OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Rockville Board of Appeals Meeting 05-2024 – December 18, 2024

Meeting Portal — Wednesday, December 18, 2024
BodyRockville, Maryland
SessionMeeting Portal
DateWednesday, December 18, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:09

Sorry, I forgot new microphones.

0:12

Good evening.

0:13

My name is Alan Frankel, and I am the chair of the City of Rockville Board of Appeals.

0:20

This evening we are here for meeting number 05-2024.

0:29

With me on the dais is Board Member Roy Deutschmann.

0:38

And joining us via WebEx is our member Jimmy Hauer.

0:49

Welcome everybody, whether you're here or whether you're on Rockfield Channel 11 or whether you're joining us by video.

0:59

If you are joining us by video, there are rules that have been set forth by the Board of Appeals that govern participation by a remote.

1:12

And we assume you'll anybody participating that way is familiar with them.

1:18

If not, we'll let you know.

1:21

This evening we have a public hearing for variance application VAR 2025 0122.

1:32

Um which is 100 Lynch Street, Rockville, Maryland.

1:43

Is the applicant here or the applicant's agent here to rep to uh represent the applicant?

1:50

I'd ask you to please come forward and state your name and address, please.

1:58

Good evening.

1:59

My name is Jeff Broadhurst, Broadhurst Architects.

2:02

I work out of Rockville and uh am a proud resident of Rockville.

2:07

Well, welcome.

2:07

Thank you.

2:08

Mr.

2:08

Broadhurst, it's nice to have you this evening.

2:11

Uh Mr.

2:11

Waslick, if you would be kind enough to oh, well, whoa, come back, come back.

2:16

I assume you're going to be making the presentation.

2:19

I assume that staff would make a presentation.

2:22

Of course, I'm sorry.

2:23

It's been a while since we've had a meeting.

2:26

Thank you.

2:27

Go and have a seat, Mr.

2:28

Broadhurst.

2:30

Okay.

2:31

I am boy.

2:33

Mr.

2:33

Davis.

2:35

Um, Mr.

2:36

Wasslake, if you will swear the witness, and we will get started.

2:41

I will do that.

2:42

If you could identify yourself for the record.

2:44

Christopher Davis.

2:46

And will you provide truthful testimony this evening?

2:49

I will.

2:50

Thanks.

2:56

All right.

2:57

Thank you, Mr.

2:58

Chair, members of the board.

2:59

Again, Christopher Davis with Community Planning and Development Services Department.

3:04

Nice to see you all again.

3:06

Tonight's application is a variance application, VAR 20250122 for the property at 100 Lynch Street.

3:19

As you see here on the screen, the properties outlined in blue.

3:23

It is 100 Lynch Street with a land use designation of single family residential detached.

3:30

And the property is located in the R60HD zone corresponding with a single unit detached dwelling residential zone and historic district overlay.

3:44

The proposal this evening is a request for a zoning variance from the front yard setback restrictions on a corner lot in order to construct a second story addition to the existing dwelling.

3:56

Staff's recommendation is approval with conditions.

5:05

Uh for the fact that the applicant is proposing addition within the existing building footprint necessitates the uh request for the variance this evening.

5:20

So here you can see on the screen a rendering of the existing conditions of the home.

5:25

You can see the main structure, the two-story dwelling um has been improved with a one-story addition to the rear, including an enclosed side porch.

5:37

Um the applicant proposes to redevelop the property with the addition to the rear.

5:44

And here's the proposal as presented by the applicant.

5:48

As you can see, that side porch will be uh transformed into a covered but unenclosed porch.

5:57

Um and the rear addition would be uh improved so that the aesthetics match the uh exterior of the current dwelling.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████63%
Procedural███████████████████████32%
Historic Preservation████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Rockville Board of Appeals Meeting 05-2024 – December 18, 2024

The City of Rockville Board of Appeals held a public hearing on December 18, 2024, to consider a variance application for a property at 100 Lynch Street. The board also handled old business, elected a chair for 2025, and approved previous meeting minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • One written comment from Margaret Dawn Holebrook expressed support for the proposed addition, stating it would be "beautiful and an asset to the neighborhood."
  • The property owner, Mr. Abel, spoke via WebEx, thanking the board and expressing commitment to respecting the historic nature of the home.

