Planning Commission recommends historic preservation overlay for 27 Franklin Street (Saint Timothy’s Chapel)

The Planning Commission voted unanimously Aug. 11 to recommend the City Council adopt a Historic Preservation Overlay (HPO) for 27 Franklin Street, a 0.845-acre property that includes the stone church known historically as Saint Timothy’s Chapel.

City planning staff and the Historic Preservation Commission presented findings that the building meets the local designation criteria: it is more than 50 years old, retains sufficient historic integrity and is associated with the city’s early-20th-century suburban development and with Lloyd C. Collier, a local builder and long-serving mayor. The building was cited as a fine example locally of early-20th-century English Gothic ecclesiastical architecture.

Christina Martin Koski, the planning staff presenter, told commissioners the HPO would not change the property’s institutional use but would add a design-review process for future exterior changes. She said the property appears in Maryland Historical Trust inventories (several entries) and the overlay would align with Comprehensive Plan policies supporting preservation and the balancing of growth and historic resources.

Representatives for the property owner spoke in favor. Sean Hughes, an attorney for the owner, said the current congregation intends to continue using and maintaining the property and wants it to remain an active community asset. Pastor Luis Serrano described extensive interior and exterior work already completed and recounted structural and environmental repairs the congregation funded after purchase.

Public comment included NAC 12 correspondence submitted by Adam Apostoli and in-person remarks from neighbor and NAC12 coordinator James Gibbs in support of designation. Commissioners and staff confirmed that if the City Council does not apply the overlay, the owner could seek a certificate to demolish; staff noted a certificate to demolish could permit demolition activity within a specified period under current code.

Motion and outcome: Commissioner Valencia moved a positive recommendation to City Council; Commissioner Lewellen seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Next steps: The Planning Commission’s recommendation and staff report will be transmitted to the City Council for a legislative hearing; the Historic Preservation Commission’s report is part of the record. If Council applies the HPO, exterior changes to the building will be subject to historic-preservation review.