MEDIA ADVISORY

Mayor: Jennifer P. Dougherty

CONTACT: Nancy Gregg Poss, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, November 21, 2003

CHANGES TO HDC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES APPROVED TO HELP STREAMLINE PROCESS

Frederick, Md. --- On November 13th the City of Frederick’s Historic District Commission voted unanimously to begin using an expanded administrative approval guidelines procedure. The revised administrative approval authority will give City staff broader approval authority, with the goal of facilitating constituents' interaction with the HDC, shortening agendas, and speeding up the processing of simple cases. If approved, applicants will be given preliminary approval when they receive a sign to post for ten days. If no comments are received in writing within that period, the applicant will be given a letter of final approval that will allow them to obtain a building permit.

Also in an effort to address concerns regarding the duration of HDC meetings two changes will be made. Effective January 2004, Historic District Commission meetings will begin one hour earlier, at 6 p.m. Also, effective February 2004, HDC will hold two meetings per month. These meeting will be two-part; workshop and board meeting. This change will decrease the wait between workshops and board meetings, as well as increase timing for those applicants that do not require a workshop.

Aldermanic Liaison Marcia Hall stated, "I was happy to bring to the HDC the concerns of citizens interested in improving the HDC process. I applaud the HDC for responding to citizens and applicants who want to speed up the process and simplify it too. These changes address both, and should improve the HDC experience for all.”

She added, “Applicants wanted to see the process simplified. The new start time and two board meetings per month are small changes that will have a big effect. As a result we will see applications complete the process much faster.”

Revisions to HDC procedures are a result of work conducted by the Historic District Commission Focus Group.