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From the City’s website:

Agenda - Mayor and City Council Meeting, 3/17/2008
Posted 3/14/2008

City of Gaithersburg
AGENDA FOR A REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2008, 7:30 P.M.

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. INVOCATION

Deacon Carlo Caraballo, St. John Neumann Catholic Church

IV. CONSENT ITEMS
(resolutions for approval by the City Council that do not need discussion)

1. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Contract for Land Surveying and Engineering Services in Olde Towne ($23,000)
   Background Material (pdf format)

2. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Contract to Perform Maintenance and Repairs to Various City Stormwater Management Facilities ($41,598)
   Background Material (pdf format)

3. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Gaithersburg Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Contract to Construct a Brick Sidewalk from the Cannery to the Old Fire House along the south side of E. Diamond Ave. ($75,812)

   Background Material (pdf format)

V. PRESENTATIONS

Presentation of GREAT (Great Recognizing Educational Achievement Today) Awards to Brown Station Elementary School, Diamond Elementary School and Fields Road Elementary School

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

• Upcoming City Events

IX. FROM THE ACTING CITY MANAGER

VIII. PUBLIC HEARING

JOINT - MP-1-08: Master Plan Amendment: Kentlands Commercial District Special Study Area Amendment to the 2003 Land Use Plan, an Element of the City of Gaithersburg Master Plan

Background Material (pdf format)
Background Material II

IX. 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. RC-42 - Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Granting Approval of Road Code Waiver for Variable Road Sections for the Archstone at Olde Towne Redevelopment, Final Site Plan SP-08-0001
   Background Material (pdf format)
   
   
2. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Contract for Photo-Speed Services ($550,000)

   Background Material (pdf format)

3. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Adopting the Strategic Plan for the City of Gaithersburg
   Background Material (pdf format)

   Download the 2008 Strategic Plan pdf file

4. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Contract for a Street Reconstruction Project ($702,000).
   Background Material (pdf format)

X. POLICY DISCUSSION AND STAFF GUIDANCE

MP-2-07 Community Facilities Element, an Amendment to the 2003 Master Plan (Ready for Final Action)
Background Material (pdf format)

Background Material II

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

Provide Staff Guidance on Granting a Utility Easement on City Property
Background Material (pdf format)

XII. ADJOURNMENT

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THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
WILL BE HELD MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2008, 2008, 2007, 7:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 31 SOUTH SUMMIT AVENUE

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UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETING AND WORK SESSION ITEMS
This list is not all-inclusive, and does not reflect priorities or scheduling

But is intended to provide a glance at future items to come before the City Council.

April 7 Meeting:

Public Hearings:
JOINT - SDP-06-006, Crown Farm, Schematic Development Plan, Pod 1

JOINT - T-383, Modifications to the Sign Ordinance to Address Mixed Use Town Centers

JOINT — T-384, Bed & Breakfast Establishments

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Also from the City’s website:

Notice - Joint Public Hearing on MP-1-08: Kentlands Commercial, 3/17/2008
Posted 3/10/2008

CITY OF GAITHERSBURG
31 South Summit Avenue
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877
Telephone: 301-258-6330

NOTICE OF JOINT PUBLIC HEARING

MASTER PLAN AMENDMENT MP-1-08: KENTLANDS COMMERCIAL DISTRICT SPECIAL STUDY AREA AMENDMENT TO THE 2003 LAND USE PLAN, AN ELEMENT OF THE CITY OF GAITHERSBURG MASTER PLAN

APPLICATION: MP-1-08

APPLICANT: City of Gaithersburg Planning Commission

Please take notice that a joint public hearing on the above-referenced application will be conducted by the City of Gaithersburg Mayor and Council and Planning Commission on Monday, March 17, 2008 in the Council Chambers at City Hall at 7:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as this matter can be heard. Public comment is invited at the joint public hearing on the Kentlands Commercial District Special Study Area.

More information:

• Draft Report - Part 1 (pdf file - 4M)
• Draft Report - Part 2 (pdf file - 8.8)
• Draft Report - Part 3 (pdf file - 4.5)
• www.kentlandsboulevard.com

Gaithersburg, as an incorporated city, is subject to Article 66B—Land Use, of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Section 3.05, of Article 66B, requires that the City’s Master Plan shall be reviewed and if necessary revised or amended at least once every six years. The adoption of the 2003 Land Use plan was a revision and amendment to the City’s 1997 Master Plan meeting the Article 66B requirement. The Land Use plan contains ten (10) special study areas, of which seven (7) have been adopted. The purpose of this amendment is to incorporate the Kentlands Commercial District Special Study Area into the adopted 2003 Land Use plan, and element of the City’s Master Plan.

