1. ROLL CALL
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM - FY 2012-2017 (Citywide)
4. BALTIMORE CITY DESIGNATION OF THE ASHBURTON NEIGHBORHOOD AS A LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT (Sixth District)
   
   CONSENT AGENDA
5. REVISED FINAL DESIGN APPROVAL/ ST. AGNES HOSPITAL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT – EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND CHEST PAIN UNIT OFFICES AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUITE
6. CIP TRANSFERS

This agenda was prepared on the assumption that all necessary materials have been made available in sufficient time for consideration by the Commission at this meeting. There are occasionally changes in this agenda when relevant materials have not been delivered to the Department on schedule. For any marked (**) please call the Department at 410-396-8337 for current information.

The meeting will be held in the Phoebe B. Stanton Boardroom of the Department of Planning, located on the 8th floor of 417 East Fayette Street.

PC Summary

3. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM - FY 2012-2017

The FY 2012-17 CIP was presented to the Planning Commission on February 17, 2011. The Department of Planning is requesting that the Commission approve the six-year plan that includes 194 Projects with an estimated cost of $ 2.98 billion. The first year or budget year, FY 2012, becomes the basis for the capital component of the Ordinance of Estimates, adopted by the City Council. Staff is recommending 156 Projects with an estimated cost of $ 393 million for FY 2012.

Recommendation: Approval

4. BALTIMORE CITY DESIGNATION OF THE ASHBURTON NEIGHBORHOOD AS A LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT

The local historic district designation is a three-step process. The first step is CHAP approval. The Planning Commission hearing on historic district designation for Ashburton is the second step in historic district designation process. After the Planning Commission renders a decision on the designation, its recommendation will then go to the City Council for introduction by the Administration. The third and final step is passage of legislation by the Mayor and City Council designating Ashburton as a Baltimore City Local Historic District.

The Ashburton community is an early 20th century subdivision that was built on land formerly part of the John Gittings estate. In 1908, the City bought a large tract of that estate to construct the Ashburton Reservoir and Park (which later was renamed Hanlon Park in 1918). This tract was located south of Liberty Heights Avenue. Soon thereafter, in 1916, developer George R. Morris purchased the 120 acre portion of the Gittings estate that was to become Ashburton. By the 1950’s fewer than ten unimproved lots remained.

During this time, the community’s demographics were changing. By post World War II influential Jews lived in the neighborhood. In 1956, an African American high school principal moved into the community, becoming the first resident of his race. By 1959 Ashburton gained national attention for its efforts to create an integrated neighborhood, when the Saturday Evening Post published an article entitled When A Negro Moves Next Door. The residents started the Ashburton Area Association, which was considered the first association open to both races.

By 1969 Ashburton had become 90% African American and was becoming a community of many prominent politicians, physicians, educators, lawyers and judges. Although the earlier goals of the interracial Ashburton Area Association did not materialize into a longstanding interracially mixed neighborhood, the effect of this effort helped to contribute to the stable, proudly maintained community that it is today.

The CHAP at its January 11, 2011 hearing recommended approval of Ashburton as a Baltimore City Local Historic District.

Ashburton meets CHAP criterion #1 for its association with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of Baltimore history. It also meets CHAP criterion #3 for historic district designation as a neighborhood that embodies the distinctive characteristics of an early twentieth century suburb.

The Ashburton Area Association was notified of this meeting.

Recommendation: Approval

CONSENT AGENDA

5. REVISED FINAL DESIGN APPROVAL/ ST. AGNES HOSPITAL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT – EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND CHEST PAIN UNIT OFFICES AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUITE

The Planning Commission last approved a Minor Amendment and Final Design Approval for the Saint Agnes Hospital PUD on June 26, 2008. That reflected an expansion of the Hospital and its associated facilities. Two minor renovation projects have been recently submitted for review and approval. First, the Emergency Department Administrative Suite is simply providing a series of new punched windows in blank wall area of the one story wing at the northeast corner of the campus for accommodating new and existing offices. Second, the E.D. Chest Pain Unit project expands the services of the Emergency Department into portions of the “MRI Building” which requires raising of the roof structure and parapet approximately 4’-6” above this area to provide an appropriate ceiling height in spaces below. Staff reviewed the elevations submitted for these modifications and finds them consistent with the approved overall design approach for the Hospital.

