Good evening and welcome to the City of Rockville's Historic District Commission meeting.

It's meeting number 32026.

It's Thursday, March 19th, 2026.

I'm Chair Peter Fosselman, and I'm joined tonight by fellow commissioner Seth Denbo, Michael Goldfinger, Anita Neil Powell, and Mercy Senghi.

We're also joined this evening by staff, Sheila Bashiri, who's our preservation planner, and Cynthia Waters, who's our deputy city attorney, as well as Megan Flick, who's our principal planner.

The Historic District Commission meeting meets in person, Mary and Council Chambers.

And tonight you can view us on the WebEx, which is Rockville Channel 11.

Excuse me, you can see the meeting at home on the WebEx, but also you can view it on Rockville Channel 11, which is a cable channel, and it's live streamed at RockvilleMD.gov forward slash Rockville 11.

Each meeting is also uh available for viewing after the meeting, and it's at Rockville.

Excuse me, Rockville, Maryland.gov forward slash video on demand.

Uh the first items on our agenda tonight are the committee organization reports.

I'm not sure if uh Peelers is Rockville with us this evening.

Okay, I don't oh yes.

The moment I don't think there's anyone here from Peerless.

Oh, I see someone she just joined.

Yes.

Okay.

Is that you, Nancy?

Yeah.

There they are.

Nancy, I just made you a panelist, so you should be able to unmute yourself and speak.

Hi, actually, this is Catherine Rogers.

I'm the collections manager for Peerless Rockville.

Um, Nancy was not able to make it tonight.

Good evening.

Thank you.

Thank you for having us here.

Um, I'm here to talk about Peerless Rockville's uh is preparing to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States with special programming, Rockville 250, our American history, together with the Rockville community, the city of Rockville, and our business partners.

Peerless Rockville will explore how national themes in American history have unfolded in Rockville over the last two and a half centuries.

Rockville 250 will tell the stories of the people and places in Rockville that trace our nation's history.

Uh, we will have um a showcase at the historic Red Brick Courthouse with an illustrated uh exhibit, uh pictorial history of 250 years of Rockville's history, and there will be additional lectures, tours, and special programs throughout the year, offering residents and visitors opportunities to engage with our local and national heritage.

Our first event will be next Monday evening, March 30th at 7 p.m.

We will begin with a virtual presentation on the Hungerford Resolves.

And uh in December of 1773, the citizens of Boston were furious over excessive British taxation imposed on them and revolted.

And uh other colonies responded to uh Parliament with a series of resolves issued in June of 1774.

And here in what was then Lower Frederick County citizens met at Hunkerford Tavern in Rockville and penned their contribution to Maryland's resolves, and I will be making that presentation.

Great.

Thank you very much for joining us.

And uh just a side note, I wanted to um thank Nancy uh for meeting with Commissioner Dembo and I to talk about our preservation celebration in May of this year.

So we appreciate her time.

Oh, we were very happy to do that, and thank you very much.

I'll pass that along to her.

Thank you.

Uh, next is a uh report from our Lincoln Park Historical Foundation.

Good evening.

I am the president of the Lincoln Park Historical Foundation.

On February 28, 2026, we celebrated our 49th anniversary of the foundation with the theme of the Gospel Train Ride to Freedom, Harriet Tubman on the Run, as well as the 100th anniversary of Black History in America.

We would like to thank those who came out to support the anniversaries.

We will be hosting the first Maryland African American Preservation Conference, focusing on preserving Black History Museums in Montgomery County during the month of May, which of course is preservation month.

Date and time to be determined.

Finally, the Lincoln Park community will be celebrating its 135th anniversary on June 13th, 2026, from 9 a.m.

to 4 p.m.

at the Male Calvary Baptist Church in Lincoln Park.

The annual celebration will start with the historical parade and will focus on cultural activities throughout the day.

All events are open to the public, and we welcome your attendance and participation, especially when we focus on the history of the community.

If you know of anyone who would like to share their stories about the community in real time, please have them to contact us.

Finally, we would like to remind you to stop by City Hall to visit the display depicting the history of black history throughout Montgomery County.

For more information regarding the events or anniversaries, please send an email to Lincoln Park H I S T at AOL.com.

And this concludes my report.

Thank you, Commissioner Powell.

You said that June 13th is the 135th anniversary.

Correct.

Thank you.

I will put that on my calendar.

Next on our agenda, our public comments open forum.

If anyone is here this evening to speak about something that's not on the agenda, um if you're online, if you could just raise your hand or if you're here.

Slim audience tonight.

I don't see anyone online.

Staff are you seeing anything?

I don't see.

Okay.

Thank you.

Then we'll move on.

Uh last thing under the committee organization reports are the HDC and staff comments.

Any of the commissioners have anything to share this evening?

This time.

Good evening.

Um featuring of historic buildings throughout the city of uh of Rockville.

Um, for this evening, uh, I'm looking at the Mount Pleasant Umsonage next to the um what is it, Jerusalem, Mount Pleasant.

Uh Methodist Church, I guess, yeah.

Um the building known as the Jerusalem Mount Pleasant Parsonage is located at 19 Wood Lane, immediately west of North Washington Street in Rockville's town center.

