Update : A notice went out from the City today saying:

Dear Interested Parties:

Please be advised that HAWP-37E was removed from the agenda for tonight’s Historic District Commission meeting and will be placed on the HDC’s agenda for Tuesday, January 2, 2007. The City was notified that a particular piece of correspondence was not included in the public record and the HDC had not received a copy of it in their reading package.

We regret any inconvenience this may have caused.

Sincerely,

David B. Humpton
City Manager

The City has posted the agenda for the Monday, December 18, 2006 meeting of the Mayor and Council, with a mid-meeting hat change while they act as the Historic District Commission. There are a few agenda items of special interest:

  • Policy discussion on Hamza Halici’s application to destroy a historically-designated property in the City, the Talbott House, also known as the Hair Bar. Mr Halici has asked permission to do this on financial-burden grounds, but has refused to submit any documentation which would effectively demonstrate the hardship the house supposedly creates. It will be interesting to see whether the Council will rule that this documentation is not required, presumably opening the door for any owner of any historic property in the City to obtain a demolition permit on these grounds, and in essence crippling future historic preservation efforts in the City.
  • Announcement of the annual strategic planning retreat. Note that the public is invited to the Saturday sessions, which will be held in Annapolis.
  • Two public hearings, one on T-380, an amendment to the I-3 zone (I-3 is used for IBM, Metropolitan Grove and GE Tech Park. I believe that the amendment has to do with issues in GE Tech Park specifically) and an amendment to the sprinkler ordinance, which would require the addition of sprinkler systems to apartment buildings that (a) lack them, and (b) are standing vacant for some minimum period of time. I believe that, in the immediate term, this issue was raised by the proposal to re-lease the East Deer Park apartments.
  • The formal introduction of the proposed affordable housing regulations; those interested in this issue probably want to grab a copy of the background materials and read through it.
  • Final action on the Defibrillator ordinance and on the Lakelands Lane in the Woods SDP.

City of Gaithersburg
AGENDA FOR A REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2006, 7:30 P.M.

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. INVOCATION

Fitzgerald Clark, Baha’i Faith

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City

Council Held December 4, 2006

TBA - Background Material (pdf format)

V. APPOINTMENTS

Resolution of the City Council Confirming Appointments and a Reappointment by the Mayor to the Ad Hoc Election Participation Advisory Committee, and Gaithersburg Senior Council
Background Material (pdf format)

VI. OATH OF OFFICE TO ALTERNATE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER

  • Geri Lanier

VII. PRESENTATION

The Gaithersburg Community Museum Train Annex Committee Update
Background Material (pdf format)

VIII. 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)

IX. FROM THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL/ANNOUNCEMENTS

X. FROM THE CITY MANAGER

XI. PUBLIC HEARING

  1. JOINT – 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

    Background Material (pdf format)

  2. An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 5 of the City Code Entitled "Buildings," to Create a New Article VI Entitled "Additional Fire Safety Requirements for Certain Multi-Family Residential Structures” to Create a New Section 5-11 Entitled “Automated Sprinkler Systems” to Require the Retrofit of Certain Multi-Family Residential Structures With Automated Sprinkler Systems

    Background Material (pdf format)

XII. RECESS MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

1. Call to Order

2. Approval of Minutes

  • Minutes of a Historic District Commission Meeting Held December 4, 2006
    Background Material (pdf format)

3. Certificates of Approval

  • HAWP-99A (Amended) - Applicant: Alfred Riley, 10 Brookes Avenue, Conversion of Residence to Office, Install Parking Lot and Modifications to Rear of House
    Background Material (pdf format)

  • HAWP-49B - Applicant: Barbara Lima, 12 Brookes Avenue, Tree Removal

    Background Material (pdf format)

4. Policy Discussion

  • HAWP-37E Applicant: Stephen Orens for Hamza Halici/Halici, Inc., 309 North Frederick Avenue, Demolition of Talbott House
    Background Material (pdf format)

5. Adjournment


XIII. RECONVENE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

XIV. 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)

Introduction of the Gaithersburg Affordable Housing Program Regulations (Public Hearing scheduled for 1/2/07)

Background Material (pdf format)

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

  1. SDP-06-003, Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Gaithersburg Granting Approving of Schematic Development Plan, SDP-06-003 as an Amendment to Schematic Development Plan SDP-L5, Lakelands, Lane in the Woods, the Subject Property is Located in the Lakelands Subdivision and is in the Mixed Use Development (MXD) Zone (Ready for Final Action)
    Background Material (pdf format)

  2. An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 2 of the City Code, Entitled “Administration”, Article II, Entitled “Municipal-County Relations”, Section 2-6 Thereof, Entitled “Exemption From Montgomery County Legislation and Regulations Within the City” so as to Include the Provisions of Section 24-211A Entitled “Fitness Centers-Defibrillators” of Chapter 24 of the Montgomery County Code Entitled “Health And Sanitation”, as Being Applicable and Enforceable Within the City (Ready for Final Action)

    Background Material (pdf format)

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

XVII. ADJOURNMENT

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

will not conduct a work session the
week of December 25, 2006.


THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

WILL BE HELD TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2007, 7:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 31 SOUTH SUMMIT AVENUE


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.

Jan 2 Meeting

Public Hearing
Affordable Housing Program Regulations (tentative)

Policy Discussion
T-377 - Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance for the City of Gaithersburg

- Ordinance to Repeal and Reenact With Amendments Section 15-4 of the City Code, Entitled “Loitering,” so as to Clarify Existing Language With Regard to Prohibited Conduct, and Section 15-9, Entitled “Solicitation In Roadways,” so as to Expand the Applicability of the City’s Prohibition on Solicitation Specific to this Chapter

Notice to the general public is hereby given that the
Mayor and City Council of the City of Gaithersburg
will conduct a special work session on Monday,
January 8, 2007, to gather citizen input on
the Draft 2007 Strategic Plan.

In addition, notice to the general public is hereby given that
the Mayor and City Council of the City of Gaithersburg
will hold their Annual Strategic Planning Retreat on
Friday, January 19 and Saturday, January 20, 2007.

An agenda and draft 2007 Strategic Plan will be

posted on the City’s website in January 2007. Anyone who
would like more information about the retreat may contact
the City Manager’s Office at 301-258-6310.


MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

ARE TELEVISED LIVE ON CABLE CHANNEL 13
AND ON THE
INTERNET AT
www.gaithersburgmd.gov/tv

TO CONFIRM ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS,
PLEASE CONTACT DORIS STOKES AT
CITY HALL, 301-258-6310

Hand held signs brought into the Council Chambers may not be displayed in a manner which
disrupts the meeting, blocks the view of spectators or cameras and poses a safety
concern [e.g., signs mounted on stakes]. Your cooperation is appreciated.)