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Canterbury final phase to preserve historic quad, dedicate 2.34 acres of parkland
Summary
Developers told the commission the last phase of the Canterbury subdivision includes an HPC historic overlay preserving a central quad, repurposing Banner/Oddfellows buildings to multifamily, nearly five acres of open space and dedication of 2.34 acres of parkland adjacent to an existing dog park; FCPS will not allow a new pedestrian connection to Thomas Johnson Middle School.
Representatives for the Canterbury subdivision described the final phase of a long-running project and said the Historic Preservation Commission has applied an overlay to protect the central green or "quad" and its view shed from Market Street.
Chris Smariga of Harris Smariga said the phase will wrap up the road network and add fee-simple townhouses, multifamily buildings and renovation of three existing historic buildings (referred to as Banner or Oddfellows) that will be repurposed as multifamily housing and amenity space. "We're gonna dedicate the 2.34 acres of park," Smariga said, and the team said Parks and Recreation recommended expanding an existing dog park and accepted the dedication in lieu of impact fees.
Smariga and Tim Thomas of The Duffy Companies said the project will provide almost five acres of open space and plant extensive street and lot trees; the team said they will plant more street trees and parking lot landscaping than required, though some plantings are constrained by utilities and tree easements. The presentation noted the hatched areas on the plan are forest conservation areas and that some of the new open space is flood plain and therefore limited to passive recreation.
Commissioners pressed the team on pedestrian connectivity to Thomas Johnson Middle School. Smariga said Frederick County Public Schools does not support a new pedestrian connection from Canterbury to the school's rear areas; the applicant described a proposed sidewalk connection and frontage improvements on North Market Street but said FCPS preferred existing access routes and did not want the proposed connection because it would route students behind the school out of sightlines.
Staff confirmed Parks and Rec's positive recommendation and said the parkland dedication will come to the City Council as part of a recommendation. There was no formal vote recorded at the workshop; the item will return for further review and, if recommended, will proceed to the council for final action.
Next steps: applicant will refine materials and return for formal hearings; staff will include parkland dedication in the packet for council consideration.