Prior to the Civil War and following racial tensions, the Meth Methodist Church split by 1868.

The African American members of the church owned the property and renamed their church Jerusalem.

Using lumber milled from trees harvested by the congregation from a church-owned site in Poolsville.

It continued to be used as a parsonage until 1986, when the church purchased a new parsonage.

The original building then became a women's resource center known as Cordelia House.

In 1999, Cordelia House was damaged by fire caused by arson.

The building was extensively restored in 2005 and is in use today.

These two buildings are among the few remaining historic church and parsonage units remaining in Montgomery County.

The traditional vernacular style of the parsonage is one of the few remaining examples of this type of building in Rockville's town center.

And that concludes my story, but it just points out that there are so many historic buildings surrounding us.

We just need to open our eyes and look at them.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Goldfinger.

Any other commissioners this evening have anything to add?

Yeah.

Yes, sir.

Shengay.

Thanks for the representation, Michael.

So on February 20th, I attended the Lincoln Park History Foundation celebration.

And I was so proud of Miss Ainta Paul, you know.

And we watched the Gospel Train Right to Freedom.

And then during the presentation on doing the events, we learned a lot about what she's done in this community.

Ms.

Paul, I'm really proud of you.

So and thanks for inviting.

Thank you.

Any other commissioners have anything to add this evening?

Okay.

Next on agenda are consent items.

The first one and only one I believe this evening is approval.

The minutes from last month.

That's February 19th, 2026.

Commissioners do have a motion.

I move to our proved the meetings.

Thank you.

May I have a second?

Any comments, corrections?

Okay.

All in favor.

All right.

Hi.

Thank you very much.

Next on the agenda is evaluation of significance.

This is uh 2026-250 EOS.

The applicants Robert Shapiro of Goshen Valley Investments.

Um, the owner is Andrew Miller, and we're talking about 718 Bell Avenue.

Um, and again, it's evaluation of significant staff.

Good evening.

I'm Sheila Bashiri Preservation Planner.

I think I have the wrong one up here.

I have the right one up here.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

This is the property at 718 Bell Avenue.

As you can see, it's quite a small house sitting in between several other houses that have been enlarged.

But anyway, uh the applicant is seeking to demolish the house and build a new one.

This is the house is actually built in 1949, we think, because um records aren't always really clear, but we think it was built in 1949.

Um it is a house that was built as a part of several houses that were built in that neighborhood at the same time.

But this is in the West End, and we do know that the West End was developed at different times, and so uh whereas a house may have been built very much later than another house, and it may have been built in the same style.

But anyway, in the West End, these houses were built erratically uh first after the crash in 1893, I believe it was the house, the lots didn't sell immediately.

So this is the result of the houses.

And we weren't able to tell really if the houses were part of a worker housing program as far as uh because they weren't built at the same time, but a lot of times when you build houses like these exactly alike, a lot of times it's because it's one builder that came along and built all the houses, usually for a company that wanted their workers' house there, or a developer was just developing the neighborhood.

So looking at the front facade, you can see there's two, um, it's got a gable roof, uh, it's got um asphalt shingles on the shingles on the roof, it's got two dormers, two gabled dormers on the roof, uh, double hung windows, all the windows in there are replacement windows, and um it's got aluminum siding, and uh six over six windows on the first floor on either side of the door.

The door is wood, and it's got a um full height storm door in front of it.

And as you can see with the property itself, uh it does have somewhat deep lot, and the house does sit in the middle of that house in between the uh east and west neighbors.

Uh it's got nice landscaping and it's got a large lot in the rear.

Uh this is the side elevation.

This is the east side elevation, and it's difficult to get the west side elevation, so I put this on there because they're both basically the same with the um six over six double-hung windows with the single window above, and with a vent and the peak.

It does have well uh window wells at the basement here level here, and you can see the uh side porch.

It's got a um a rear porch addition, but you can see the side screen area of the rear porch and the enclosed rear porch.

And this is the rear of it.

You're looking at the enclosed rear porch.

There is a dormer, a large dormer on the rear at the top there.

It's called a shed dormer, uh, with two small windows.

Uh does have wooden steps leading up to the doorway, wouldn't um the actually the whole um addition there is wooden, and then a screen door as well.

And it's got a deep lot, you can't really see it, but it does have a deep lot that goes into the back.

And looking um in your report, you'll see the standborne map for 1949.

And though the house was thought to have been built in 1949, the house does not show up in that sandborne map.

So there's a good possibility that it was built in 1950 or after, or that the map was made in 1949 when the house was in the process.

So it wasn't on the um actual sandborne map.

So finding that the building proposed for demolition at 718 Bell Avenue does not meet any of the historic district commission's adopted criteria for historic significance or architectural design and landscape significance.

Staff recommends against historic designation.

Uh do you have any questions for me?

Commissioners.

Hi, I'm not sure if the owner is here, but is there a reason why he would like he or she would like to have the house demolished?

They are seeking to tear it down to build a new one.

It is very small footprint of 800 and something feet footprint in the house itself.

So they're looking to build uh another house, not within the footprint, but on the lot.

