secretary: Mr. White was elected (unanimous).
Approval of Minutes
- Minutes from November 19, 2024, were approved unanimously.
Commission Liaison Appointments
- Members retained their previous liaison roles: Mr. Carney (Parks and Recreation), Mr. Schmidt (Public Art Commission), Mr. White (Historic Commission), Chairman Bruns (Sketch Plan Committee and Tree Board). Alderman Hicks represented the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
Adoption of Germantown Forward 2035 Strategic Plan
- Staff presented the strategic plan, emphasizing its vision, community values, and key performance areas (economic development, land use/transportation). The commission adopted the plan to guide its work for the year. (Unanimous vote)
Annual Training
- Attorney Josh Whitehead conducted training covering the Open Meetings Act, ex parte communications, ethics, recusal, conditions of approval, and the importance of proper motion language. Staff added reminders about meeting attendance and communication protocols.
Discussion Items
Case 25-001 – The Urology Group Wall Sign
- Location: 7550 Wolf River Blvd.
- Request: Approval of a wall sign (originally 92.3 sq ft, reduced to 57.18 sq ft to comply with code).
- Discussion: Staff noted the sign meets code after removal of the logo. The applicant confirmed the color is painted brushed aluminum.
- Outcome: Approved unanimously with conditions per staff report.
Case 24-006 – Forest Hill Heights Amended PD Ph 18D (The Square at Forest Hill Heights)
- Location: South side of Winchester Rd., east of Forest Hill-Irene Rd.
- Request: Final plan for a two-building retail center (approx. 13,000 sq ft each, 113 parking spaces) in the T5 Urban Center zone.
- Discussion: The Planning Commission previously approved five justified design alternatives (building frontage, parking excess, etc.). The DRC subcommittee requested improvements to the rear elevation and landscaping. The applicant added landscaping, changed door colors, and enhanced dumpster enclosure design. Materials include brick and painted elements.
- Outcome: Approved unanimously subject to staff conditions. Signage will be submitted separately.
Commission Liaison Reports
- Parks and Recreation: Budget request of $250,000 for sign project; presentation on Premier Sports Complex Master Plan ($55 million, aiming for sports tourism).
- Historic Commission: Agenda preview for the year.
- Public Art Commission: Updates on poem installation at Bob Haley Park, grant applications for cultural greenway sculpture bases, and viaduct underpass mural.
- Sketch Plan Committee: Upcoming item to be discussed at next subcommittee.
- Board of Mayor and Aldermen: Update on first TIF request for Germantown (approved for review); appointment of Scotty Hendricks to Board of Education.
- Streetscape Task Force: Report by Commissioner Nishwitz on tree corridor improvements along Poplar and Germantown Road, particularly under power lines. Task force is developing a pilot project to create a template for future tree planting and utility coordination with MLGW.
Key Outcomes
- Elected Vice Chairman (Schmidt) and Secretary (White) for 2025.
- Adopted Germantown Forward 2035 Strategic Plan.
- Approved wall sign for The Urology Group (57.18 sq ft) at 7550 Wolf River Blvd.
- Approved final plan for The Square at Forest Hill Heights (24-006).
- Case 25-002 (Liquor Wine Beer) was withdrawn.
- Next subcommittee meeting scheduled for February 13, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Josh open a formal meeting. Yes. Josh is number 8A. Let's do this then. The first meeting of the year. Yes. January 28th. 1725. German Town Design Review Commission. Thank you all for being here. Please come up. Mr. White. Here. Mr. Schmidt? Here. Mr. Carney? Here. Mr. Nischwitz? Here. Ms. Kimbrough. Chairman Bruns. I am here. And we have a quorum. And for citizens' comments, you are welcome to speak during the public hearings held on the matters listed below. And um just a friendly reminder, whenever you speak, please speak into the mic. I know it sounds loud, but um when we go back to trim the video, if you don't have your mic on, we we it doesn't pick it up. So thank you. Thank you for the reminder. We do have uh some elections to take place now. So first we will do the vice chairman. And are there any nominations for vice chairman? Nominate Mr. Schmidt. Second. Any other nominations? Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion. A motion? A motion to uh qualify Mr. Schmidt as our vice chairman for twenty twenty-five. Yes. Second. Second. You got one? Okay. Well good.
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