OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Rockville HDC Meeting Summary: November 20, 2025

Meeting Portal — Thursday, November 20, 2025
BodyRockville, Maryland
SessionMeeting Portal
DateThursday, November 20, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 33:23

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Good evening and welcome to the City of Rockville Historic District Commission meeting number 10-2025.

0:08

Today is Thursday, November 20th, 2025.

0:11

I am HDC Chair Anita Neo Powell.

0:14

I am joined by my fellow commissioners, Seth Dimbo, Peter Falseman, who's absent today, and Michael Golfinger and Mercy Shingai.

0:27

We are also joined by city staff.

0:33

Oh, I'm sorry, he is here.

0:35

He's he's uh meeting with us virtually.

0:39

Smile.

0:40

Okay.

0:42

Sheila Percieri, preservation planner, Cynthia Walters, Deputy City Attorney, and Katie Gerb is comprehensive planning manager.

0:52

The historic district commission are conducting hybrid meetings, applicants and the public may join the meeting virtually via WebEx when person in the Mayor and Council chambers at Rockville City Hall in 111 Maryland Avenue.

1:06

The virtual meetings can be viewed on Rockville 11, Channel 11 on County Cable, and live stream at Rockville, WWW.

1:15

Rockville MD.gov slash Rockville 11.

1:19

Each meeting is also available for viewing soon after the meeting is held at WW.Rockville MD.gov slash video on demand.

1:30

The first item on the agenda is number one committee and organization report, starting with Peerless Rockville.

1:37

Is there anyone here from Peerless Rockville staff to give a staff report?

1:48

No.

1:49

Okay, thank you.

1:51

The next organization report on the agenda is the Lincoln Park Historical Foundation.

1:55

I am the president of the foundation, and I do not have a report to give tonight.

2:04

We will now move on to item C public comments and open forum.

2:09

This time is set aside for members of the public who want to comment on any non-agenda item.

2:15

Is there anyone from the public waiting to comment on any issue not on the agenda?

2:22

Yes.

2:23

Please come forward and state your name for the record.

2:26

We'll disclosure.

2:27

I don't know what's on the agenda, but I'm assuming this is not.

2:30

This is a time for public comment, and we you will have three minutes to speak.

2:34

Okay.

2:42

Um hello.

2:43

My name is Gene O'Mara, and I'm a proud caretaker of this door comm on 419.

2:47

Excuse me, one second, okay.

2:49

So how do I can somebody keep the time for me for three minutes?

2:53

Because I don't know how to do this.

2:57

Put on the clock for three minutes.

3:01

I'm sorry, just one moment.

3:06

The clock is at the staff table.

3:08

Um it's right by the door.

3:14

Okay.

3:18

There you go.

3:18

Okay, I'm so sorry.

3:19

Please come back.

3:20

All right, three seconds in already.

3:21

All right.

3:22

Hello.

3:22

My name is Gene O'Mara.

3:23

I am a proud caretaker of a historic home in Rockville for almost 30 years at 419 West Montgomery Avenue.

3:30

Uh, as with many homeowners who live in Rockville, I've been faced with tremendous deer pressure over the last many years.

3:35

I am not here to make a referendum on deer tonight.

3:38

I'm not here to talk about why the city has abandoned all deer mitigation efforts.

3:42

I am here with a solution to mitigate the effects on the homeowners.

3:47

I'm not here with some wacky recommendation.

3:49

I'm coming to you with the solution that Montgomery County has had in place since 2003.

3:54

They were on the forefront of tackling this issue we now face.

3:59

I'm asking the HEC and the mayor and council to consider adapting, adopting the Montgomery County Deer Fencing Amendment that has been in effect for the last 22 years.

4:11

And let me clarify this would not be changing any zoning.

4:14

This would be an additive amendment amendment as the Montgomery County did, keeping in place any current fence guidelines, but adding in an additional fence guideline.

4:24

I've come to this recommendation due to the frustration I am personally facing, as well as the frustration of many of my neighbors who are seeking common sense, reasonable, discrete, and effective ways to alleviate the property damage and health implications by the heavy deer load in Rockville.

4:38

Let me be clear, it has now become severe property damage and truly serious health risks at the exposure of deer ticks and Lyme's disease.

4:46

I'm going to remind us how we got here, but I want to offer the solution that is common sense, reasonable, discreet, and effective, and already been in effect for the last 22 years with Montgomery County for Montgomery County homeowners.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Historic Preservation█████████████████████████████████████████████55%
Procedural████████████████████25%
Wildlife Management██████████12%
Urban Planning████5%
Community Engagement██3%
Summary of Proceedings

Rockville Historic District Commission Meeting - November 20, 2025

The Historic District Commission (HDC) held its first hybrid meeting of the evening, discussing public deer mitigation concerns, providing historical context on the Rockville courthouse, reviewing an updated King Farm Master Plan, and establishing the 2026 meeting calendar.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes from the October 16 and October 30, 2025 meetings with a unanimous vote of 5-0.
  • Deferred Item 3, Certificate of Approval (2026-185) for the enclosed rear porch at 301 Anderson Avenue, as the applicant (Marcus Ramdir, Leon Pro Service, LLC) requested removal from the current agenda.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Gene O'Mara (Homeowner at 419 West Montgomery Avenue): Expressed strong support for adapting the Montgomery County Deer Fencing Amendment to the City of Rockville. O'Mara stated that the current deer population (400 per square mile) causes severe property damage and health risks (Lyme disease) and requested a specific exception for homeowners to install 8-foot open mesh deer fencing without changing zoning. He argued that the city has a responsibility to protect public safety and acknowledged that the county has utilized this solution for 22 years.
  • Commissioner Michael Golfinger: Expressed a supportive stance toward the applicant in the deer comment, suggesting they attend West End Civic Association meetings to address the ongoing topic, noting his resident's long-term involvement with the association.

