There two quite interesting items in this week’s Council agenda. First is the publication of the draft Franchise Agreement for Verizon’s FIOS service. The second is a public hearing on a proposed redevelopment on South Frederick Avenue, across the street from St. Martin’s Catholic Church. Several properties, including the Fulks house and and the property now used for Dr. Robert Wilson’s dental office, would be affected:

The Wilson house, in the lower right of the picture, would be completely torn down along with some other structures on DeSellum, and a new two-story office building would be constructed. The Fulks house, which is a designated historic property and seen in the left of the picture, would be rehabilitated for use as an office building, as would another, smaller house further back on DeSellum. As the Wilson house is is quite an old property and a prominent feature along that stretch of MD 355, I would certainly hope that the City would carefully consider the historic preservation aspects of this proposal. Anyone who is concerned about this should note that this is a public hearing on the proposal, and thus tonight would be a prime opportunity to let you opinion be known.

From the City’s website:

Agenda - Mayor and City Council Meeting, 4/6/2009

Posted 4/2/2009

City of Gaithersburg
AGENDA FOR A REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2009, 7:30 P.M.
Full Meeting Package (pdf format - Large File: 37M) Updated - 4/3/2009

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. INVOCATION

Rick Price, First Church of Christ, Scientist

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of a Work Session of the Mayor and City Council Held March 9, 2009
Background Material (pdf format)

V. APPOINTMENTS

Resolution of the City Council Confirming Appointments and Reappointments by the Mayor to the Art in Public Places Committee, Community Advisory Committee, Environmental Affairs Committee, Market Square Advisory Committee, Personnel Review Board, and Technology & Innovations Committee
Background Material (pdf format)

VI. PUBLIC APPEARANCES
(public is invited to speak on any subject that is not a public hearing topic on tonight’s agenda - each speaker three minutes)

VII. FROM THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL/ANNOUNCEMENTS

  1. Boards/Commissions/Committees Vacancy Update (pdf format)
  2. Upcoming City Events (pdf format)
  3. Work Session Announcement (pdf format)
  4. Special Meeting Announcement (pdf format)
  5. Executive Session Announcement (pdf format)

VIII. FROM THE CITY MANAGER

IX. CONSOLIDATED PUBLIC HEARINGS

  1. JOINT — Z-311, Application Requests a Map Amendment to Rezone 1.2 Acres of Land From R-90 (Medium Density Residential) to CD (Corridor Development) in Accordance With §24-160G.6.(a) (Procedure for Application and Approval) of the City Code. The Properties are Located at or Near 11 and 13 DeSellum Avenue, (Parcels 387, 388 & 442)
    Background Material (pdf format 15M) Updated - 4/3/2009

  2. JOINT — CSP-09-001, Application Requests the Redevelopment of 2.71 Acres of Land, Currently Known as Parcels 368, 387, 388, 390, and 442 Located at the Intersection of MD 355 (South Frederick Avenue) and DeSellum Avenue in the City of Gaithersburg. The Proposed Plan Includes the Construction of a Two-Story Office Building and the Conversion of Two Buildings From Residential to Office Uses
    Background Material (pdf format 20M) Updated - 4/3/2009

X. RECESS MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

I. Call to Order

II. Approval of Minutes

Minutes of a Historic District Commission Meeting Held March 2, 2009
Background Material (pdf format)

III. Certificate of Approval

HAWP-102A, Applicant: Dr. Rashid Levi, 20 South Summit Avenue, Request to Pave Two Additional Parking Spaces
Background Material (pdf format)

IV. Adjournment

XI. RECONVENE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

XII. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, AND REGULATIONS
(ordinances, resolutions, and regulations to be introduced or adopted following appropriate procedures required by the City Code, or resolutions that may require discussion by the Mayor and Council prior to approval)

  1. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Award a Contract for the Residential Collection of Recyclables in the City of Gaithersburg Effective July 1, 2009 ($580,000)

    Background Material (pdf format)

  2. Introduction of an Ordinance to Award a Cable Franchise to Verizon Maryland, Inc., Pursuant to Section 6-4 of the City Code (Public Hearing 4/20/2009)
    Background Material (pdf format) Updated - 4/3/2009

XIII. POLICY DISCUSSION AND STAFF GUIDANCE
(discussion by the Mayor and Council about previous public hearing topics and other policy matters)

  1. T-389, An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 24 of the City Code (City Zoning Ordinance), Article III, Entitled, “Regulations Applicable to Particular Zones,” Division 2, Entitled, “R-90 Zone, Medium Density Residential,” § 24-32, Entitled, “Dimensional Restrictions,” to Modify Subsection (d) to Establish New Standards for Impervious Areas in Front and Side Yards (ready for final action)
    Background Material (pdf format)

  2. MP-2-08, Municipal Growth Element, an Amendment to the 2003 Master Plan (ready for final action)
    Background Material (pdf format)

XIV. FROM THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS, CITY ATTORNEY AND OTHER STAFF

XV. ADJOURNMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT
Notice to the general public is hereby given that the Mayor and City Council of the City of Gaithersburg will conduct a work session on Monday, April 13, 2009, to discuss proposed amendments to Section 59 of the City Charter Entitled “Personnel Regulations; Merit System; Classified and Unclassified Service May be Established,” and Section 60 of the City Charter entitled “Composition of Classified and Unclassified Service” and to discuss an Ordinance to Repeal and Reenact with Amendments to Chapter 17 of the City Code Entitled “Personnel.”

ANNOUNCEMENT
Notice to the general public is hereby given that the Mayor and City Council of Gaithersburg plan to conduct a special meeting at City Hall on Monday, April 13, 2009, immediately following the scheduled work session, solely to vote to introduce and notify the public that a public hearing will be held on Monday, May 4, 2009, to discuss the proposed amendments to Section 59 of the City Charter Entitled “Personnel Regulations; Merit System; Classified and Unclassified Service May be Established,” and Section 60 of the City Charter Entitled “Composition Of Classified And Unclassified Service” and to discuss an Ordinance to Repeal and Reenact with Amendments to Chapter 17 of the City Code Entitled “Personnel.” The special meeting will be conducted pursuant to a motion properly adopted during the work session on Monday, April 13, 2009.

EXECUTIVE SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT

Notice to the general public is hereby given that the Mayor and City Council of Gaithersburg plan to conduct a closed Executive Session at City Hall, Monday, April 13, 2009, immediately following the scheduled special meeting of the Mayor and City Council, pursuant to Section 10-508(a)(8), State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland to discuss pending or potential litigation. The purpose of the session is to consult with counsel, staff, and other individuals about pending or potential litigation. The closed executive session will be conducted pursuant to a motion properly adopted during the session of the Mayor and City Council on Monday, April 13, 2009.

THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF
THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HELD
MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009, 7:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 31 SOUTH SUMMIT AVENUE