You say we don't have plans or anything that was not within our purview, so we only got the plans for um for demolishing or for actually for evaluation significance.

Oh okay.

You said the lot the lot is deep.

Yeah, the lot does go back quite a bit.

Yeah.

So there's enough room on a lot to build a new home, a new house.

Okay, thank you.

Commissioners, any of the questions, comments?

Steph is the applicant here.

Oh, go ahead, Commissioner.

Yeah, do you think I'm just going to like I've done every time, just comment on the fact that um uh the house is uh indicative of a style that was built in in a certain time period uh when Rockville saw a um huge uh surge in population following World War II, and um uh I would look forward to maybe the city providing funds to document this neighborhood before it gets all destroyed.

I think this replacement is a good thing, but it does destroy the historic context of the neighborhood.

So I'm uh I've said before I'm gonna say it each time I'm here.

Uh that's that's my comment.

The other thing that I noticed was um just a slight technical uh issue in the description.

It noted the driveway was on the east side, and I believe it's on the west side side.

Right.

Thank you.

I have another question.

So if this house is torn down or if it's approved tonight, uh do you know if they plan to keep any points or what they're planning to do with the um no, all we get from them is their plan for um wanting the evaluation of significance for the purpose of demolition, but you know, not being in our purview, we don't take anything else in as far as and that's one thing we've been actually making sure that we're not taking in additional information to actually look at what's going there afterwards this because it's not in our purview.

Oh, okay, thank you.

Commissioner Send me a comments.

Um I'll just comment on a couple things very quickly.

One is this is my neighborhood.

Um very familiar with this house when I walk my dogs.

Um I realize it's most likely um not historic based on staff studies.

Uh but the house on the left, when you're facing this house, they did a beautiful job of maintaining the existing home and still adding on in the back.

So um I I do not like to see homes torn down just to build giant homes.

Um it would be nice in the future if we could have a rough idea of what they were gonna build.

Um I know it's not required, but it would be nice.

And then the last thing is as I've said in the past, especially with this house, it looks like the windows are fairly new.

Um, the habitat for humanities renew store will take any of these kind of things.

Um, and of course, that's a form of recycling.

So it would be great if there's if the owner could use any of the parts and donate them to habitat because they will build new homes.

So is anyone is Mr.

Shapiro or Mr.

Miller here online at all?

I don't see the applicant online, and I don't think they're here either.

Okay.

Oh, we can take comments, can't we?

Yeah, certainly.

Please come up to the microphone.

I had not planned on making comments, but I'll make one.

So I also live in the neighborhood.

I am three houses down.

If you could just please identify yourself.

Terry Pinkston.

Thank you.

Sorry, live on Anderson.

So I'm three houses down and the next street over.

Um the two houses that have been built.

Uh that are large have been built in the last five to six years.

They took out small houses.

I live in a small house, and we're losing those folks who don't need huge houses.

Um I would also comment they've already chopped down the trees in the backyard.

Um, whether this flew or not.

And we are having some serious issues because it is a major downhill.

Uh that the erosion coming off of those two new houses, and the house right next to them that built up and built out, uh, is really affecting those people on Anderson because we're downhill from them.

And I'm having to do remedial work on that yard to keep a yard in place.

So there are there are a couple of points.

The house looked to be in great shape.

Um, because I went by as well and took a look at it.

So I I advocate for keeping smaller houses around, even though it's maybe not uh financially great for the city, but there are plenty of us that need smaller houses in that area.

Thank you for your comments.

Um I know it's not within the HCC's purview with the two times that have already been built, but when this house is constructed, I assume code enforcement would be watching for soil and erosion control and have the right fencing up.

I think that that's something we've we've had this in the past, it was something that our um other department got involved with when they were contacted to let them know about erosion that was coming as a result of something else, and usually they would require something to be like a retaining a small retaining wall or curb to be built or something to that effect.

Um I really have no thoughts, any idea of how that's handled for sure, but I do believe it's our um I'm trying to think of the department or the not code enforcement community planning, not community planning.

That's uh permitting sectors, well uh our inspectors, I'll say our inspectors.

They would usually because uh before they can even build a house, they have to go out there and make sure that you know everything is okay and they do have to look at the runoff.

I don't know that um it's been complaints sent to the city about the runoff from the other and nothing they came out and said it was uh I would use more competition.

If I could get you, I'm sorry to come back to the mic so we can have this on the record.

Um I did contact folks, uh Shannon McShannon Philpin Okay, yes, engineers, yes, etc.

Uh they came out and looked and basically gave me tips on how to keep my soil because they said they don't have the authority to go in and ask people who have built the new houses to put in any kind of uh water retention pond or anything to keep the water from running down that hill.

It is a steep hill.

Did they suggest to you that you put in a retaining wall or anything like that?

Uh no, but I have four um rain gardens.

I have put a couple of trees worth of logs to make bean tiers down and so forth, and planted all kinds of native grasses and such to try and hold the soil.

So it's it is a problem.

Okay.

Thank you.

