Minutes Thursday, April 21, 2005
Meeting No. 4-2005
Rockville City Hall PRESENT
Anita Neal Powell, Chair
Max van Balgooy
Craig Moloney
Andrea Hartranft
Jeff Broadhurst Staff present: Judy Christensen and Shelby Spillers, Preservation Planners. WORKSESSION: The worksession discussion focused on revisions to the checklist for evaluation of significance used by the HDC and made available to the public to follow during the process, and registration for the Maryland State rehabilitation and preservation conference. The business meeting was convened at 7:35 P.M. I. COMMITTEE / ORGANIZATION REPORTS A. Peerless Rockville – Suzanne Fisher
Peerless Rockville will host the 14th Annual Meeting of the Coalition to Protect Maryland Burial Sites, Inc. on Saturday April 23 at Glenview Mansion followed by a demonstration on stone preservation at Rockville Cemetery. On Sunday April 24, Peerless will participate in Rockville Science Day with an exhibit on graveyards science. On Monday April 25th, the fourth program in the series “The Way We Were” will present “Rockville Characters, Celebrities and Stars” at 7:30 p.m. at the Red Brick Courthouse. The Historic Preservation Awards will be presented at the Mayor and Council meeting on May 2 at City Hall preceded by a reception in the atrium. Peerless will host a Homes and Hospitality Tour – A Progression Through Time (which will take the place of the annual Progressive Dinner) on Saturday, May 21. Homes on the tour will include both historic (East Rockville) and new (King Farm). This year Peerless will celebrate General Braddock’s march through Rockville to the French and Indian Wars at Hometown Holidays over Memorial Day and at Heritage Days on June 25. See the Peerless Rockville web page at www.peerlessrockville.org for further information. B. Lincoln Park Historical Foundation – Anita Neal Powell
The Lincoln Park Historical Foundation will hold the African American Preservation Conference at the former Lincoln High School, now Crusader Church, in Lincoln Park in the morning of May 21, 2005. The Conference will focus on the many threats to historic African American communities with sessions on affordability, predatory lending, identification of community characteristics and other topics. For more information consult the Lincoln Park Historical Foundation Web site at: www.lincolnparkhist.org C. Comments – Historic District Commissioners – Commissioner Moloney said the Glenview Master Plan was in the process of revision and asked that it be presented to the HDC at a future meeting. It concerns accessibility issues and expansion of parking facilities. All organizations that approved the original Master Plan should also approve the revisions.
Commissioner Hartranft asked about scheduling the HDC recommendation to the Mayor and Council of 375 N. Van Buren. Staff replied that the City Manager’s office stated that if the HDC believed that the house was eligible only through its association with Mrs. Campbell and that she could be honored in other ways, that the solution was for the HDC to reconsider the decision and withdraw the recommendation of eligibility. The agenda item for authorization to file on behalf of the Mayor and Council was prepared with several suggestions to commemorate Mrs. Campbell that came out of the hearing and Mr. Higgins was prepared to submit his reasons why the house should not be designated. The agenda item did not go forward and the house has been demolished. After some discussion and much concern about the way the process is being carried out, the HDC directed Commissioner Hartranft to write a letter on its behalf to the Mayor and Council stating that the process should be carried through as agreed on January 10, 2005 when the HDC makes a recommendation of eligibility based upon the adopted criteria. The letter should be circulated for comment before sending. The HDC strongly felt that the City Manager’s office inappropriately interfered with communications between the HDC and the Mayor and Council. The HDC reiterated that it reports only to the Mayor and Council and not to the City Manager.
Commissioners Moloney and Hartranft inquired about the progress of the Chestnut Lodge residential project and asked staff to arrange an appointment for the members to view the proposed plan model. Staff said the City had received no plans for the new development and would arrange a time to view the model.
Commissioners Moloney and Powell attended the Montgomery Preservation, Inc. conference on Mansionization on April 9 at Washington Grove. Commissioner Moloney said the program identified the issues and conflicts of teardowns and redevelopment in established neighborhoods. Chairman Powell noted that the afternoon session had a panel of four County Council Members and that a bill was introduced that would close some of the loopholes that allow houses over 40 feet in height and other considerations. Shelby Spillers said that the size of redeveloped houses in the Bethesda and Chevy Chase areas was around 8,000 square feet, which is higher than Rockville examples, but Rockville neighborhoods are also being impacted.
Commissioner Hartranft said that the Public Art Committee had not met since the last report.
Chairman Powell said that the State of Maryland had recently passed a bill allocating funds to public art projects that the City and others should be aware of.
Commissioner van Balgooy suggested that future tax credit reports omit the receipts and copies of checks as long as staff has checked to see that the payments are in compliance. Commissioner Moloney concurred, but asked to see the proposals, photos, and application.