The land use proposals described in the Kentlands Commercial District Special Study Area plan have been formulated using a series of community charrettes, a citizen survey, a private urban design consultant, and staff’s professional judgment and knowledge of the City. Further information regarding the 2003 Land Use Plan and the Kentlands Commercial District Special Study Area is available for public inspection from the Department of Planning and Code Administration at City Hall, 31 South Summit Avenue, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For any questions related to this Master Plan Amendment, please contact Greg Ossont at the Planning and Code Administration at 301-258-6330, or you may email your questions to plancode@gaithersburgmd.gov.

CITY OF GAITHERSBURG
Greg Ossont, Director
Planning and Code Administration

From the City’s website:

July Educational Workshops Planned for Kentlands Boulevard Commercial District Charrette
Posted 7/9/2007

The City of Gaithersburg and its partner, HOK Planning Group, will host a series of public educational workshops as part of a multi-faceted communication and outreach effort concerning the Kentlands Boulevard Commercial District. These sessions will provide important information on topics such as the Corridor Cities Transitway as it relates to Kentlands Boulevard as well as retail issues within the Kentlands Boulevard Commercial District. Feedback will be used to prepare for the Charrette, or “planning exercise,” scheduled for October 4 - 9, 2007.

The educational workshops have been broken down into three key topic areas: transportation and transit issues will be discussed on Tuesday, July 24, retail will be the subject of discussion on Monday, July 30, and urban design concepts will be explored at a later date to be determined. All sessions are open to the public, and will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Lakelands Park Middle School, 1200 Main Street, Gaithersburg.

Each facilitated, round table discussion is designed to stimulate conversation and solicit feedback on these topics as they relate to the Kentlands Boulevard area. Combined with input from citizen surveys, one-on-one interviews with stakeholders, and extensive data collection, information from the educational workshops will be incorporated into the more formal planning charrette scheduled for October. The charrette will bring together City officials and staff, key stakeholders, the regional community and the design team in a transparent process of discovery and problem-solving, out of which will come a proposed vision for the study area, encompassing the retail centers and commercial uses along Kentlands Boulevard from Quince Orchard Road to Great Seneca Highway.

For more information on the summer educational sessions and the fall planning charrette visit www.kentlandsboulevard.com, or contact the City of Gaithersburg Planning and Code Administration at 301-258-6330 or plancode@gaithersburgmd.gov.

From the City’s website:

Agenda - Mayor and City Council Meeting, 6/18/2007

Posted 6/14/2007

City of Gaithersburg
AGENDA FOR A REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2007, 7:30 P.M.

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Jameka Watts, 4th Grade Student, Gaithersburg Elementary School

III. INVOCATION

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of a Special Budget Public Hearing Meeting of the Mayor and City Council Held May 14, 2007

TBA - Background Material (pdf format)

Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council Held May 21, 2007

TBA - Background Material (pdf format)

V. CONSENT ITEMS

(resolutions for approval by the City Council that do not need discussion)

1. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Contract for Stormwater Management Facility Maintenance and Repair ($29,025)

   Background Material (pdf format)

2. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into an Agreement with Home Care Partners, Inc. Using Unexpended Community Development Block Grant Funds ($5,000)

   Background Material (pdf format)

VI. APPOINTMENTS

Resolution of the City Council Confirming Appointments and Reappointments by the Mayor to the Education Committee, Gaithersburg Senior Council, Multicultural Affairs Committee, and Olde Towne Advisory Committee

Background Material (pdf format)

VII. OATH OF OFFICE TO CHIEF OF POLICE JOHN A. KING

• Introduction of New Chief of Police

VIII. PRESENTATIONS

1. Presentation of the City’s Local Winner of the Maryland Municipal League’s “If I Were Mayor, I Would….” Essay Contest (Jameka Watts)
2. Proclamation from the Mayor and City Council Designating June 2007, as "Homeownership Month" in the City of Gaithersburg
3. Presentation by Local Governments Insurance Trusts (LGIT), Awarding a Grant in Support of an Aquatic Risk Seminar
4. Presentation from the City’s Compensation Committee

   Background Material (pdf format)

IX. 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)

X. FROM THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL/ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Board/Commission/Committee Vacancy Update
• Upcoming City Events