So I think my overall point is um when the city has these new structures or the commercial or residential, um, that we watch for the end result of the topography and any changes in grading because it's not fair to the surrounding property owners if a new project is causing them an issue, and especially if it causes them a financial issue that they have to repair or you know mitigate.

That was my point.

So but uh but I understand what everyone's saying.

Any other comments from the commissioners?

Okay, then I'll go.

So if we still for me, so does the city do any environmental analysis before building houses?

Does the city do any of our mental impact analysis?

Like oh, impact analysis.

Not within our purview, so I have no idea.

Umce what all we're looking at is is this significant or not, but then from there they have to actually get a permit for demolition, then they have to get another permit for new construction.

So that's you know, where that would fall into play.

So you're you're I know you're asking me questions that I really don't have a clue to because of my area of expertise, and then I usually just turn it over to the person that does have the expertise.

So I have another question.

Uh following up on the last speaker's um comment.

Were we aware that trees were cut down?

Not in our purview because it's not designated as historic.

So I could not say if there is a chance that um I don't think that they have to actually get permission if it's not a historic property, as I think about it.

I maybe want to check that.

I mean, because I know that if you want to cut down a tree that usually if it were in a historic district, you know, historic um district, and this was designated, then yes, they would definitely have to get permission before they could uh take the trees down, but because it's not designated, they aren't required from us to um at least from us our department to get permission.

Or and they shouldn't be taking street shoots down either.

Pardon?

They should not be taking street trees down either.

They're not in the rear.

Are the trees in the rear or they're in the trees were about 70 to 80 foot both and pop the trees in the rear.

In the rear.

So that means they were on proper private property and not on the street trees.

Yeah.

Interesting.

Thank you.

Commissioner Goldfinger.

Yeah.

Um, just uh general information, but generally in the planning process for new construction, residential commercial.

Um, there should be a um drainage plan.

Um so um I I would be that that would um be both in effective during construction for runoff, and also the final plan should address runoff from the um property uh under construction to the neighboring property.

So uh I would expect that uh in the review process for permitting uh that this would come up and the um uh the reviewers uh looking to issue the permit would take that into account.

But that's generally how it uh how it happens and that wouldn't happen until after this board makes their decision because they can't do anything as far as demo getting a permit or anything until the decision is made here as to whether or not to seek designation right.

I believe what the commission is trying to do is connect the dots between our purview and the next purview, whether it's a body or it's the staff, and make sure that the dots connect so that we don't miss something in between, such as it and I don't know this, but it sounds like a dot was not connected when the two homes on there that are newer in the past five years is our um uh the person that spoke earlier was saying there's something there's a disconnect if the ship her yards being flooded but wasn't flooded before the homes are built.

Clearly there's a topography issue when the grading was finished.

So okay, any other comments or commit or from the commissioners staff no more?

Okay.

Um may I have a motion, please.

Um finding the building proposed for demolition at 718 Bell Avenue does not meet any of the historic district commission's adopted criteria for historic significance or architectural design and landscape significance.

I move that the HTC recommend against historic designation.

May I have a second?

Any further discussion?

All in favor?

Great.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, staff.

What I'm sorry, what I missed.

Oh, I'm sorry, I missed that part.

Um those opposed.

We have one.

Commissioner Powell, thank you.

Apologize for that.

That doesn't happen often with this this group.

So um okay.

Um and staff has no further comments, we're finished, and um we will move on to our next item on the agenda, which is a certificate of approval.

This is 2026 256 COA.

The applicant is Kelly Kaleppe.

Um, she's the owner, and this is 401 West Montgomery Avenue.

Um staff, you have a report.

Oh, and I'm sorry, let me note why y'all are finding that.

Um I am gonna abstain from and recuse myself from the discussion.

I'll lead the lead the meeting, but I'm not gonna make any comments because of the relationship that I have with the applicant, and the applicant next door happens to be my attorney.

I mean the person next door happens to be my attorney.

So I don't want any conflicts.

Excuse me.

Okay, this is 2026 256 COA at 401 West Montgomery Avenue for a certificate of approval.

I'm gonna let actually in this case, I'm gonna let Commissioner Goldfinger run the meeting.

Um I think that might be a better idea, and I'm just gonna actually step out.

Okay.

Um just listen to what the staff tells you to do.

Okay, this is the property on West uh 401 401 West Montgomery.

Uh we have reviewed it several times because there was a basketball court built on the side there, if you can see it.

And um the actual uh court was not approved, and so we've actually looked at the property several times.

So the applicant is bringing it back today to look at possibly putting a patio on the property.

Right now, the um this was what is is existing.

Um it's got a basketball court with a uh full flooring on there, and without the flooring on there, this is what it would have is a concrete slab.

And is pretty much the full side size of the house uh as far as the length of it goes from the front to the rear.

The applicant originally submitted actually there was a courtesy review in January in which the uh HDC looked at a proposal, and the courtesy review had the uh showed the actual court as staying there, the concrete slab and then building on top of it an actual seating area, um, putting planners on top of it, and let me go back forward one, putting planners on top of it, and uh there's already the plants in the front.