II. APPLICATION FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY TAX CREDIT A. HDC2005-00325 Applicant: Arthur Rypinski & Jacquelin Porth
Address: 307 W. Montgomery Avenue
Request: Tax credit eligibility determination
B. HDC2005-00326 Applicant: Boris M. Tkacz
Address: 710 W. Montgomery Avenue
Request: Tax credit eligibility determination
C. HDC2005-00327 Applicant: Richard Smith & Jane O. MacFarlane
Address: 550 Reading Avenue
Request: Tax credit eligibility determination
D. HDC2005-00328 Applicant: Daniel & Evelyn Maddox
Address: 217 W. Montgomery Avenue
Request: Tax credit eligibility determination
E. HDC2005-00330 Applicant: Washington Joint Venture
Address: 101 S. Washington Street
Request: Tax credit eligibility determination
Planner Christensen said that staff member Kebba had examined all of the applications and supporting documents and found them eligible for Montgomery County Heritage tax credits. She reiterated the total dollars for each project that were found eligible. MOTION: Commissioner Hartranft moved, seconded by Commissioner Moloney, to find applications HDC2005-00325, -00326, -00327, -00328 and -00330 eligible for Montgomery County Preservation Tax Credits as recommended by staff and that the applications be forwarded to the Montgomery County Department of Finance for processing.
VOTE: 5-0 III. DISCUSSION / UPDATES A. Rockville Cemetery Association - Discussion of need for guidance Beth Rodgers, representing the Rockville Cemetery Board, said she had been asked to prepare information for burial plot owners who wished to decorate gravesites with permanent plantings. Her suggestion was guidelines that listed plantings that were not permitted as invasive species, and those that are permitted, and items that need HDC review. She stated that the Cemetery Board understood that it was obligated to prepare a landscape plan for the site but that it would need to find funds to do that, as it required a professional. She said this issue was an interim measure to clarify the plants that could be included in the cemetery to submit to owners and to the garden clubs that were interested in helping with the project. Commissioner Hartranft asked why the HDC would review more than mature trees, which is the only landscape item that it normally reviews. Planner Spillers responded that the site was considered a historic landscape and that was the reason that a landscape plan indicating trees and mature shrubs presently on the site and marking those that are contributing elements of the historic landscape is required. Commissioner Broadhurst said the intention is good and a list would benefit the HDC and owners. Planner Christensen asked if the Board wanted to encourage owners to put permanent plantings on the gravesites. Mrs. Rodgers replied that it does want to encourage appropriate plot plantings and that it also wants specialized plantings in certain locations such as the stairways and slopes and some low moist areas. Planner Christensen said that this was another reason to get the landscape plan done as soon as possible. After more discussion, it was concluded that the list of invasive species could be compiled quite easily but the list of approved plants would be more difficult. Commissioner van Balgooy noted that European settlers brought specimen plants very early and restriction to native plants might not be the answer if historically correct planting is wanted. Ms. Rodgers said she would start, but landscape is not her field. Staff will see if there are other resources available to help. B. Planning Activities and Projects: - Review of April 16, 2005 Rockville Preservation Conference
The Rockville Preservation Conference was attended by all Mayor and Council members except Council Member Robbins, all HDC staff and all HDC Commissioners except Commissioner Broadhurst. There was a good mix of residents and other board members and a capacity crowd. The Mansionization section had the most interest, but Heritage Tourism, Post World War II housing and Local Designation had spirited discussions and arrived at goals for the Mayor and Council. Planner Spillers said that a conference summary report was in preparation and would be distributed at the next meeting. Chairman Powell suggested that the HDC present the report to the Mayor and Council. She said her session on Heritage Tourism recommended that the City investigate an office of tourism, perhaps with REDI, enable Bed and Breakfast facilities in Rockville, and that the City join the Montgomery County Heritage Area and utilize Heritage Tourism of Montgomery County. Commissioner Hartranft said that Council Member Dorsey attended the Post World War II housing and contributed to a good discussion that raised the level of understanding. Max van Balgooy led the Local Designation session and Craig Moloney moderated the Mansionization session.
- Lincoln Park Preservation report – Judy Christensen
Planner Christensen said that the development standards portion of the Lincoln Park Preservation Plan was scheduled for approval by the Committee in May. After that, a status update would be presented to the Mayor and Council before the public information meetings begin with the Neighborhood Plan. When the project was proposed, the committee was tasked to propose a method that would meet the needs of the community. The final plan combines elements of a historic district and a conservation district with limited review. It will be presented to the HDC at the May meeting.
VI. MINUTES MOTION: Commissioner van Balgooy moved, seconded by Commissioner Hartranft, to approve the minutes of March 17, 2005 as submitted.
VOTE: 5-0 VII. ADJOURN: The HDC adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted: Judy Christensen and Shelby Spillers, Historic Preservation Planners. | 
