OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Rockville Historic District Commission Meeting - July 16, 2026

Meeting Portal — Thursday, July 16, 2026
BodyRockville, Maryland
SessionMeeting Portal
DateThursday, July 16, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:28:43

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Good evening and welcome to the Historic District Commission meeting.

0:06

Today is July 16th, 2026.

0:09

I'm Vice Chair Michael Goldfinger.

0:12

I'm joined this evening in City Hall by Commissioners Anita Neo Powell and Mercy Shanghai.

0:19

Commissioner Seth Denbo said he would try to join us, but so far I think he's having uh power problem, electrical power problems.

0:29

Uh Chair Pete Fosselman is unable to attend tonight's meeting.

0:34

In addition, we are joined by city staff, Cynthia Walters, Acting City Attorney, Megan Flick, uh Principal Planner, and Katie Gerber's comprehensive planning manager.

0:46

The Historic District Commission meets in person in the Mayor and Council Chambers at Rockville City Hall, 111 Maryland Avenue.

0:54

The public is invited to participate in person or virtually via WebX.

0:59

The meetings can be viewed on Rockville 11, Channel 11 on County Cable, and live streamed at www.rockvillemd.gov slash Rockville 11.

1:11

Each meeting is also available for viewing soon after the meeting is held at WW.

1:18

Rockville MD.gov slash video on demand.

1:24

First item on the agenda are committee organization reports.

1:28

We will start with Peerless Rockville.

1:31

Is anyone here from Peerless Rockville or tuned in?

1:36

Nope.

1:38

Okay.

1:40

Next is the Lincoln Park Historical Foundation.

1:43

Anita Neil Powell is the chairman, I think.

1:50

Yes.

1:51

Good evening.

1:52

The Lincoln Park Historical Foundation will be hosting the 250th anniversary of USA, MoCo, and Black History all year long.

2:01

The events will be held on Saturday, September 26th at the Rearbrig Courthouse at 29 Courthouse Square in Rockville from 9 to 12 p.m.

2:11

We'll start with a walking tour of selected sites.

2:19

Will also take place.

2:20

On Sunday, September 27th, we will be at the Mel Calvary Baptist Church at 6 08 North Horn is Lane in Lincoln Park from 3 to 5.

2:31

And we will have the birthday bash of the 250th anniversary.

2:35

And we will bring along all voices.

2:38

If you're interested in singing or joining the choir, please contact the Lincoln Park Historical Foundation at Lincoln Park HISS at AOEL.com.

2:51

And that concludes my report.

2:53

Thank you, Anita.

2:55

Welcome.

2:56

Now is the opportunity for any public comments regarding items that are not on tonight's agenda.

3:02

This is an open forum.

3:04

Would anyone like to speak on an item not on tonight's agenda?

3:10

No.

3:10

Okay.

3:11

Moving along.

3:12

Finally, we have HDC and staff comments.

3:16

I'll start by announcing the postponement of the advertised evaluation of significance for 1600 Research Boulevard.

3:24

This case will be heard at the September meeting.

3:27

Do any other commissioners have any comments?

3:32

No do not.

3:34

Any comments from staff.

3:37

Thank you, Vice Chair Goldfinger.

3:39

We do have several updates for you all as a body.

3:42

The first is a reminder that traditionally this body takes a recess in the month of August.

3:48

So our next meeting will take place on September the 17th.

3:52

Their only reason we might throw in an August meeting is if we have an application that has a time sensitivity to it that we have to have an ad hoc meeting, but we certainly try to avoid that to give everyone the August month to relax and hopefully get some rest.

4:06

Other updates that we have earlier this afternoon was an event at the Twin Brook Pool, the unveiling of a historic marker sign.

4:13

That was chaired by Mayor Ashton, several council members were in attendance.

4:19

Actually, Commissioner Fosselman was able to attend that earlier in the afternoon.

4:23

There will be some photos and such that we can circulate to you all so you can see those.

4:28

Additional items that we have for you is uh we received last year, so in fiscal year 26, um, a grant through the Maryland Historical Trust because we are a certified local government.

4:41

Um, and that grant was for education training opportunities.

4:45

Um we have some funds remaining in that that need to be spent.

4:48

Um so we are working with the Maryland Association of Historic District Commissions to arrange for a special training for commissioners.

4:55

Um the training is about ethical and rational decision making for HDC cases, certainly something that is relevant to this body.

5:02

Um I've been back and forth with their trainers trying to figure out when this would take place.