So they were looking to actually put pavers on it and seating on it and pretty much leaving it as it is, but actually putting um a line of trees along the fence here at the side next to the neighbor's house, uh outdoor kitchen um that they already have that's already on site, and putting in several items just to use the whole area that's right now um concrete slab, using the whole area as a patio.

Um but in the actual original proposal that I received, I didn't feel like I could approve it as is.

I couldn't recommend approval as is because basically it was uh putting doing the same thing that was at the courtesy review and at the courtesy review.

Um commissioners felt like that was still too much patio, and so uh they actually submitted a new plan, but it still had the same amount of the concrete slab on there, but they were looking to put trees along the side of the fence and looking to put a raised seating area, but everything would be sitting sitting up on the concrete, so it was about 18 inches high.

Um so um the applicant after discussion, I did let them know that I thought it was too big, and they did send in a revised proposal.

So what you see here on the right is the revised proposal.

So instead of having the full size slab and the um pavers on top of it, they're looking to reduce it to just a small patio, and you can see there's already an existing patio, so it would just abut the patio that's already there, so it would just be so much smaller.

And in looking at that, I am willing to say that it does fit the area there.

It does have um the trees in the front.

There is no proposal to put trees on the side as it was in the original proposal here.

So in looking at what was submitted, the revised proposal to uh this is my recommendation.

The revised proposal to reduce the existing side yard concrete slab into a patio meets the Secretary of Interior Standards for rehabilitation number one, two, nine, and ten, and staff recommends approval provided the following conditions are met.

The applicant must remove the existing concrete, the applicant must plant privacy evergreen along the length of the west side fence, the uh neighboring fence, and the work must be done by April 20th, 2026.

And basically, we're looking at um giving one 30 days basically to get the work done.

So this concludes my presentation.

Do you have any questions for me?

Yeah, actually I do.

Yeah, sorry, Sheila.

I did have one question.

What um you bring the those two plans back up for a second?

So the square patio that the small square patio at the back is the one that's existing, right?

Correct.

Um do we know what the um and this may be something the applicant can answer.

Is this um what's the square footage of the existing patio and what is this gare footage of the like the proposed smaller patio that's that that is to the front of it, if you see what I'm saying?

Um I do see what you're saying.

I uh I do uh see what you're asking.

It's up it's I don't have the numbers on me.

I came from the soccer field and sorry.

Um but it's I just followed the guidelines of how Sheila had marked on the um one that she sent me.

Okay, that's fine.

Thank you.

Can you please identify yourself for for the record?

Thank you.

I'm Kelly Calepe, I'm the owner.

Okay.

And I'll still have another chance to say something right.

Yes.

Uh any other comments?

Uh no.

Um, if the commissioners don't have any other questions, I think um we should ask if anyone else is here or online to testify.

Right.

Yes.

As she said, anybody else who's in the room or remotely care to testify.

I know.

Aaron, I'm gonna go ahead and make you a panelist so you can unmute yourself and speak.

Oh great.

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Yep.

Yes.

Um I'm Erin Mahoney.

I live next door at 405 West Montgomery Avenue regarding the revised proposal for the smaller patio.

I think it looks really great, and I would encourage the commission to approve it.

That's it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh, I that's not true.

That's not true.

I would ask that they put some plantings along the tall plantings along the fence.

That's originally there were tall trees between our houses.

So just to add some that vertical green space, um, yeah, whether it's tall hedges or a tree or whatever, but um in general, I think the plan looks great, and I really appreciate their efforts in making it smaller.

Thank you, um Ms.

Mahoney.

And I believe the plantings are part of staff's recommendations, so we will we will go with that.

Are there any other comments?

Um from anyone here in the room.

Um Miss Yes.

Sorry.

Okay.

All right.

Um I'm just getting used to this.

Uh if there are no more comments, is the the owner is present and would like to make some comments, please.

Yeah.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I have a very quick question.

So do we have any elevations for these uh revised proposal?

No, we don't.

Uh this was received on Monday, and this was at my request.

I had let the um owner know that I would be willing to take new plan in on Monday in order to get it into this meeting, but no, and she did have to have her landscaper do this really quick in order to get it done.

Okay, so they did mention that it's going to be 18 feet above the ground.

Actually, that was the original plan.

They were looking at putting putting items on top of the um patio.

Um when the owner comes to speak, we can discuss it further as as to whether or not the patio actually will be cut down to size or removed and then a new patio put there.

Oh thank you.

Okay.

So uh no more comments from the uh commissioners.

So now the owner.

So now if the owner would like to come forward and comment, please.

I I first wanted to say thank you guys for all of your patience with with me and my situation.

I appreciate all the time that you've taken.

Um my goal today really is just to get approval.

So whether that is uh for this smaller version of the porch.

I I didn't even expect the big one to be included anymore, to be honest.

Um I'm Ms.

Bashiri was so kind to let me submit something at the last second, and I was working with my landscapers, so um I also submitted a plan where you know I'm like if it's I will I'm also prepared to just turn it to grass if that's what we're getting to today.

Um getting approval tonight saves me from going back to court and potentially the additional thousand dollar fines that I could really go without paying right now.

So if uh if you're willing to look at the smaller patio, the idea was to uh because of the size that um we're proposing now.