Discussion Items

  • Variance Application VAR 2025-0122 (100 Lynch Street): The applicant, represented by Jeff Broadhurst (Broadhurst Architects), requested a variance from the front yard setback requirement for a corner lot in the R60HD zone (historic district) to construct a second-story addition within the existing building footprint. Staff recommended approval with conditions. The variance would allow a front yard setback of 9 feet 11 inches along Anderson Avenue instead of the required 25 feet (a 15-foot-1-inch variance). Staff found all four variance standards satisfied due to peculiar property conditions (narrow lot, arched frontage, corner lot, topography). The applicant testified that the design respects the historic character and that the porch may be enclosed with glass while appearing open.
  • Old Business – VAR 2024-00120 (203 Forest Avenue): The board noted that the applicant for a fence variance at 203 Forest Avenue had withdrawn the application in writing on August 23, 2024, and will pursue a compliant fence. The matter was closed on the record.
  • New Business – Proposed Meeting Dates for 2025: Staff proposed meeting dates from January 15, 2025, through February 18, 2026. Chair Alan Frankel noted potential conflicts on March 19 and June 18, 2025, and the board agreed to address those later.
  • Election of Chair for 2025: Board Member Roy Deutschmann nominated Alan Frankel to continue as chair for 2025. The motion was seconded by Jimmy Hauer and approved unanimously (Frankel abstained).
  • Approval of July 31, 2024 Meeting Minutes: The minutes from meeting 03-2024 (July 31, 2024) were approved as submitted without changes.
  • Alternate's Role: Chair Frankel asked staff to research whether alternate board members can have a more participatory role (they cannot vote but may be allowed to ask questions).

Key Outcomes

  • Variance Approved: The board voted unanimously (3-0) to approve VAR 2025-0122 subject to staff conditions, including the possibility of an enclosed porch using glass panes that maintains an open appearance.
  • Election: Alan Frankel was elected chair for 2025 (3-0, with Frankel abstaining).
  • Minutes Approved: The July 31, 2024 meeting minutes were approved (3-0).
  • Next Steps: Staff will research the alternate's participation role. Future meetings scheduled for January 15, 2025, and February 19, 2025, with possible adjustments for March and June.

Meeting Transcript

Sorry, I forgot new microphones. Good evening. My name is Alan Frankel, and I am the chair of the City of Rockville Board of Appeals. This evening we are here for meeting number 05-2024. With me on the dais is Board Member Roy Deutschmann. And joining us via WebEx is our member Jimmy Hauer. Welcome everybody, whether you're here or whether you're on Rockfield Channel 11 or whether you're joining us by video. If you are joining us by video, there are rules that have been set forth by the Board of Appeals that govern participation by a remote. And we assume you'll anybody participating that way is familiar with them. If not, we'll let you know. This evening we have a public hearing for variance application VAR 2025 0122. Um which is 100 Lynch Street, Rockville, Maryland. Is the applicant here or the applicant's agent here to rep to uh represent the applicant? I'd ask you to please come forward and state your name and address, please. Good evening. My name is Jeff Broadhurst, Broadhurst Architects. I work out of Rockville and uh am a proud resident of Rockville. Well, welcome. Thank you. Mr. Broadhurst, it's nice to have you this evening. Uh Mr. Waslick, if you would be kind enough to oh, well, whoa, come back, come back. I assume you're going to be making the presentation. I assume that staff would make a presentation. Of course, I'm sorry. It's been a while since we've had a meeting. Thank you. Go and have a seat, Mr. Broadhurst. Okay. I am boy. Mr. Davis. Um, Mr. Wasslake, if you will swear the witness, and we will get started. I will do that. If you could identify yourself for the record. Christopher Davis. And will you provide truthful testimony this evening? I will. Thanks. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the board. Again, Christopher Davis with Community Planning and Development Services Department. Nice to see you all again. Tonight's application is a variance application, VAR 20250122 for the property at 100 Lynch Street. As you see here on the screen, the properties outlined in blue. It is 100 Lynch Street with a land use designation of single family residential detached.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com