5:07

Um commissioners, you should expect an email from me probably early next week, gauging your availability for said training.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Historic Preservation█████████████████████████████████████████████76%
Procedural█████9%
Public Engagement████6%
Zoning Ordinance Rewrite████6%
Urban Planning█2%
Zoning And Land Use█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Rockville Historic District Commission Meeting - July 16, 2026

The Historic District Commission (HDC) met on July 16, 2026, at 7:00 PM at Rockville City Hall. Vice Chair Michael Goldfinger presided, joined by Commissioners Anita Neo Powell and Mercy Shanghai. Commissioner Seth Denbo was absent due to power issues, and Chair Pete Fosselman was unable to attend. City staff present included Cynthia Walters (Acting City Attorney), Megan Flick (Principal Planner), and Katie Gerber (Comprehensive Planning Manager). The meeting covered committee reports, public comments, staff updates, consent agenda items, an annual report, a certificate of approval, an evaluation of significance, zoning updates, and planning for a preservation conference.

Committee Reports

  • Peerless Rockville: No representative attended.
  • Lincoln Park Historical Foundation: Commissioner Anita Neo Powell reported on upcoming events for the 250th anniversary of the USA, Montgomery County, and Black History. Events include a walking tour on Saturday, September 26th, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Red Brick Courthouse (29 Courthouse Square, Rockville), and a birthday bash on Sunday, September 27th, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church (608 North Horners Lane, Lincoln Park). The public is invited to join a choir by contacting the foundation.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were received for items not on the agenda during the open forum.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the June 18, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously (3-0).
  • Montgomery County Historic Preservation Tax Credit Applications: Staff requested removal of application 2026-332-TAX (419 West Montgomery Avenue) due to a discrepancy regarding chimney flue lining eligibility; it was postponed to September. The following applications were approved by a single motion (3-0):
    • 2026-334-TAX (550 Reading Avenue, Danielle Verbeck): $8,500 recommended and approved.
    • 2026-312-TAX (229 West Montgomery Avenue, Robert Drummond): $42,541.62 recommended and approved.
    • 2026-301-TAX (127 Bullard Circle, Darren Liang): $8,450 recommended and approved.
    • 2026-289-TAX (118 Monroe Street, Americana Center Condominium): Requested $290,270.27; staff recommended $171,000.28 after removing ineligible expenses (interior work, electrical, underground wiring). Approved.
    • 2026-275-TAX (709 Grandin Avenue, Janet Hunt McCool and Thomas J. McCool): $3,460 recommended and approved.
    • 2026-265-TAX (409 West Montgomery Avenue, Lewis Parker and May Cheng): $41,803 recommended and approved.
    • Commissioner discussion noted that for the Americana Center, ineligible expenses included interior drywall, flooring, and marquee lighting/underground wiring. Staff clarified that for tax credits, eligible work is based on the property's exterior as it existed at the time of designation. The owner of 409 West Montgomery Avenue also applied for a Maryland Historical Trust state tax credit.

