2 days ago
Lack of quorum delays vote on Frederick Health master plan
A lack of a quorum on Monday kept the city of Frederick Planning Commission from voting to approve plans for Frederick Health to develop 750 dwelling units and 1.3 million square feet of non-residential uses on its campus in northern Frederick.
Scott Waxter, assistant city attorney for the city of Frederick, said at Monday's meeting that the master plan now will appear before the commissioners during their meeting in July.
Three commissioners — Joan Strawson, Dorothy Menelas and April Lee — attended Monday's meeting, the minimum number for a quorum.
There are currently five planning commissioners.
Planning Commissioners Elaine Llewellyn and Natasha Valencia were not present on Monday, and neither was City Council Liaison Ben MacShane.
Waxter said Lee had recused herself from hearing the item during earlier meetings, due to professional ties.
'While its not a financial conflict, it is sort of an appearance conflict,' he said. 'Because she has recused herself in the past, there is no reason to take that back.'
During a recess from Monday's meeting, Waxter said he recommended that Lee recuse herself again, which led to the lack of quorum to hear the item.
Monday was supposed to be when the master plan was voted on. It was the second time it came before planners.
'I apologize to the group that I didn't notice this earlier,' Waxter said.
Frederick Health Village — a subsidiary of Frederick Health, which operates a hospital on West 7th Street — presented the master plan for the first of two public hearings before the Planning Commission in May.
The plan is to redevelop a 93.2-acre site, which is zoned Mixed Use, between Monocacy Boulevard and U.S. 15, according to city records.
The plan included senior living, retirement facilities, a nursing home, a medical laboratory and a helistop.