Um if we're moving our outdoor kitchen, it would end up sort of um right in front of our bay window where our actual kitchen looks out, and so we were hoping to raise the elevation of the existing just for that small space to what the existing patio is so that it's one straight piece.

Um so that that gives us a little bit that we can move the kitchen so that it's sort of in between and it's not landing directly in front of our window.

That makes sense.

Um so the patio that's existing, I believe, is about four inches, but I would have to double check that I'm not positive.

Um that's that's it, but I'm also prepared to take the whole thing out and just turn it to grass.

So um and as far as the month deadline, I completely understand that because it's drawn on way too long, and I know we're all sick of it.

Um realistically, I don't know if my current landscapers will be able to work on that schedule, but if not, I'm willing to also look for a new landscaper and and try and get it done that quickly.

Okay, I'm I'm very agreeable, and I uh again appreciate your time and I appreciate giving me more opportunities to communicate.

So thank you.

Thank you very much.

Okay, so now yeah, right.

So now any questions from the commissioners directed to the owner.

Um I have a question.

Would would 60 days be better?

I mean, I'm willing to um to entertain a bit more time just because you know this has gone on for so long, a few more a few more weeks doesn't seem to be a huge big deal.

Um if it if it means we get everybody's happy and can get this done.

Um you know, you have a landscaper that you want to work with.

I appreciate that.

Um other than that, I don't really have anything to say.

I I agree with the the staff's recommendations to remove the um and get the planning, get this work done as quickly as possible.

Um and plant the privacy, the um the the plannings that would help to restore some of what was what was originally there and removed um for the basketball court but sorry that's just me the 60 days if the other commissioners don't agree with that.

I'm I'm you know I'm willing to listen and be uh contradicted any other comments.

Um that's interesting.

How um to staff, how do we um do this?

Do we just read it in um if if we agree on 60 versus 30 days okay and the conditions that are there, you can just change the conditions to okay, yeah.

So do we need to take a motion in?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

So would anybody like to make any commissioner here to make a motion?

The motion.

So they'll be me.

I move the commission approved the approval application 2026, 256, C O E at 410 was one of the things revised.

The work meets the secretary materials for those of rehabilitation number one to nine and ten.

Provided the following conditions are makes one.

The applicant must remove the existing concrete pad two.

The applicant was plant privacy of agreement along the length of the west side for instance and three.

The work must be completed by May 20 2026.

All right.

Um so all in favor.

Raise your hand.

Any other comments or yeah?

You have a comment?

No.

Oh, all in favor, just raise your hand.

Yes, all in favor.

Aye.

Anyone opposed the motions carried.

Four to nothing.

With one abstention.

That was perfect.

Commissioner Goldfinger.

It was perfect.

Yeah, I wouldn't say that.

It was.

No, it was.

Okay.

Next on our agenda or discussion items.

Uh, we have old business, and it's our 2026 preservation uh month event, which is in May.

Um you probably want us to talk, don't you?

Okay.

Uh so first of all, Commissioner Thumbo probably gets like 99.9% of the credit for all of this activity.

Um, but he and I uh have met a couple times.

The last time we met was with Nancy Picard, which I mentioned earlier in the meeting from Peerless Rockville.

Um, and she expressed her um she gave us uh uh advice and then also um expressed that they're willing to partner with us should we want to do something like that.

And Commissioner uh Dumbo uh was kind enough to do a briefing, which the staff shared with the rest of the commissioners.

And so um I'm gonna let Commissioner Dembo make any comments he wants to, and then maybe we'll hear from the HDC.

Um, and hopefully we can move forward because um time is up as of the essence.

Um, and I just want to note that a couple things are up against us.

One is the timing, which at the last meeting I said we really should start planning this probably in like September, right after our August break.

And then the second comment is just that you know, we're missing our key staff member, one of the key staff members, um, and so it makes it a little harder on this to happen.

But I think I like the ideas that have been proposed.

Um, and I think we can make a go of whatever we end up doing, and I appreciate all the efforts that's been put into this.

Seth, do you have anything to say?

Um not much.

I just um I mean I put down everything that we discussed, and we kind of had a wide-ranging conversation about stuff that could happen in the future, um, other kinds of collaborations.

She had some great ideas for things that that HDC could do on their own.

Um the one that seemed to make the most sense to me in terms of trying to get something done in May that would be beneficial and recognize our role in this in the um in helping the city to preserve its its historic fabric, um, would be would be doing something at um Glenview in conjunction with an already planned event that um that Peerless Rockville has, and that's what Nancy and Nancy is definitely open to that.

We would just have to figure out quick fairly quickly what that looks like, um, whether we want to sort of start a bit earlier.

I can't remember what the exact time of her event was.

I looked on her website on the Peerless Rockville website, it didn't have anything, but I mean if if um if the rest of the commissioners are open to this, we can we can start working on on making that happen.

Thank you, Commissioner Powell.

Uh quick question.

So Peerless Rockville is having a an event at Greenview Mansion that the commissioners have been invited to be a part of or partner with.

And my question is will that take the place of HDC hosting their own preservation conference?

That would be our participation, our conference would be that event.

