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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 11, 2004 Work Session 492 A Worksession of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors was held on Tuesday, May 11, 2004, at 12:00 P.M., in the Board of Supervisors' Meeting Room, County Administration Building, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, Virginia. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT Chairman Richard C. Shickle; Vice-Chairman Barbara E. Van Osten; Gary W. Dove; Bill M. Ewing; Gina A. Forrester; W. Harrington Smith, Jr.; and Lynda J. Tyler. OTHERS PRESENT Planning Commission Chairman Charles S. DeHaven, Jr.; and Planning Commissioners Richard C. Ours; Robert A. Morris; John Light; Pat Gochenour; Marie F. Straub; George J. Kriz; Gregory L. Unger; and Gene Fisher. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Shickle called the worksession to order. PRESENTATION DIANN JACOX. SUPERINTENDENT. CEDAR CREEK & BELLE GROVE NHP The Board heard a presentation from Diann Jacox, Superintendent of Belle Grove and Cedar Creek National Parks. Ms. Jacox stated that she had attended the County's Rural Areas public information sessions and stated that she was delighted to see broad citizen support for the County's rural areas. She then gave a brief presentation on her goals for these national parks, which include the creation of a general management plan. Ms. Jacox advised that she wanted to have this general management plan in place within three years and the Park would hire a planner to work in Middletown to assist in developing this management plan. She stated that both Cedar Creek and Belle Grove would continue to operate independent of one another. At the conclusion of her presentation, Ms. Jacox held a brief question and answer session with the Board and Commissioners. Chairman Shickle thanked Ms. Jacox for attending. JOINT WORKSESSION WITH PLANNING COMMISSION RURAL AREAS STUDY - RESULTS OF STAKE HOLDERS AND PUBLIC VISIONING MEETINGS Deputy Director Mohn presented the results ofthe Rural Areas Study Stakeholder and Public Visioning Meetings. He began by reviewing the study process to date. Deputy Director Mohn informed the Board that the thematic issues and questions/concerns, which came out of these Minute Book Number 29 Board of Supervisors Worksession with Planning Commission 05/11/04 493 meetings were: How to effectively manage change resulting from growth? How to control aspects of growth? How to balance multiple rural interests in policies, programs, and regulations? What is the future of agriculture in Frederick County? The common issues and areas of interest derived from the study included: - Protect property rights. Protect scenic beauty of rural areas. - Conserve open space. Cluster new houses. Support agriculture. Manage cost of growth. Deputy Director Mohn reviewed the remaining steps in the process, which included developing a vision statement and policy alternatives, presenting the alternatives to the public and stake holders, and finally, forwarding the recommended alternatives to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. He concluded the presentation by reviewing the guiding concepts for formulating the new policy and stated that he was looking for Board consensus on the guiding concepts. The guiding concepts included: Cluster new residential development. Maximize conserved open space. Maintain gross density of I unitl5 acres. Rural areas rezoning process. Conservation easement and/or purchase of development rights (pdr) program. Agricultural support policies and programs. Commission Chairman DeHaven advised that these concepts were the prevailing points heard over and over again at the meetings and he hoped to reach some type of consensus so the Commission and the subcommittees could proceed. Chairman Shickle asked if changes to the development regulations was a subset of the guiding concepts or a separate issue. Deputy Director Mohn responded that it was absorbed under the other elements because staff would be looking at making changes to the RA district regulations. Chairman Shickle advised that he would like to see development regulation changes listed separately, even ifit was included as a subset of the other guiding concepts. Supervisor Ewing asked where staff proposed to preserve open space. Deputy Director Mohn advised that was an area that needed more study. Vice-Chairman Van Osten advised that public ownership ofthis process is important and she Minute Book Number 29 Board of Supervisors Worksession with Planning Commission 05/11104 I 494 was comfortable with the proposed guiding concepts in a general sense, but she did not want to get locked into something today. Deputy Director Mohn stated that Board feedback, etc. would govern how staff develops the vision statement for the rural areas. Administrator Riley advised that the Board, as policy makers, needs to "buy into" the proposed concepts and it would be up to staff and the various committees to deal with the specific details. Chairman Shickle asked how much ofthe Board's approval, today, is an endorsement ofthe guidelines and how much is an endorsement to move forward for now. Deputy Director Mohn responded that the Board was not endorsing a policy or an approach, but was endorsing moving forward. Commissioner Morris stated that he viewed this meeting as an opportunity to get the topics and view the subcategories. Then the two groups would come back to meet one more time. Chairman Shickle polled the Board regarding the proposed guidelines. He asked ifthere was anything on the list of guiding concepts that should not be there. The Board consensus was for staff to move forward with the list of guiding concepts as a foundation. Commission Chairman DeHaven stated that one addition to the list would be rural design standards. Richie Wilkins appeared before the Board and Commission to discuss conservation easements and the need for the establishment of a conservation easement authority in Frederick County. He explained the tax credit and financial benefits of such a program and advised that a group of Frederick County citizens gathered about a month ago to begin preliminary discussions of establishing such a program. He advised that their discussions focused on the model currently being used in Clarke County. He then introduced Faye Cooper, Virginia Outdoors Foundation, Cathy Home, Valley Conservation Council, and Heather Richards, Potomac Conservancy, who were present to discuss conservation easements and purchase of development right programs. Chairman Shickle asked Administrator Riley to put together the pertinent information needed for establishing such a program. Administrator Riley advised that he would get the number of people interested in establishing Minute Book Number 29 Board of Supervisors Worksession with Planning Commission 05/11/04 495 this program, the necessary enabling legislation, etc. Ms. Cooper advised that there were currently nine conservation easements in Frederick County totaling 2,000 acres, with most of the acreage being Civil War Battlefields. The Board and Commission then heard a brief presentation from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, Potomac Conservancy, and Valley Conservation Council regarding easement and purchase of development rights programs. Faye Cooper, Virginia Outdoors Foundation, reviewed the conservation easement program. She advised that this was a voluntary program, which was flexible in design. The advantage was that the real estate remains on the County's tax rolls. Supervisor Tyler asked who would enforce the easements, etc. Ms. Cooper responded that the Virginia Outdoors Foundation was responsible for enforcement. Heather Richards, Potomac Conservancy, advised that the northern Shenandoah Valley was one of her group's focus areas. The Potomac Conservancy works in partnership with other non- profits and conducts landowner outreach programs. Cathy Home, Valley Conservation Council, advised that she has worked on purchase of development rights programs and created several ordinances and programs. She stated that purchase of development right programs show the County's support for agriculture, open space, and rural land and it is one of a variety of tools to control growth and preserve land the county feels is important. Chairman Shickle thanked Mr. Wilkins and the others for coming. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:15 P.M. " "- \2-. 0 Q ~----L0 Richard C. Shickle Chairman, Board of Supervisors Joh ley, Jr. , Clerk, Board of Sup' rvisors Minutes Prepared By: CJi JJi C '-f; U Jay . n'tibs Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors Minute Book Number 29 Board of Supervisors Worksession with Planning Commission 05/11/04