XI. FROM THE CITY MANAGER

XII. PUBLIC HEARING

JOINT - SDP-07-001, Application Requests Approval of an Amendment to Schematic Development Plan, SDP-05-003, Known as Casey East (Parcels 360, 563 and N455) in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The Approved Plan is a Mix of Uses, Including 382 Residential Units, Office, Restaurant, Retail, Service Station, and Public Uses on Approximately 40.10 Acres of Land. The Current Application (SDP-07-001) Requests Approval to Redistribute the Number and Type of Dwelling Units Among the Three Residential Buildings, Reduce the Height of Building C From Seven to Five Stories, Reduce the Mixed Use Retail by 1,700 Square Feet, Increase the Senior Center From 10,000 to 29,500 Square Feet, and Amend the Phasing Plan. The Subject Property is Located Northwest of the Intersection of Maryland Route 355 (North Frederick Avenue) and Watkins Mills Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland

Background Material (pdf format - 4.9M)

XIII. RECESS MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

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HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

1. Call to Order

2. Approval of Minutes

Minutes of a Historic District Commission Meeting Held May 21, 2007

TBA - Background Material (pdf format)

3. Certificate of Approval

HAWP-108 Ollie Mumpower, Engineer Services Director for the City of Gaithersburg, Request to Install Entry Markers on Brookes and Walker Avenues

Background Material (pdf format 4.7M)

4. Adjournment

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XIV. RECONVENE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

XV. 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 Enter into a Contract for the Kentlands Mansion Roof Replacement and Brick Tuckpointing Project ($384,100)

   Background Material (pdf format)

2. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Contract for Construction of Storm Water Management Water Quality Structures at the Public Works Facility ($410,000)

   Background Material (pdf format)

3. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Approving a Waiver of the Environmental Standards for Development Regulation to Permit, at a Maximum, 1.12 Acres of Disturbance Within the Stream Valley Buffer at the Crown Property

   Background Material (pdf format - 3.8M)

4. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Contract for the Design, Fabrication and Installation of a Mural in Olde Towne, an Art in Public Places Project ($35,000)

   Background Material (pdf format)

5. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Memorandum of Understanding for the Installation and Maintenance of a City Owned Mural on the Building at 227 East Diamond Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland

   Background Material (pdf format)

6. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute an Easement for the Installation and Maintenance of a City Owned Mural on the Building at 227 East Diamond Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland

   Background Material (pdf format)

7. An Emergency Ordinance to Amend Section 15-9, Subsection (f) of the City Code, Entitled “Solicitation in Roadways,” so as to Amend the Effective Date of Ordinance O-4-07 Adopting Section 15-9(f), and Providing for Future Changes to the Effective Date by Resolution (Ready for Final Action)

   Background Material (pdf format)

8. 8. An Ordinance to Adopt the City Budget for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2007, Through June 30, 2008, and Levying an Ad Valorem Tax on all Assessable Property Within the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland (Ready for Final Action)

   Background Material Part I (pdf format)

   Background Material Part II

9. Establishing a Constant Yield Tax Rate for the City of Gaithersburg for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2007 Through June 30, 2008 (Ready for Final Action)

   Background Material (pdf format)

10. Resolution Codifying and Updating a Schedule of Fees, Charges, Fines and Expenses as Provided for in the Ordinances of the City of Gaithersburg

    Background Material (pdf format)

11. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the Use of the Diebold AccuVote Optical Scan System and the AutoMark System as Voting Equipment for the November 6, 2007 City Election and any Run Off Election that may be Required by the City Charter

    Background Material (pdf format)

XVI. POLICY DISCUSSION AND STAFF GUIDANCE

(discussion by the Mayor and Council about previous public hearing topics and other policy matters)

1. An Ordinance to Repeal and Reenact Chapter 11 of the City Code (Fire Safety) to Adopt With Amendments the Montgomery County Fire Safety Code and Various Related National Codes and Standards (Ready for Final Action)

   Background Material (pdf format)

2. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Gaithersburg Granting Approval of Schematic Development Plan SDP-04-001, Quince Orchard Park, Parcel A, The Vistas, Winter Walk Drive and Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland (A Draft Resolution of Approval is Available if the Mayor and City Council Would Like to Take Final Action.)

