Montgomery News

City of Gaithersburg Planning Commission met January 17.

Here is the minutes provided by the Commission:

1. Call To Order

The Regular Session of the Planning Commission was called to order at 7:30 PM with Chair John Bauer presiding.

Attendee Name; Title; Status; Arrived:

John Bauer; Chair; Present;

Matthew Hopkins; Commissioner; Present;

Lloyd Kaufman; Commissioner; Present;

Ruthzaly Weich; Commissioner; Present;

Danny Winborne; Commissioner; Present;

Philip Wessell; Alternate Commissioner; Absent;

Staff present: Assistant City Attorney Frank Johnson, Planning Division Chief Trudy Schwarz, Planners Greg Mann, Jasmine Forbes and Ray Roakes, and Administrative Technician Myriam Gonzalez.

2. Approval Of Minutes

A. Regular Session held December 6, 2017

Motion was made to approve the Minutes of December 6, 2017.

Result: Approved [4 To 0]

Mover: Lloyd Kaufman, Commissioner

Seconder: Danny Winborne, Commissioner

For: John Bauer, Lloyd Kaufman, Ruthzaly Weich, Danny Winborne

Abstain: Matthew Hopkins

Absent: Philip Wessell

B. Regular Session held January 3, 2018

Motion was made to approve the Minutes of January 3, 2018.

Result: Approved [Unanimous]

Mover: Lloyd Kaufman, Commissioner

Seconder: Matthew Hopkins, Commissioner

For: Bauer, Hopkins, Kaufman, Weich, Winborne

Absent: Philip Wessell

3. Record Plats

A. RP-7750-2017: Lot 2, Biles Addition - Subdivision Plat

Planner Roakes noted this plat is for Gaithersburg Air Conditioning, for minor parking lot changes and a revised conservation easement.

Motion was made to approve Record Plat RP-7750-2018.

Result: Passed [Unanimous]

Mover: Lloyd Kaufman, Commissioner

Seconder: Danny Winborne, Commissioner

For: Bauer, Hopkins, Kaufman, Weich, Winborne

Absent: Philip Wessell

4. Sign Permits

A. Sign-15659-2018: Camden Washingtonian Apartments, 10201 Washingtonian Blvd, Icon Sign Approval in the MXD (Mixed Use Development) Zone.

Planner Forbes located the property and introduced this application for a blade sign with an icon. She presented an aerial photograph of the property, the building elevation and sign location, noting the latter was approved as part of the final plan approval. However, this application relocates the building sign for better visibility.

There was no testimony from the public.

Ms. Forbes voiced staff's recommendation for approval with no conditions.

The Commission expressed no concerns.

Motion was made to grant SIGN-15659-2018 - Camden Washingtonian Apartments, Sign Approval, based on the exhibits submitted and staff's report and findings, and finding it in compliance with City Code § 24-212.

Result: Passed [Unanimous]

Mover: Lloyd Kaufman, Danny Winborne

Seconder: Matthew Hopkins, Commissioner

For: Bauer, Hopkins, Kaufman, Weich, Winborne

Absent: Philip Wessell

5. Site Plans

A. AFP-7770-2017, 127 Thurgood Street, Demolish the existing house and build a new two-story with a partially finished attic and walkout basement in the MXD (Mixed Use Development) Zone, Amendment To Final Site Plan

Commissioner Weich stated she would recuse herself from this review due to a possible conflict of interests.

Planner Forbes located the property and introduced this application for a new house, which includes the demolition of the existing home.

Andrew Steggles, property owner, made a presentation which included an aerial photograph of the existing house location and background on the property, including an existing conservation easement. He noted all materials will be donated to charity after deconstruction of the existing structure. The proposed elevations were presented, as well as proposed changes to the footprint for the new house. He discussed limitations on the property by a public utility easement and indicated all possible measures will be taken to minimize the impact on the neighbors during construction.

Chair Bauer inquired about differences in height, materials, massing, dormers and side elevations between the two structures.

Kelly Steggles, property co-owner, addressed the inquiries and noted the new materials and colors would comply with the approved Design Guidelines.

Applicant Curt Atkins, Mitchell Best Next Door, LLC., in response to Commissioner Kaufman, discussed grading, preparations for impact from construction on parking availability, construction vehicle traffic and silk fencing.

Commissioner Winborne inquired about support/concerns from the neighbors.

