November 9 2020 Board Information Work Session Minutes 134
MINUTES
INFORMATION SESSION
FREDERICK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2020
7:00 P.M,
BOARD ROOM, COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
907 NORTH KENT STREET, WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA
ATTENDEES
Board of Supervisors: Charles S. DeHaven,Jr., Chairman; Blaine P. Dunn; and J, Douglas
McCarthy were present. Shawn L. Graber; Judith McCann-Slaughter; Gene E. Fisher and Robert
W. Wells were absent.
Planning Commission Members: Charles Triplett; Rhodes Marston; and John Jewell were
present.
Staff present: Mike Ruddy, Director of Planning; Mark Cheran, Zoning & Subdivision
Administrator; Mark Sutphin, Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources Horticulture;
Justin Kerns, Executive Director of Winchester-Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau;
and Ann W. Phillips, Deputy Clerk to the Board of Supervisors.
94N 9- DER
Supervisor Dunn and Supervisor McCarthy called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and
welcomed comments on farming sustainability in the community,
PINWORK
Sharon Mauzy said there is a need for more community Involvement among farmers and
help getting products to the market. She suggested the Extension office could be of more help as
It is in other communities getting agricultural products to market, She encouraged internships for
high school students, farm tours, biannual bulk produce sales, and a mechanism for Informing
others of land for lease.
Greg Mauzy noted the pressure for development of farmland with the urban developrient
plan adopted by the County in 1980.
Dudley Rinker said that if agriculture is profitable, there would be no worry of farmland
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135
being developed. He suggested using economic development funds to promote agriculture, adding
that in West Virginia, social media is used to bring agricultural tourists into the area.
John Gavitt said he is not a farmer but is interested in land preservation. He encouraged
the use of conservation easements and land use taxation.
Kitty Hockman-Nicholas said direct marketing is key and that retail sales are more
profitable for farmers than wholesale. She suggested that tourism and marketing need to be
promoted together. !
Paul Anderson said transferable development rights is great program and that easements
are a good option for those needing a tax write-off.
Justin Kerns of the Tourism Board spoke about options for promotion of agritourism in the
County and thanked the Board for the financial support it has given toward tourism.
Emily Warner of the Potomac Conservancy reviewed options for earning money in return
for permanently protecting land from development.
David Sparkman said retail marketing of farm products should be easy and suggested a
County Facebook page where farmers could post products for sale.
Dixie Schulen discussed increasing land values as threatening farming and suggested
promotion of farming, She described the process for getting a conditional use permit for an event
center as long and difficult.
Chelsea Layman discussed Waveland Farm's small event center operation saying the
conditional use permit route is too big for small centers that host only one or two events per year.
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Jordan Castile said the County Code has standards to help the Board approve
development and that subdivision property owners' associations can assist in restricting some
types of development that the Board may not be able to prohibit,
Cordell Watt referenced the five-acre minimum lot size saying the County had studied this
issue 12 years ago. He said the majority of the farmers present have not developed their land, but
they do not want to give up their rights to do so.
Tim Regan said the Board needs to work with the farmers to preserve farmland.
Bruce Welch discussed the assertion that it costs the County money when new homes are
built. He said a multifaceted approach including support of conservation easements is needed to
preserve the area's quality of life.
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Gourd of Supervisors information Session of November 9, 2020
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Cindy Layman referenced Waveland Farm saying the conditional use permit route is
difficult because they are one size fits all while event centers vary in size and complexity.
Mark Royal discussed park land and the possible County purchase of land for recreational
uses to aid in land preservation.
Claire Boyd discussed Increasing land values and asked that by-right uses and family use
subdivisions be left alone. She said family farms are essentially the retirement plan or pension of
farmers and that the County has not done a lot to promote farming. !
ADJOURN
The information session was adjourned at 9;00 p.m.
Charles S. DeHaven,Jr, Kris C. Tierney
Chairman, Board of Supervisors Clerk, Board of Supervisors
Minutes Prepared By;
Ann W. Phillips
Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors
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Board of Supervisors Information Session of November 9,2020
County of Frederick, Virginia