   Background Material Part I (pdf format - 3.7M)

   Background Material Part II (pdf format - 5.3M)

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

Staff Recommendation to Close the Record on Z-304 as of 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 28, 2007 (Application to Rezone 14.157 Acres of Land, the Broadstone Apartments, Located at the Intersection of MD 355 and West Deer Park Road)

Staff Recommendation to Close the Record on SDP-06-004 as of 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 28, 2007 (Applicant Requests the Redevelopment of 14.157 Acres of Land, , the Broadstone Apartments, Located at the Intersection of MD 355 and West Deer Park Road)

Background Material Part I (pdf format)

Background Material Part II

XVIII. ADJOURNMENT

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ANNOUNCEMENT

Notice to the general public is hereby given that the Mayor and City Council of the City of Gaithersburg:

• will conduct a joint work session with the Planning Commission on Thursday, June 21, 2007, to introduce the HOK Planning Group and Receive an Overview of the Kentlands Boulevard Commercial District Community Outreach Activities Charrette Schedule and to discuss the Concept Plan for the New Youth Center in Olde Towne
• will not conduct a work session on Monday, June 25, 2007
• will not conduct a regular meeting on Monday, July 2, 2007, but will conduct a regular meeting on Monday, July 9, 2007
• will conduct a work session on Monday, July 16, 2007 and a regular meeting on Monday, July 23, 2007

The City has published the agenda for the Monday, February 5 regular meeting of the Mayor and City Council. From my perspective, there are three items of particular interest: The return of the City Manager’s Day Laborer report, further discussion funding for the review of the Kentlands Commercial Special Study Area (this has been contentious in the past), and a report on the Mayor and Council’s strategic planning retreat. I do also note the lack of any agenda item regarding the anti-solicitation ordinance. This could come up in the City Manager’s day laborer report.

Agenda - Mayor and City Council Meeting, 2/5/2007
Posted 2/2/2007

City of Gaithersburg
AGENDA FOR A REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2007, 7:30 P.M.

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. INVOCATION

Rick Price, First Church of Christ, Scientist

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council Held January 16, 2007

Background Material (pdf format)

V. APPOINTMENTS

Resolution of the City Council Confirming an Appointment and Reappointments by the Mayor to the Beautification Committee, Commission on Landlord/Tenant Affairs, Education Committee, and Multicultural Affairs Committee
Background Material (pdf format)

VI. PRESENTATIONS

1. Gaithersburg Celebrates African American History Month With a Tribute to Dr. Marsha Coleman Adebayo, “The Woman Who Dared,” Sponsored by the Multicultural Affairs Committee
2. Civil Air Patrol Presentation
3. Annual Report on Historic Preservation in the City of Gaithersburg
4. City Manager Report on the City’s Strategic Planning Retreat Held January 19-20, 2007
   2007 Draft Strategic Plan (pdf format)

5. City Manager’s Day Laborer Report
6. Discussion on Process, Timing and Funding for Review of Kentlands Commercial Special Study Area
   Background Material (pdf format)

VII. 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)

VIII. FROM THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL/ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Board/Commission/Committee Vacancy Update
• Upcoming City Events

IX. FROM THE CITY MANAGER

X. 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 Purchase Fiberglass Sculptures for the All Aboard the Art Train Public Art Project ($38,650)
   Background Material (pdf format)

2. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Awarding a Matching Grant to Washingtonian Towns Homeowners Association ($3,750)
   Background Material (pdf format)

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

T-380 - An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 24 of the City Code Entitled "Zoning," Article III Entitled "Regulations Applicable to Particular Zones,” Division 15 Entitled “I-3 Zone, Industrial and Office Park,” to Eliminate Redundant and Conflicting Provisions and Renumber Accordingly (Ready for Final Action)

Background Material (pdf format)

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

Staff Recommendation to Close the Mayor and City Council Record on Z-303(o), Proposal to Rezone 1.2099 Acres of Land, Currently Known as Lot P-87, the Duane Property, Located Off Game Preserve Road Between Arrowsmith Court and Travis Avenue in the City of Gaithersburg, From the Existing C-2 (General Commercial) Zone to the E-1 (Urban Employment) Zone, Under the Optional Method of Rezoning, in Accordance With §24-196 (map amendments) and §24-198 (optional method) of the City Code
Background Material (pdf format)

Staff Guidance on Memorandum Dated February 1, 2007. for Residential “Parking By Permit Only” for a Portion of Brighton Drive

Background Material (pdf format)

XIII. ADJOURNMENT

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THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
WILL BE HELD TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2007, 7:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 31 SOUTH SUMMIT AVENUE

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UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETING AND WORK SESSION ITEMS
This list is not all-inclusive, and does not reflect priorities or scheduling But is intended to provide a glance at future items to come before the City Council.