Testimony from the public:

Mary Whitmore, 122 Thurgood Street, was concerned with the visual change and negative impact on on-street parking. Mr. Steggles addressed the concerns. Staff noted the application was approved by the Kentlands Citizens Assembly.

Hans Steiger, 132 Thurgood Street, voiced concerns over construction noise and impact on the existing on-street parking; noting, particularly, in relation to parking availability in front of his home for his mother. Commissioner Winborne noted that the hours of construction must comply with the City's Noise Ordinance.

Ms. Forbes voiced staff's recommendation for approval, as the application meets the approval criteria of the Zoning Ordinance, with three conditions. The Commission added a condition to address the comments on materials and colors, and concurred on the following conditions:

1. Applicant is to update final site plans to address minor labeling and editing errors, to be approved by staff, prior to the issuance of any permits;

2. Prior to the issuance of any permits, the applicant must submit a revised demolition plan to relocate the proposed filter log three (3) feet from the conservation easement and provide behind the filter log wooden stakes with wiring and flagging;

3. Applicant is to confirm with Staff that the proposed overhangs will not encroach in the non-construction easement and are fully contained within the applicant’s property prior to the issuance of any permits; and

4. Applicant is to coordinate with Staff and Kentlands Historical Trust on the final building materials prior to the issuance of any permits.

Ruthzaly Weich, speaking as a Kentlands Historical Trust member, briefly discussed the color of windows and noted they have been reviewed by the Trust.

Chair Bauer favored the proposal and complimented the applicant on work relating to the conservation easement and good development standards. The Commission concurred.

Motion was made to grant AFP-7770-2017 - 127 Thurgood Street, Amendment to Final Plan Approval, based on the exhibits submitted, Staff's report, findings and recommendation, and finding it in compliance with Zoning Ordinance §§ 24-170 and 24-172A, with the conditions listed above.

Result: Passed [Unanimous]

Mover: Danny Winborne, Commissioner

Seconder: Lloyd Kaufman, Commissioner

For: Bauer, Hopkins, Kaufman, Weich, Winborne

Absent: Philip Wessell

6. From Commission

Lloyd Kaufman-

•Reported he had written a letter to Mayor Ashman and the City Council regarding the implementation of the Kentlands Boulevard improvements project in light of existing safety hazards and no improvement work done yet to this date.

Ruthzaly Weich-

•Provided a status update on the strategic visioning process for Main Street, and announced a related lecture, scheduled for April 17, 2018, sponsored by the Kentlands Community Foundation and Kentlands Citizens Assembly.

7. From Staff

Planner Mann-

• Announced a joint work session on January 22, 2018, regarding the Kentlands Apartments; and a joint public hearing on February 20, 2018, on the Historic Preservation Element of the Master Plan.

• Noted the Commission’s meetings in February will follow the regular schedule.

Planning Division Chief Schwarz-

• Announced the Montgomery County Planning Department and Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission (MNCPPC) are sponsoring a three-part Winter Speaker Series on the Economic Future of the Suburbs. The lectures, scheduled on December 6, 2017, January 24 and February 28, 2018, can be viewed on line from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at montgomeryplanning.org/event/2017-2018-winter-speaker-series/.

Assistant City Attorney Johnson-

• Noted the General Assembly of Maryland is in session until April 2018, and any questions the Commission might have should be forwarded to him.

A. SDP-7712-2017: Kentlands Square Infill Sites, part of Parcel L Block Q, MXD (Mixed Use Development) Zone, Addition of 16000 sq. ft. commercial and minor site changes - Schematic Development Plan: Reopening of Planning Commission Record

Planner Mann

Reported that the City Council at its January 16, 2018, meeting, announced the reopening of its record on SDP-7712-2017, indefinitely, to allow the applicant to revise their plans to address the Planning Commission's December 6, 2017, recommended condition for the relocation of the proposed drive-through (Condition 3). He indicated that in accordance with § 24-198(c)(2)(ii), the upcoming redesign will have to be resubmitted to the Commission for further consideration and recommendation to the City Council. Staff recommended that the Commission reopen its record indefinitely until the applicant has completed the schematic development plan revision.

Motion was made to reopen the record on SDP-7712-2017 indefinitely.

Result: Passed [Unanimous]

Mover: Lloyd Kaufman, Commissioner

Seconder: Matthew Hopkins, Commissioner

For: Bauer, Hopkins, Kaufman, Weich, Winborne

Absent: Philip Wessell

8. Adjournment

There being no further business, the session was adjourned at 8:46 am

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