Discussion Items

  • Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report: Staff presented the annual report covering July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. Accomplishments included: 12 HDC meetings, 12 certificate of approval reviews (11 approved), 10 evaluations of significance (one recommended for designation at 24 Martins Lane), two courtesy reviews, seven Montgomery County tax credit applications processed, 12 certificate of administrative approval applications, two commissioner trainings, and transition of tax credit applications to an online portal (My Government Online). The city received a $16,000 grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and installed a historic marker at Twin Brook Pool. The city's zoning ordinance was rewritten and adopted on June 29, 2026, updating preservation regulations. Standard operating procedures were developed for preservation tasks. Goals for FY27 include continuing objective review, increasing tax credit applications, updating procedures for administrative approvals, and work at Avery Road Colored Cemetery. The commission voted 3-0 to approve the annual report; it will be presented to the Mayor and Council on October 5, 2026.
  • Certificate of Approval – 10 Thomas Street (Case 2026-375-COA): The applicant proposed a two-story rear addition, two one-story additions, and a screened porch to a vernacular cottage built in 1882, located in the West Montgomery Avenue Historic District. Staff found the proposal met Secretary of the Interior Standards #9 and #10 and technical guide #4 for new additions. The applicant requested alternatives to the originally specified Boral Dutch Lap siding, proposing HardiePlank smooth siding (more affordable) or vinyl. The commission conditioned approval on the applicant providing final siding specifications to staff for administrative review. The motion passed 3-0.
  • Evaluation of Significance – 200 Monroe Street (Case 2026-330-EOS): The property includes a 1980s office building (200A) and a former residence built in 1906 (200B) with later additions. Staff recommended no designation for 200A. For 200B, staff recommended designating only the original 1906 residential structure (criteria A and E), excluding the 1980s rear addition and parking structure. The applicant's team (PT Blooms Development and EHT Traceries) argued the building lacks integrity due to fire damage, alterations, and loss of original materials; only location remains. Peerless Rockville (Nancy Picard) supported partial designation, noting the building represents Rockville's development and survival of urban renewal, and the architect Thomas E. Grooms' significance. After discussion, the commission voted 3-0 to not designate 200A. For 200B, they voted 3-0 to designate only the original 1906 structure (criteria A and E), finding the remainder does not meet criteria.
  • Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Update: Staff reviewed changes adopted June 29, 2026 (effective August 1, 2026). Key changes include: preservation regulations consolidated into Article 11; demolition by neglect now prohibited; certificate of approval validity extended from 1 to 5 years; commissioner qualification requirements codified; designation criteria and integrity requirement codified; only HDC or Mayor and Council may initiate designation applications; owner opposition requires a supermajority vote at the Mayor and Council level; evaluations of significance valid for 5 years; staff may administratively approve evaluations for clearly non-qualifying properties; administrative approval of exterior alterations expanded to 13 items (e.g., certain roof work, gutters); a new delisting process created for properties that have lost character-defining features.
  • Sectional Map Amendment – 24 Martins Lane: Staff reported that the HDC's recommendation to designate this property has been filed with the city clerk. A planning commission hearing is scheduled for July 22, 2026, and a Mayor and Council public hearing is tentatively set for September 14, 2026.
  • Preservation Conference Planning: Commissioners Neo Powell and Goldfinger presented draft plans for a November 2026 preservation conference. Proposed theme:

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the Historic District Commission meeting. Today is July 16th, 2026. I'm Vice Chair Michael Goldfinger. I'm joined this evening in City Hall by Commissioners Anita Neo Powell and Mercy Shanghai. Commissioner Seth Denbo said he would try to join us, but so far I think he's having uh power problem, electrical power problems. Uh Chair Pete Fosselman is unable to attend tonight's meeting. In addition, we are joined by city staff, Cynthia Walters, Acting City Attorney, Megan Flick, uh Principal Planner, and Katie Gerber's comprehensive planning manager. The Historic District Commission meets in person in the Mayor and Council Chambers at Rockville City Hall, 111 Maryland Avenue. The public is invited to participate in person or virtually via WebX. The meetings can be viewed on Rockville 11, Channel 11 on County Cable, and live streamed at www.rockvillemd.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. First item on the agenda are committee organization reports. We will start with Peerless Rockville. Is anyone here from Peerless Rockville or tuned in? Nope. Okay. Next is the Lincoln Park Historical Foundation. Anita Neil Powell is the chairman, I think. Yes. Good evening. The Lincoln Park Historical Foundation will be hosting the 250th anniversary of USA, MoCo, and Black History all year long. The events will be held on Saturday, September 26th at the Rearbrig Courthouse at 29 Courthouse Square in Rockville from 9 to 12 p.m. We'll start with a walking tour of selected sites. Will also take place. On Sunday, September 27th, we will be at the Mel Calvary Baptist Church at 6 08 North Horn is Lane in Lincoln Park from 3 to 5. And we will have the birthday bash of the 250th anniversary. And we will bring along all voices. If you're interested in singing or joining the choir, please contact the Lincoln Park Historical Foundation at Lincoln Park HISS at AOEL.com. And that concludes my report. Thank you, Anita. Welcome. Now is the opportunity for any public comments regarding items that are not on tonight's agenda. This is an open forum. Would anyone like to speak on an item not on tonight's agenda? No. Okay. Moving along. Finally, we have HDC and staff comments. I'll start by announcing the postponement of the advertised evaluation of significance for 1600 Research Boulevard. This case will be heard at the September meeting. Do any other commissioners have any comments? No do not. Any comments from staff. Thank you, Vice Chair Goldfinger. We do have several updates for you all as a body. The first is a reminder that traditionally this body takes a recess in the month of August. So our next meeting will take place on September the 17th. Their only reason we might throw in an August meeting is if we have an application that has a time sensitivity to it that we have to have an ad hoc meeting, but we certainly try to avoid that to give everyone the August month to relax and hopefully get some rest. Other updates that we have earlier this afternoon was an event at the Twin Brook Pool, the unveiling of a historic marker sign.

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