Feb 20 Meeting:

Presentations

-Introduction of New Police Officers
- Humane Society
- National CC! Week Adult Heroes Writing Contest

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WORK SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT

Notice to the general public is hereby given that the Mayor
and City Council of the City of Gaithersburg will conduct a
Joint Work Session on Monday, February 12, 2007, to discuss:

Z-304, an Application to Rezone 14.157 Acres of Land, Currently Known as Part Parcel A Lots N-943; N-994; N-888; & N-939, the Broadstone Apartments, Located at the Intersection of MD 355 and West Deer Park Road in the City Of Gaithersburg, From the Existing R-20 (MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL) Zone to the CD (Corridor Development) Zone, in Accordance With §24-196 (Map Amendments) and §24-160G.6 (Procedure for Application and Approval) of the City Code

SDP-06-004, the Applicant Requests the Redevelopment of 14.157 Acres of Land,Currently Known as Part Parcel A Lots N-943; N-994; N-888; & N-939, the Broadstone Apartments, Located at the Intersection of MD 355 and West Deer Park Road in the City of Gaithersburg, Proposed Plan Includes 334 Multi-Family Units, 53 Townhomes, and 28 Two-Over-Two Units

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City of Gaithersburg
31 South Summit Avenue
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877
Telephone: 301-258-6330

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTIONS

Wednesday, December 6, 2006

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

November 1, 2006, Planning Commission Meeting
Background Material (pdf format)

Approved

November 15, 2006, Planning Commission Meeting
Background Material (pdf format)
Approved

CONSENT

SP-05-0010 — Towns at Summit Woods
R-20 Zone
70 West Deer Park Road
130 Townhouse Development (TND Option)

EXTENSION OF FINAL PLAN APPROVAL
Background Material (pdf format)
Granted

SITE PLANS

AFP-06-052 — Rachel Carson Elementary School
MXD Zone
100 Tschiffely Square Road
Portable Classroom
AMENDMENT TO FINAL PLAN REVIEW

Background Material (pdf format)
Approved

SP-06-0011 — Riley Property
R-B Zone

10 Brookes Avenue
Conversion of Residence to Office with Parking
PRELIMINARY/FINAL PLAN REVIEW
Background Material (pdf format)
Approved with conditions

CSP-06-003 — One Bank Street
C-2 Zone
1 Bank Street
One-Story Bank with Drive-Thru Lane
CONCEPT PLAN REVIEW

Background Material (pdf format)
Approved with conditions

AFP-06-049 — King Kia Dealership
C-2 Zone
953 North Frederick Avenue

Sign Revision
AMENDMENT TO FINAL PLAN REVIEW
Background Material (pdf format)
Approved with conditions

AFP-06-025 — Watkins Mill Town Center

MXD Zone
Metropolitan Grove Road
Architectural Revisions
COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITION OF APPROVAL
Background Material (pdf format)
Approved with conditions

Note that the City has posted the video of last night’s meeting.

The meeting was about as low-key as it appeared from the agenda. Everything that was up for a vote was approved, with only some abstentions on the approval of some of the minutes. Items of note:

