Planning Commission

Minutes Walkersville Planning Commission Meeting April 22, 2025 Commission Chairman David Ennis called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with members Mike Kuster, Jeremy Peterson, Russ Winch, Nick Thompson, Nathan Shatto, and John Merando present. Also present were Town Planner Susan Hauver and Communications Specialist Crystal Feaga. The meeting was also live-streamed on the Town’s website. 1. Minutes Member Winch made a motion, seconded by Member Merando to approve the minutes of the April 8, 2025 meeting. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0-2 (Ennis, Shatto abstained). 2. Subdivision Concept Plan: George Street at Goldsboro Place, 4 lots, Frederick County Students Construction Trades Foundation, Inc. Planner Hauver reviewed the staff comments on the proposed 4 lot subdivision. Mr. James Thuman of the Frederick County Students Construction Trades Foundation, Inc. spoke on behalf of the applicant. He noted that they would add a bioswale on the western boundary of the subdivision, and that they would meet the forestation requirements through the fee-in-lieu option. Commission members offered the following comments to the applicant: • Storm drain pipes need to have water-tight joints due to karst geology. • Run the storm drain in the front yard of Lot 1 closer to the street to allow the homeowner more usable space. • Request a waiver of the open space requirements. • Add sidewalks in front of Goldsboro Place lots. • The stormwater management easement should be referenced on the record plat. • Consider ways to mitigate the impact of a multi-year construction project on the neighbors, including noise, mud and dirt. Mr. Thuman noted that house components are constructed off-site and assembled on site. Students are on-site a limited number of hours per school day. He would work to get the home sites looking neat as quickly as possible. Students do not use nail guns, so noise is limited to hammering by hand. Ms. Emily Kilmon, 4 Goldsboro Place, expressed concerns about the eight-year timeline of construction. She works from home. She also noted the narrow road and limited space for more traffic and parked cars. Mr. Will Eger, 13 W. George St., also expressed concerns about the eight-year construction process. He noted that he has seen the property underwater. He also noted the impact of more cars parking and traffic. Ms. Brittany Eger, 13 W. George St., noted security concerns. She said that teens hang out along the railroad tracks and at the train station. Vandalism is a problem. Mr. Thuman said that he installs security cameras on their properties during construction. He would consider building 2 houses at once to speed up the project. He is flexible as to which lots are developed first. Chairman Ennis noted that the Planning Commission does not vote on Concept Plans and encouraged the applicant to consider the comments in preparing the plans for the next submission. 3. Lonza, 8830 Biggs Ford Rd, Discussion of Industrial zoning standards, including building height restrictions Mr. Philipp Kuenti and Mr. Charlie Scherr from Lonza presented information about the company and their interest in potentially expanding operations at their Walkersville site. They need to know what the Town would allow, particularly regarding building height. They would like the building height restriction to be amended to allow buildings up to 100 feet tall. 1 Planner Hauver said Section 88-58 of the Zoning Ordinance could be amended to allow office buildings and industrial facilities to exceed the height limit to a total height of 100 feet. Currently, public buildings, churches, temples, hospitals and institutions can exceed the height limit to a total of 70 feet. Member Winch made a motion, seconded by Member Shatto, to draft a text amendment allowing a 100-foot height limit for industrial buildings. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. 4. Industrial Zoning Districts update: Proposed text amendments Member Merando made a motion, seconded by Member Kuster to send the proposed industrial district text amendments to the Town Burgess and Commissioners for introduction as a draft ordinance. The motion passed on vote of 6-0-1 (Winch abstained). 5. Draft Updated Zoning Map Planner Hauver presented a draft updated zoning map which would zone properties in accordance with the adopted Comprehensive Plan. However, it might be prudent to wait to rezone properties with development potential until property owners request rezoning or the APFO adequacy tests can be passed. Commission members noted their understanding that the Zoning and Comprehensive Plan maps should match to avoid legal challenges. They wondered about the tax implications for property owners whose properties are rezoned. Ms. Penny Rife, 1 Pennsylvania Drive, noted that she would like to see her R-1 property rezoned. She would like to be able to subdivide her lot. Planner Hauver said she would schedule a meeting with the Town Attorney for Commission members to discuss legal issues surrounding the updated zoning map. 6. Miscellaneous items Mr. Ennis requested that the list of upcoming Commission projects be emailed to Commission members. Mr. Ennis and Mr. Peterson asked for an update about reviewing the lighting plan for the Rock Creek School. There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Susan Hauver 2