CEA_09-26-10_Meeting_Minutes•
MEETING MINUTES
OF THE
FREDERICK COUNTY CONSERVATION EASEMENT AUTHORITY
Held in the Executive Session Room of the Frederick County Administration Building at 107 North
Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia on September 22, 2010 at 8:00 a.m.
PRESENT: Diane Kearns, Chairman; Jim Lawrence, Treasurer; Robert Solenberger, Elaine Cain;
Todd Lodge; and Gene Fisher, Board of Supervisors Liaison.
ABSENT: Ritchie Wilkins, Vice - Chairman; John Marker; and Charles Triplett, Planning Commission
Liaison.
STAFF PRESENT: Eric R. Lawrence, CEA Secretary; and Bev Dellinger, Secretary 111.
OTHER: Sortis Pappas, Citizens Against PATH.
PUBLIC MEETING:
1. August 26, 2010 Meeting Minutes
On a motion made by Mr. Solenberger and seconded by Mr. Jim Lawrence, the August 26, 2010
minutes were approved, with one change initiated by Chairman Kearns.
2. Update on Potomac Allegheny Transmission Highline (PATH)
Mr. Eric Lawrence presented an update. On Monday, September 20 the PATH organization
submitted to the State Corporation Commission their application for approval. The information
provided by Mr. Lawrence in the agenda packet is consistent with what was submitted to the
State on September 20` The proposed location hasn't changed. The maps that are available to
the public are generalized so Mr. Alex Gray, of the Planning Department, and Mr. Lawrence
used the information they could find from PATH and their local knowledge and mapped it out.
PATH proposes to follow an existing power line corridor for the most part; they do deviate to go
around an existing conservation easement. They haven't acknowledged any of the rural
preservation lots, which are set -aside portions of rural preservation developments. It's important
to point out that the Board of Supervisors recently changed the Frederick County ordinance to
reflect 60% of a rural subdivision as preservation lots, with no development rights. Parcels that
Frederick County views as being important as preservation lots are not being acknowledged by
PATH.
Mr. Lawrence further stated that the basis for PATH is they need to provide a better network of
power. It doesn't stop in Frederick County; it's providing energy from the power plant in West
Virginia and it's working its way to the northeast area of the country. Frederick County doesn't
see a local benefit to our power grid. Based as it's coming through Frederick County, they're
proposing to be adjacent to the existing power corridor. As you come from the west, they're
going to have to expand the easement and, as they get to the eastern part of the County,
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September 22, 2010
they're going to do what they call double tracking, which means they're going to replace the
towers and go higher within the existing corridor. Basically, on Apple Pie Ridge and Welltown
Road east, they'll just put up larger, higher towers than what is currently there. In reading about
this project, Mr. Lawrence has found that whenever they have an area where they can't get
additional easement because of houses or some obstruction, they do what they call an alternative
jog, and they go north or south of it, or they jump from one side of the easement to the other.
At the State level, they're saying they want to follow this general location but they want the
flexibility of ten miles from the existing corridor. They already own the access, so the easiest
thing for them to do is to stay in the existing easement and put up the higher towers.
Mr. Lawrence stated that what he has been able to discern from the application is they feel
they've got a good argument for why we need power and the corridor they're looking at is one
least impacted. The application is a seven volume application and they only submitted one
volume to the County. Mr. Lawrence talked to our County attorney, Mr. Rod Williams,
yesterday about how to get the other six volumes because they haven't been responsive.
Chairman Kearns asked the relationship between TRAIL and PATH. Mr. Eric Lawrence
responded that TRAIL is 500 kv and PATH is 765 kv and'fRAIL is going to Northern Virginia.
Mr. Lawrence understands that once TRAIL is built and on line, they can install PATH, because
they're going to have to shut down the existing corridor that PATH is going to follow and re-
route the power through TRAIL to by -pass this area while they're building PATH. Mr. Fisher
stated that the big difference he sees between TRAIL and PATH is that TRAIL will benefit
southwestern Frederick County.
Chairman Kearns stated she understands the concept behind this, but we're setting ourselves up
for big problems in the future by not attempting to conserve on energy use.
Mr. Pappas gave members a hand -out, titled "Path is "Greed, Not Need!" He stated that
Pennsylvania stopped PATH to ten miles inside the border.
Chairman Kearns asked members if they would like to endorse the Resolution Opposing
Potomac Allegheny Transmission Highline that Mr. Eric Lawrence has prepared. Mr. Jim
Lawrence made a motion to support the Resolution. Mr. Solenberger seconded the motion and
the vote was unanimous for approval.
Chairman Kearns stated the Federal Government gave PATH the authority to get a 14% profit
off of this project, and that's where we need to try to stop them. It's all about money and if
they're not guaranteed a certain percentage on the project, we may be able to stop them.
3. Fundraising Efforts
a. VDACS FV2011 Matching Grant Application
Chairman Kearns told members that the State has more money to grant than they
anticipated. Unfortunately, she didn't find out until just recently. Chairman Kearns feels
it would be a good idea to publicize this fact, even though Frederick County is not able to
contribute any funds toward purchasing the Hill High easement, which has approval from
FRPP and becomes void in March, 2011.
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September 22, 2010
• Mr. Eric Lawrence stated that the FRPP program does not require County funds; it just
requires a $130,000 match. The VDACS program requires County funds. At this point,
VDACS has only $100,000 to split among 18 jurisdictions with programs that qualify.
Mr. Jim Lawrence feels that with the VDACS time -frame, it's an exercise in futility. But
maybe the CEA can forward a memo that points out what the leveraging opportunities are
with this type funding for the future.
Mr. Fisher thinks this is a positive point. If the CEA can get funds through fundraising
activities, it's more palatable for the Board of Supervisors to contribute funds. Mr. Fisher
suggested that CEA members take the opportunity to talk with Board members, giving
them information and answering questions they may have. Individual contact allows an
exchange of thoughts.
b. GIFT — G ive $ for _Frederick's T omorrow
Chairman Kearns brought a bundle of rack cards and encouraged members to take some
for placement in businesses.
4. Next Meeting Date October 28, 2010
5. Other
Chairman Kearns stated that Ms. Kelly Watkinson of the Potomac Conservancy has a meeting to
education the public on what their special designation areas are scheduled for tomorrow night in
Star Tannery at the Volunteer Fire Department from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:40 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Diane Kearns. Chairman
Eric R. Lawrence, CEA Secretary
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September 22, 2010