Recommendation: Approval

6. CIP TRANSFERS

Recommendation: Approval
 

REQUEST: FY 2012-2017 Capital Improvement Program

RECOMMENDATION: Approval

STAFF: Tommy Williams

CIP Overview

By City Charter, the Planning Commission must submit a recommended six-year CIP to the Board of Estimates. The recommended budget year CIP becomes the basis for the capital component of the Ordinance of Estimates, adopted by the City Council.

CIP Review Schedule

• September 2010: Department of Planning sent to agencies CIP request packets including fund sources targets.
• November 2010: Requests from agencies due to the Department of Planning.
• December 2010- February 2011: Planning performs detailed review of requests.
• January 2011 - February 2011: Select Agencies brief Planning Commission.
• March 3, 2011: Planning Commission review/approval of CIP Recommendations.
• March 2011: Six year CIP reviewed/approval by Board of Finance.
• April 2011: CIP program reviewed/approved by Board of Estimates.
• June 2011: Budget year CIP adopted by City Council.
• July 1, 2011: Fiscal year 2012 begins.

CIP Request Evaluation Criteria

The Comprehensive Master Plan sets forth a citywide comprehensive six-year strategy. Different from comprehensive plans of the past, this planning effort merges a business plan and a comprehensive urban development plan into one document. LIVE • EARN • PLAY • LEARN seeks to provide clear goals and objectives to do the following:

1. Direct the City’s capital investments to more effectively use public resources
2. Create zoning strategies which will match the zoning code to 21st Century land uses and patterns of economic and demographic development
3. Develop a public policy approach that can be adopted and implemented by all segments of Baltimore.

In addition to consistency with the Comprehensive Master Plan, projects are reviewed according to the following criteria.

• Project directly supports Mayoral Priority
• City funding leverages other sources
• Funds will be spent in the budget year
• Request supports a priority development or redevelopment initiative
• Project fulfills an approved, prior commitment
• Adequate project details/justification have been provided
• Agency has fully utilized previous appropriations
• Project corrects a dangerous/blighting condition
• Project fulfills a State or Federal mandate

Summary Of The Recommended Capital Improvement Program

Six-Year Program
Requests: 196 Projects with an estimated cost of $ 3.223 billion
Recommendation: 194 Projects with an estimated cost of $ 2.980 billion

Budget Year
Requests: 142 Projects with an estimated cost of $ 391,973,000
Recommendation: 156 Projects with an estimated cost of $ 393,327,000

 

Fund Distribution for Recommended FY 2012 Capital Budget 
(All Fund Sources)

Agency/Dept. $ Amount in thousands
Mayoralty/Cultural:  2,727
Dept. of Planning: 915 
Public Works: 252,492
General Services: 9,850
BCPSS: 16,634 
Recreation & Parks: 5,888 
Transportation : 64,170 
Housing & Community Dev.:29,901
Baltimore Dev. Corp.: 10,050
Downtown Partnership: 700 
Total :393,327

Sources Of Funds For Recommended FY 2012 Capital Budget

Category $ Amount in thousands
G.O Bonds: 50,000
General Funds: 7,800 
Revenue Loans :138,078
Utility Funds: 17,450
Federal Funds: 58,719
State Funds: 13,273
Motor Vehicle Revenue: 5,000
Other : 103,007
Total: 393,327

Recommended FY 2012 Capital Budget – Project Highlights

Cultural Institutions

• Baltimore Museum of Art – Comprehensive Renovations $ 600K
• Everyman Theatre Renovation - $ 200K
• National Aquarium Renovations to Ray Tray Exhibit - $ 500K
• Port Discovery Children’s Museum Green Roof Project - $ 100K
• Creative Alliance Lobby – $100K
• USS Constellation and Inner Harbor Promenade Improvements - $ 250K

Planning Department

• Area Master Plans & Planning Department Initiatives - $ 50K
• Historic Public Monuments - $ 50K
• Critical Area Buffer Offset Program - $ 400K
• Critical Area Storm-water Program - $ 400K