But the the idea that we had talked about is the HEC taking um ownership of a portion of the Peerless Rockville's event so that we could for lack of better words shine with this event so that's not just all about peerless rock though, if that makes sense.

I don't know if it's all about peerless shining, and we're not, but I do believe that we and I know time it is important.

Is that I I really think that we need to take the lead on something, not just be partner with be a partner with Pierless Rock Rio.

I mean, it could be I mean I know that they're um perhaps um Commissioner Goldfinger will participate in that effort in terms of HDC.

I get that, but I I think by just for lack of a different word, I I think that just bowing out and just partnering with Peerless Rockville to me, it's not an HDC project.

I mean, it's not there, it's not our preservation conference or workshop or whatever we choose to call it.

It's not we wouldn't have you're absolutely correct.

We would not have sole ownership.

The other idea we had talked about was, I mean, we could still partner with Peerless with their event and have a portion that belongs to us, but then we could still do some kind of maybe a smaller version of the open houses that we talked about, and maybe we just pick one or two places, such as the old bank building or um a couple of the historic homes, and then we do we have the owners there to talk about the pluses and minuses of maintaining a historic property, um, what's involved in making changes and so forth.

Um, so that was another idea that we had talked about.

But I complet I you're right on you're right on, yeah.

Anyone else have any comments?

Okay, so um the event, the peerless rock view event, what is your theme?

What is the event about?

Like the theme or the things we'll be discussing, did mention the so they're gonna and Seth jump in, it's part of the 250 anniversary of 100th anniversary.

The hundredth anniversary of um Glenview Mansion, which is the share center.

It's so that's the 250 of well, of course, the country, but it's 250 of Rockville, the county, and then the hundredth of the Glenview Mansion.

I think we can by my opinion, we can attend the events and also do something alone as commissioners.

So it's not but if we support that particular events in attendance, and HDC also does something, you know, along with special yeah, something special.

Any other comments, Commissioner Goldfinger?

Thank you.

Putting my thoughts together.

Um yeah, I agree with Anita with uh Commissioner Powell.

Um but maybe some um uh compromise or or um, you know, if if Peeless Rockville, let's say, is going to be advertising the event, which I assume they will, uh, maybe it's a joint announcement between with Peerless and HDC, historic district commission.

And um on the announcement, um, you know, events are credited, uh and we take a part of it.

I'm just looking at first of all that the timing because we've only got basically uh April.

So um uh piggy banking with Peerless Um would make a lot of sense in terms of a visibility of the historic district commission.

Um and uh on the announcement if peerless would agree to give the HDC credit for a particular event that we could partake in, um, would that uh um would that meet uh um your concerns partially um I think I guess the other idea is to if you had someone who would be willing to open their home to talk about um I mean I like that idea as well to talk about the ups and downs or whatever, I mean going through the HDC process.

You know, um I don't know if you have somebody in some home in mind or something like that, but I think that will also be a way to allow HDC to showcase what they're doing.

I mean that's not a good word, but basically it could be an opportunity for others who are thinking about um working with HDC, give them an opportunity to see what we do and how that process works.

You know, since it is preservation month, and so um, you know, and you invite folks there, but if if you're going to do something like that, then I mean it a decision of where that house would be, but had to be kind of quick so that we could advertise it, and I like the joint um announcement with Pierless Rockville, but I also think that haven't been um our own project.

That's what's important.

Yeah.

You know, this is our work.

This is what we do.

You know, and then join within.

I know somewhere they had said that maybe with Glenview Mansion.

I mean, because that it really has a lot of history to the building.

Um, in reference to, I guess maybe two months ago or maybe longer than two months ago, they talked about the fact that Glenview Mansion was a plantation.

And so there's a marker in front of the building, you know, and so that has to be a part of the 250th anniversary and the 100th anniversary of Glenview Mansion as well.

So I mean, those are my that's my comment.

I mean, with with both.

I think is doable.

Um, but it's up to the other commissioners to decide on um to weigh in on what their thoughts are.

Well, I think thank you.

I think um the easy part would be finding one or two homes that we could have the owners open up.

Um it would be nice to find a property that has a lot of the things that are the the right things to do, but also the things you shouldn't do.

Um as examples.

Um happy to help, happy to help.

Um I I think it'll be easy for us to get a home or two and and make that work, but also I think as a on a separate day, or maybe it's late.

I don't know what time the peerless thing is, but anyway, I think partnering with Peerless.

Six or seven we know.

Okay.

Okay.

So I don't regular the um Peerless Rockfell does a regular speaker series at Glenview.

Um but this is not a speaker, this is more like a sort of tour of the house and grounds and things that they are organizing in order to commemorate the 100th anniversary.

Um which is why I thought it was I mean, one, because we have a particular issue this year with not having as much staff support as we would normally have to help put like something like this together.

Um, two, because I think it's good it'd be good for us to sort of be involved in these celebrations in some way.

Um would help the visibility.

You know, we could do something like a meet and greet there where people can come and talk to us.

Um whether we want to do that in addition to something else, um, is up to the commission, I guess.

