Subject
title
Presentation of the Historic District Commission FY24 Annual Report
end
Department
CPDS - Comprehensive Planning
Recommendation
Receive the Annual Report.
Discussion
The Historic District Commission (HDC) is pleased to present its Annual Report to the Mayor and Council. This Annual Report covers accomplishments from Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024) and the objectives and goals looking forward for Fiscal Year 2025 (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025).
As a quasi-judicial commission, the HDC is tasked with acting on Certificates of Approval (COA) and Evaluations of Significance (EOS), as well as conducting courtesy reviews for the benefit of applicants. The HDC also reviews Historic Preservation Tax Credit applications through a program administered by Montgomery County.
The HDC conducts monthly public meetings that allow for testimony from staff, applicants and any member of the public who wishes to testify. The HDC continued to conduct virtual meetings in Fiscal Year 2024. Major accomplishments of the HDC for Fiscal Year 2024 include:
• Conducted 10 meetings.
• Reviewed and approved 5 Certificate of Approval applications.
• Conducted 5 Evaluation of Significance Reviews for the purpose of demolition.
• Conducted 1 Evaluation of Significance Review for the purpose of designation.
• Conducted 3 courtesy reviews.
• Reviewed and recommended 13 Montgomery County Tax Credit applications for approval.
• Completed an update to the Historic Preservation webpages.
In October 2023, the HDC sponsored a joint Montgomery County and State of Maryland Tax Credit Workshop for historic district property owners. During Historic Preservation Month, the HDC hosted a hybrid event called the “ABCs of Historic Preservation.” Historic property owners and members of the public were invited to gather in the Mayor and Council Chamber or join online via WebEx, to learn more about the benefits of historic preservation from invited guest speakers. In addition to the City’s Historic Preservation staff, featured speakers from Montgomery County’s Historic Preservation Department and Maryland Historical Trust (MHT), gave presentations on the value of owning and caring for a historic property, and the available tax credit advantages. At the end of the event, the attendees were given the opportunity to ask questions of the guest speakers.
As a Certified Local Government (CLG), the HDC members and staff are required to attend at least one MHT approved educational training per year, pertaining to the work and functions of the commission or to historic preservation generally. Approved trainings include those offered by the Maryland Association of Historic District Commissions (MAHDC), Preservation Maryland, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC). The HDC is a quasi-judicial board, and the members are proactive about increasing their knowledge. The HDC staff and members attended an average of five trainings during FY2023. In addition to the joint Montgomery County and State of Maryland Tax Credit Workshop and the Preservation Month Event, the HDC members also attended the “NAPC Virtual Summer Short Course,” (NAPC) Webinar “Best Practices for an Effective Local Preservation Commission,” and NAPC Webinar “Early 20th Century Architecture: Looking to the Past and Future.”
The City’s Preservation Planner, Sheila Bashiri, was invited to share her knowledge with other Maryland historic preservation professionals at two statewide events. Ms. Bashiri was a guest speaker and panel moderator at the Maryland Association of Historic District Commissions (MAHDC) 2024 Symposium. The Executive Director of the Maryland Historical Trust invited Ms. Bashiri to co-moderate a roundtable and be a guest speaker at another historic preservation event. Both events focused on the current topic of Preservation and Underrepresented Communities in Maryland.
Looking ahead into Fiscal Year 2025, beyond conducting the standard quasi-judicial review expected from the Historic District Commission, the HDC will focus much of their time on continuing implementation of the Historic Preservation Work Plan, which was endorsed by the Mayor and Council in May 2023.
The actions set forth in the Work Plan will help to update and improve Rockville’s preservation programming. Some of the proposed amendments to the historic preservation section of the Zoning Ordinance outlined in the Work Plan include:
• Administrative Approvals;
• Evaluation of Significance Reviews;
• Demolition by Neglect;
• Historic Property Maintenance; and
• Historic Property Delisting.
Through the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite process, currently underway, staff and the HDC will be assessing potential changes to the Zoning Ordinance to address these topics.
Mayor and Council History
This is the first time the Mayor and Council are receiving a presentation of the FY24 Annual Report from the Historic District Commission. The HDC Chair, Anita Neal Powell, presented the FY23 Annual Report on December 4, 2023.
Boards and Commissions Review
The Historic District Commission reviewed the FY24 Annual Report at its September 19, 2024 meeting.