• Stanley Alster was elected Council Vice President
• Public appearances brought several people who spoke about day laborers and illegal immigrants. There were some responses and reaction to the previous meeting’s public appearances, especially as regards to the anti-solicitation ordinance and David Rocha’s performance. One speaker encouraged the City to make English the official language in the City, while another speaker reiterated her opposition to Mr. Halici’s appication to tear down the Talbott House.
• In the From the Mayor and Council segment, Mr. Schlichting raised the topic of sponsoring a Charrette to consider design issues related to the Kentlands commerical district, preferably by Spring of next year. This brought a fair amount of discussion, which was not universally supportive of the idea. The Mayor and most of the Council generally agreed that the Corridor Cities Transitway alignment (which Mr. Schlichting mentioned as one of the issues facing Kentlands) was important to the City, but there was some disagreement as to how much of a window was left for influencing the final alignment, and how the arrival of a new administration in Annapolis will affect the process. Other concerns included the funding of the Charrette process, whether the planning process should even be a Charrette, and the level of interest in this activity from the business and property owners in Kentlands.
• The City Manager, clearly in response to the the sign incident at the previous Council meeting, circulated to the Mayor and the Council members a statement of a new policy that he planned to post at the entrance to the City Council chambers. This new policy would state that, during Council meetings, participants would not be allowed to hold signs in such a way as to disrupt the proceedings or block the view of the audience or cameras. The Mayor and Council agreed with the plan, and Mr. Humpton noted that the Mayor had agreed to enforce the policy in future meetings. Unofficially, I expect that this will become known as “the Rocha rule”.
• Mr. Roman gave his presentation on the overcrowding and illegal occupation problem in the City. In the discussion that followed, Mr. Roman was asked several questions about enforcement. Apparently the City inspectors can only enter a private home to inspect if the owner consents. However, if there is probable cause — and formal and detailed complaints from the public, which are allowed to be filed anonymously, are important factors in demonstrating probable cause — the inspectors are able to obtain administrative search warrants, allowing them to enter and inspect a home without the owners consent. In addition to fines that may be levied against a property owner, which can be one-time fines or even fines that are levied for every day the property is out of compliance, the City does have the ability to condemn a property, making it illegal to occupy until the problems are corrected. Several among the Council expressed concern that perhaps the fines — often in the hundreds of dollars — are not high enough to act as an effective deterrent. In Mr. Roman’s presentation, one suggestion was that fines for repeat offenders be raised; and the sympathies of the Council were clearly in this direction, if not also to raise the fines for first-time offenders.
• In the discussion of the proposed financial assistance for the Bozzuto project, the principal concern was that the assistance would only be made available to purchasers who would be living in the property — that it was exclusively directed at encouraging owner-occupied housing.
• Regarding the defibrillator ordinance, the only substantiative question that I recall was whether this ordinance would also apply to swimming facilities; it was unclear that it did, and Mr. Felton promised to look into this. As it was a public hearing, one member of the public rose to speak in favor of the ordinance, and also to recommend that the City consider placing these units in police cruisers.
• The HDC convened largely to elect officers — in a remarkable coincidence, Commissioner Katz was elected Chair, and Commissioner Alster the vice chair — to approve three sets of minutes, and to state that they would be holding a closed executive session after the Council meeting.

Following is the Outcomes posted by the City:
Read the rest of this entry »

The City has published an outcomes document for this meeting, as well as the video.

The revised agenda for the Wednesday, November 15, 2006 meeting of the Planning Commission is available on the City’s website. Topics for tomorrow night’s meeting include the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO), the change to the height restrictions in the CD Zone. Also up for discussion is an updated site plan for Watkins Mill Town Center:

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

October 18, 2006, Planning Commission Meeting
Background Material (pdf format)

Approved

CONSENT

AFP-06-045 — Kentlands - 348 Tschiffely Square Road
MXD Zone
(Tirtanadi Residence)

Two-Story Addition
AMENDMENT TO FINAL PLAN REVIEW
Background Material (pdf format)
Approved

SP-05-0011 — Summit Crossing

CBD Zone
North Summit & Park Avenue
Bozzuto Townhouse Redevelopment
EXTENSION OF FINAL PLAN APPROVAL
Background Material (pdf format)

Granted

RECOMMENDATION TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL

T-377 — Ordinance to amend Chapter 24 of the City Code, entitled, “Zoning,” so as to create a new Article XV, entitled, “Adequate Public Facilities,” so as to require that public facilities be deemed adequate to serve development which is subject to various land use and development approvals and to set forth applicable procedures and standards for the determination thereof and a regulation establishing traffic impact study standards

NOTE: no additional testimony will be taken at this time
Background Material I (pdf format)
Background Material II (Large File 4.7M pdf format)
Recommended deferral of action until additional information is provided

T-378 – Ordinance to amend Chapter 24 of the City Code (City Zoning Ordinance), Article III, § 24-160G.5, entitled, “Waiver of Development Standards,” so as to amend the waiver standards so that t he City Council may, by resolution, waive the building and structure height requirements in the Corridor Development Zone (CD Zone) as follows: for a residential district to allow a height not to exceed four (4) stories, or forty-eight (48) feet
NOTE: no additional testimony will be taken at this time
Background Material (pdf format)

Recommended adoption with a revision

SITE PLAN

AFP-06-047 — Observatory Heights 122/126 George Street
R-90 Zone

New Model, Grading/House Footing Revisions
AMENDMENT TO FINAL PLAN REVIEW
Background Material (pdf format)
Approved with conditions

AFP-06-025 — Watkins Mill Town Center MXD Zone

Metropolitan Grove Road
Architectural Revisions