Discussion Items

  • King Farm Steadmaster Plan Update: Commissioners discussed the updated plan proposed for a ~$30 million, decade-long project. Commissioner Michael Golfinger expressed that he was 100% in favor of the proposal's intent regarding historic preservation, viewshed maintenance, and reduced on-site parking, though he emphasized the need for the process to adhere to Secretary of Interior's Standards (specifically guidelines one, nine, and ten) and include a courtesy review for the HDC. Commissioner Dorothy Dimbo (referred to as "Seth" in transcript but identified as Dimbo in intro) agreed 100% with Golfinger's comments. Commissioner Seth Dimbo added concerns regarding tree preservation and requested that new parking spaces utilize pervious materials. Commissioner Anita Neo Powell directed staff to draft a supportive letter to the Mayor and Council by December 8th, urging continued HDC involvement and adherence to historic preservation standards.
  • Deer Mesh Policy: Commissioner Michael Golfinger inquired about the specific policy regarding deer mesh on historic properties. Staff clarified that while there is no specific policy for "deer mesh" separate from permanent fencing, any deer fencing is currently interpreted as a permanent exterior alteration requiring a Certificate of Approval. Commissioner Golfinger requested staff research existing policies and prepare a discussion for the December meeting to clarify the distinction between netting and permanent fencing.
  • Historic Preservation Month: Commissioners discussed preparations for the May 2026 Historic Preservation Month event. Anita Neo Powell suggested identifying a theme, and Commissioner Peter Falseman proposed hosting the event at Glenview Mansion, contingent on venue availability during the busy wedding season. The Commissioners requested to identify two co-chairs and the venue location in the future agenda.
  • HDC Meeting Calendar 2026: Commissioners reviewed and approved the draft meeting calendar for 2026.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion Passed (5-0): Approved the consent agenda (minutes).
  • Motion Passed (5-0): Approved the draft HDC meeting calendar for 2026.
  • Directive: Staff to draft a letter to the Mayor and Council regarding the King Farm Steadmaster Plan, focusing on support and requesting a courtesy review, to be sent prior to the December 8th council meeting.
  • Directive: Commissioner Michael Golfinger to draft notes for staff to assist in preparing the letter regarding King Farm.
  • Future Action: Staff to research and report on specific policies regarding deer mesh at the December HDC meeting.
  • Future Action: Commissioners to identify two co-chairs for the May 2026 Preservation Conference and research the availability of Glenview Mansion for the event.
  • Adjournment: Meeting adjourned following a motion and unanimous vote (5-0).

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the City of Rockville Historic District Commission meeting number 10-2025. Today is Thursday, November 20th, 2025. I am HDC Chair Anita Neo Powell. I am joined by my fellow commissioners, Seth Dimbo, Peter Falseman, who's absent today, and Michael Golfinger and Mercy Shingai. We are also joined by city staff. Oh, I'm sorry, he is here. He's he's uh meeting with us virtually. Smile. Okay. Sheila Percieri, preservation planner, Cynthia Walters, Deputy City Attorney, and Katie Gerb is comprehensive planning manager. The historic district commission are conducting hybrid meetings, applicants and the public may join the meeting virtually via WebEx when person in the Mayor and Council chambers at Rockville City Hall in 111 Maryland Avenue. The virtual meetings can be viewed on Rockville 11, Channel 11 on County Cable, and live stream at Rockville, WWW. Rockville MD.gov slash Rockville 11. Each meeting is also available for viewing soon after the meeting is held at WW.Rockville MD.gov slash video on demand. The first item on the agenda is number one committee and organization report, starting with Peerless Rockville. Is there anyone here from Peerless Rockville staff to give a staff report? No. Okay, thank you. The next organization report on the agenda is the Lincoln Park Historical Foundation. I am the president of the foundation, and I do not have a report to give tonight. We will now move on to item C public comments and open forum. This time is set aside for members of the public who want to comment on any non-agenda item. Is there anyone from the public waiting to comment on any issue not on the agenda? Yes. Please come forward and state your name for the record. We'll disclosure. I don't know what's on the agenda, but I'm assuming this is not. This is a time for public comment, and we you will have three minutes to speak. Okay. Um hello. My name is Gene O'Mara, and I'm a proud caretaker of this door comm on 419. Excuse me, one second, okay. So how do I can somebody keep the time for me for three minutes? Because I don't know how to do this. Put on the clock for three minutes. I'm sorry, just one moment. The clock is at the staff table. Um it's right by the door. Okay. There you go. Okay, I'm so sorry. Please come back. All right, three seconds in already. All right. Hello. My name is Gene O'Mara. I am a proud caretaker of a historic home in Rockville for almost 30 years at 419 West Montgomery Avenue. Uh, as with many homeowners who live in Rockville, I've been faced with tremendous deer pressure over the last many years. I am not here to make a referendum on deer tonight. I'm not here to talk about why the city has abandoned all deer mitigation efforts.

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