DPW – General Services

• City Owned Building Renovations Program - $ 3.8 mil
• Eastern Health Clinic Relocation - $ 2.5 mil
• Improvements to Historic Public Buildings - $ 300K
• Convention Center - $ 1.8 mil

Baltimore City Public Schools

• New Southwest Area Elem (Uplands) - $ 1.3 mil
• Waverly Elem/Middle School #51 - $ 3.6 mil
• Leith Walk Elementary School # 245 - $ 6.4 mil
• Calverton PK-8 Renovations - $ 1.6 mil
• Systemic Improvements at Various Locations - $ 3.6 mil

Enoch Pratt Library

• Library Facilities Modernization – $ 1.0 mil

Recreation & Parks

• Neighborhood Swimming Pool Renovation - $ 800K
• Recreation Facility Expansion/Modernizations - $ 1.6 mil
• Park Rehabilitation Program - $ 1.1 mil
• Druid Hill Park Superintendent’s Mansion ( Parks & People) $ 250K
• Community Parks and Playgrounds - $ 690K
• Tree Baltimore & Street Tree Program - $ 175K

Transportation

• Bridges Inspections- $ 700K
• Annapolis Rd Bridge Over Baltimore Washington Pkwy - $ 10.3 mil
• Bridge Preservation Program - $ 5.2 mil
• Perring Pkwy Ramp Over Herring Run - $ 1.4 mil
• Boston Street Reconstruction – Phase I & Phase II - $ 3.0 mil

DPW – Wastewater

• Back River Digester Renovations - $ 10.8 mil
• Sewer System Rehabilitation Program – $ 134.0 mil
• Wastewater Facilities Security Improvements - $ 500K
• Patapsco Liquid Oxygen (lox) Plant - $ 8.0 mil

DPW – Water Supply

• Urgent Needs for Watershed – Roads & Culvert Maintenance - $ 9.5 mil
• Montebello Water Recycle Program - $ 5.8 mil
• Water Infrastructure Rehabilitation - $ 10 mil
• Water Mains Installation - $ 6.0 mil

Housing & Community Development

• Uplands Redevelopment - $ 2.2 mil
• East Baltimore Redevelopment - $ 2.5 mil
• Demolition Program - $ 2.7 mil
• Homeownership Incentive Program - $ 2.7 mil

Baltimore Development Corporation

• BDC Commercial Revitalization - $ 425 mil
• Inner Harbor Area - $ 500K
• BDC East Baltimore Development - $ 500K
• BDC Industrial and Commercial Financing - $ 525K

Downtown Partnership

• Hopkins Plaza Enhancements -$ 100K
• Removal of Pratt Street Skywalk - $ 700K

The Department of Planning recommends approval of the FY 2012 – 2017 Capital Improvement Program.

REQUEST: Local Historic District Designation/ Ashburton Community

RECOMMENDATION: Approval

STAFF: Robert Quilter

PETITIONER: Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP)

OWNER: Multiple Property Owners

SITE/GENERAL AREA
Site Conditions: The potential local historic district is bounded by Liberty Heights Avenue on the south, Callaway Avenue on the west, Belle/Dolfield and Sequoia Avenues on the north and the Western Maryland Railway ROW on the east (please see map). The zoning is primarily R-1 and R-3 with some areas of R-4, 5 and 6 along the edges of the community. There is a small area of B-1 zoning at the southeastern tip of the district.

General Area: 
The proposed Ashburton Local Historic District sits in the northwestern section of Baltimore City. It is separated from the grounds of the Ashburton Reservoir by Liberty Heights Avenue, one of the early turnpike roads from Baltimore to the northwest farming areas of Central Maryland. The district comprises some 970 properties, most of which are single family detached houses built after World War I. There are rowhouses located on the south side of Sequoia Avenue and the east side of Wabash Avenue. Duplex housing is located along the south side of Dolfield Avenue. Additionally, there is an early garden apartment complex, four churches and a small commercial strip along Liberty Heights Avenue and the railway. Regular setbacks, building heights and rear parking with detached and attached garages present a uniform rhythm to the community. Similar development exists to the north, west and south but to the east, across the railway is generally commercial and industrial.