What what I would like to get at from the commission this evening is and and I know we're not finished discussing, but I would like to get sort of a broad stamp of approval so that Seth and anyone else and my myself, we can kind of move forward and lock this down so we don't have to wait and come back at the April meeting, and then maybe we have a problem at the April meeting, and then we wake up it's May and it's too late.

So um it'd be nice to get sort of a blanket approval.

Yes, Ms.

Bashiri.

I just wanted to say if Ms.

Kaleppi is volunteering, I think that the house would be a very popular choice as far as I think the public would be very interested in seeing the house, the property, hearing about you know, the challenges of working with the Historic District Commission.

So that's something to consider because it would be something that's quick.

You already have somebody who's already volunteering.

It is a beautiful house.

Yes.

They did a beautiful home and they did a beautiful and I've seen some photos of the inside, it's equally beautiful on the inside.

So um, sorry, and I uh back to the commissioners.

Any other comments?

Oh, I just wanted to say I believe um the Glenview Mansion event is Thursday, May 18th.

Yeah, I put it on, I think you're right.

I put it on the calendar.

I'm sorry, I should have had that up ahead.

It was in the email.

The data.

Did you say May 18th?

I guess May.

That's that's a Monday.

Oh, wait, I have my house from the conversation.

I have the 14th.

14th is a Thursday.

That would be more in line with what they usually do.

It's also a West End civic association.

Yeah, it's the second Thursday of May, which is the 14th.

That's when they do it.

The second Thursday is there, is the when they hold those events.

Sorry, took me a minute to find my note.

So because that's in the evening and it's a Thursday.

Do we want to try to do?

Well, no, we don't want to do that because the 16th is the Lincoln Park event.

Um isn't that the day?

No, you may well.

I have on my counter Lincoln Park, the museum preservation event.

And the 16th?

That's what I have down on it.

Well, I only would have gotten it from you.

That's that's uh Yeah.

So we don't want to do it then, unless it's later in the afternoon.

Well let me just make a comment.

So if the young lady I has agreed or would consider having open her house, open up her house.

Then maybe we need we could check with her to see what works best.

Because you might be able to do a Saturday afternoon or a Sunday afternoon, even okay.

Yeah, that's a valid point for us to determine the date.

Yeah, okay.

That's good thinking.

So I guess go ahead.

Oh no, go ahead.

I was gonna say maybe for this discussion, we can maybe agree on two things.

One, um, she has agreed if she is willing to open her house and get a date.

So we can do we have the she said happy to help.

Let's not let's not jump the gun here too much.

I mean, she said she's happy to help, but we're gonna be able to do that.

But as you as you were talking, she was raising her hand.

She was trying to get your attention raised, you know, when we talked about a tour, so I think she's willing.

But we we definitely need to get her.

I'll talk to I'll talk to Kelly.

Yeah.

Um, if we do it on the same day as Peelers Rockville's event, then there's a logistical question of how you would get um participants from one locale to the other.

Um so that's something we might want to consider for um, and maybe that would point to separate days, possibly.

Um also um what's the parking situation in in and you can't park on West Montgomery.

Um there's probably limited parking.

She's got larger parking than most properties do.

She's got a side lot that has literally has vertical parking spaces on it.

Right.

Um so and then there's also they thought of people just walking to the house.

Um I think there's gonna be the options there.

I don't think everyone's gonna have to park immediately at the house.

There's the option in parking down the street or parking, you know, further on the alley, or well I don't know who has a parking lot that they might be able to use, but there's that possibility as well.

So and and the old side of Chestnut Lodge, is it Bullard Circle?

I think Chestnut Lodge has like four parking spaces.

Well, can you park along that street?

I think it's Bullard Circle.

I don't think there would be a problem.

I can't say that there would be complaints.

It's almost across the street.

Right, right.

So that's an that's a good option.

Yeah, okay.

Because the city owned number one.

You know, so our entire street Anderson, which is right behind there, is completely open public parking as well.

Yeah.

Um so uh is the commission in agreement that we want to do two events.

One would be uh partnering with Peerless Rockville for their Thursday May 14th event at Glenview Mansion, and we'll work out the details with Nancy and her staff, and then the second event would be an open house at one historic spot, preferably um at the Kelly's house, which is 401.

I should have 401 West Montgomery.

Uh 401 West Montgomery Avenue.

Um, and just let us go ahead and work on the logistics, and then you guys hold your breath and hope we do a good job.

Okay, and once you have the logistics, we can get our um public information office to actually publicize it, put it out perfect, you know, rock bill reports and that type of thing next door.

Okay, and I know each of us has our own list of people that we could send it a what's that?

I don't know where to go.

Yeah, I have like three friends, so I'll send it out to them, but yeah, no, we have our own list serves and and connections we can help like we did last year, get a decent turnout.

Um we don't we don't need a motion on that, do we?

No.

Everyone's any other comments?

I think we're in good shape.

Okay.

All right, then we'll move on.

The last thing on our agenda this evening would be the second to last thing is any new business commissioners?

Staff.

I see no hands.

Okay.

If I may have a motion to adjourn.

I move that we adjourn the meeting.

May I have a second?

I'll second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Channel 11.

Thank you, staff.

Appreciate it.