HISTORY

• On April 21, 2005 the Planning Commission adopted the Greater Northwest Community Coalition Small Area Plan
• On January 11, 2011 the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP) voted to approve Ashburton as a Baltimore City Local Historic District.

CONFORMITY TO PLANS
The historic district designation conforms to the Baltimore City Comprehensive Master Plan’s Live Section/Goal 2/Objective 4 - Protect and Enhance the Preservation of Baltimore’s Historic Buildings and Neighborhoods. The designation is also in conformance with the Greater Northwest Community Coalition Small Area Plan.

ANALYSIS
The local historic district designation is a three-step process. The first step is CHAP approval. The Planning Commission hearing on historic district designation for Ashburton is the second step in the historic district designation process. After the Planning Commission renders a decision on the designation, its recommendation will then go to the City Council for introduction by the Administration. The third and final step is passage of legislation by the Mayor and City Council designating Ashburton as a Baltimore City Local Historic District.

The Ashburton community is an early 20th century subdivision that was built on land formerly part of the John Gittings estate. In 1908, the City bought a large tract of that estate to construct the Ashburton Reservoir and Park (which later was renamed Hanlon Park in 1918). This tract was located south of Liberty Heights Avenue. Soon thereafter, in 1916, developer George R. Morris purchased the 120 acre portion of the Gittings estate that was to become Ashburton. He began to develop the community in 1920. In 1924 the Baltimore Sun reported that “Since 1921, 275 lots have been purchased and 160 homes have been erected. In 1926 the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church South hired Alfred Leach to design and construct a church and school building at the northwest corner of Liberty Heights and Wabash Avenues. By the 1930’s about two thirds of Ashburton had been built and by the 1950’s fewer than ten unimproved lots remained.

During this time, the community’s demographics were changing. By post World War II influential Jews lived in the neighborhood. In 1956, an African American high school principal moved into the community, becoming the first resident of his race. By 1959 Ashburton gained national attention for its efforts to create an integrated neighborhood, when the Saturday Evening Post published an article entitled When A Negro Moves Next Door. Written by resident Ellsworth E. Rosen, the article chronicled Ashburton’s efforts to prevent blockbusting and welcome African Americans to the neighborhood. The residents started the Ashburton Area Association, which was considered the first association open to both races.

By 1969 Ashburton had become 90% African American and was becoming a community of many prominent politicians, physicians, educators, lawyers and judges. Although the earlier goals of the interracial Ashburton Area Association did not materialize into a longstanding interracially mixed neighborhood, the effect of this effort helped to contribute to the stable, proudly maintained community that it is today.

In the center of the neighborhood, Ashburton, the 19th-century country estate of the Gittings family, sits on an acre of land, lending its name and giving 120 acres of its original estate to build the neighborhood. Ashburton (the neighborhood) captures the architectural styles and suburban house types of the 1920s. English Tudor, Colonial Revival, Italian Renaissance Revival, French Revival and other stylistic details decorate these houses. The house types range from bungalows, four squares, cottages, ranchers, and Cape Cods. Character defining elements of the neighborhood range from Tudor-style trim details, stained-glass, highly ornament doors, several typical roof shapes, porch fronts and a variety of clapboard siding, brick, stucco, and cedar shake shingles. Regular set-backs, building heights, and rear parking with detached and attached garages create a uniform rhythm to the neighborhood. Ashburton represents a well cared for early 20th century suburban neighborhood.

The historic district designation grew out of a long history of historic preservation efforts in Ashburton that began in 1996. Since 2003, CHAP staff has engaged the neighborhood numerous times. The CHAP at its January 11, 2011 hearing recommended approval of Ashburton as a Baltimore City Local Historic District.

Ashburton meets CHAP criterion #1 for its association with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of Baltimore history. It also meets CHAP criterion #3 for historic district designation as a neighborhood that embodies the distinctive characteristics of an early twentieth century suburb.

The Ashburton Area Association was notified of this meeting.