CPPC 05-08-00 Meeting Agendaf1L C�C)PA�-
COUNTY of FREDERICK
Department of Planning and Development
540/665-5651
FAX: 540/678-0682
MEMORANDUM
TO: Comprehensive Plans and Programs Subcommittee
Northeastern Land Use Study Liaisons
FROM: Evan A. Wyatt, Deputy Director
RE: May Meeting and Agenda
DATE: May 1, 2000
The Frederick County Comprehensive Plans and Programs Subcommittee (CPPS) will be meeting
on Monday, May 8, 2000 at 7:30 p.m. in the first floor conference room of the County
Administration Building, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, Virginia. The CPPS will discuss
the following agenda items:
AGENDA
1) Northeast Frederick Land Use Study - The CPPS will continue discussion and review of
information associated with the land use study. Staff will present mapping and related data
during the meeting for consideration by the CPPS.
2) Other.
Staff has been directed to advise all committee members and liaisons that access to the County
Administration Building for night meetings that do not occur in the Board Room will be limited
to the back door of the four-story wing. I would encourage committee members to park in the
county parking lot located behind the new addition or in the Joint Judicial Center parking lot
and follow the sidewalk to the back door of the four-story wing.
Please contact our department if you are unable to attend this meeting. Thank you.
C:\MyFiles\Backup\Agenda Information\CPPSMeetingAgenda050100.wpd
107 forth Kent Street • Winchester, Virginia 22601-5600
Northeastern Land Use Plan
Route 11 North Corridor Plan
In 1995, the Board of Supervisors and the Economic Development Commission identified a shortage
of available industrial sites with rail access, a vital element in recruiting potential industries. As a
result, the county initiated a search for potential locations for such uses. Numerous areas were
identified within the northeastern portion ofthe County along the Route 11 North corridor that could
be attractive sites for industrial development with rail access. As a result, the Board of Supervisors
directed the County's Comprehensive Plans and Programs Subcommittee (CPPS) to develop a land
use plan for the Route 11 North corridor from Interstate 81 Exit 317 to Exit 321,
In 1996, a land use plan for the Route I l North corridor from Interstate 81 Exit 317 to Exit 321 was
adopted by the Board of Supervisors. Approximately 3,200 acres of land was included within the
adopted study area boundary of the Route 11 North corridor which extended from Interstate 81 to
the west and the Hot Run, Hiatt Run, and Redbud Run drainage basins to the east. Portions of the
Stephenson Rural Community Center and the Clearbrook Rural Community Center were included
within the study area boundary. The Route 11 North Land Use Plan recommended industrial and
commercial development as the predominant land use within the study area boundary. New large-
scale residential development was not proposed as a component of the land use plan. Finally, a
Developmentally Sensitive Areas (DSA) designation was established to preserve and protect existing
residential land uses, historic features, and significant open space areas. The DSA was recommended
along the Route 11 North corridor, the Milburn Road corridor, and along the western segment of the
Old Charles Town Road corridor.
.Recent Issues
Development activity and land use speculation has occurred along the Route 11 corridor between
Interstate 81, Exit 321 and Exit 323 since the adoption of the north of the Route 11 North Land Use
Plan. Concerns expressed by county officials and citizens regarding various land use activities and
plans in this area led the Board of Supervisors to direct the CPPS to revisit the previously adopted
land use plan. The Board of Supervisors directed the CPPS to develop a land use plan which
expanded upon the Route I1 North plan to incorporate all land east of Interstate 81 between
Interstate 81 mile marker 316 and Interstate 81 Exit 323 to the Opequon Creek, as well as land on
the west side of Interstate 81 at Exit 321 and Exit 323.
Land Use Plan Objectives
The CPPS conducted two visioning meetings in January 2000 at the Stonewall Elementary School.
These meetings provided an opportunity for the CPPS to determine issues of importance to the
community and to familiarize participants with the process necessary to undertake a large -area land
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use study and develop a land use plan for the designated area. Participants were encouraged to vote
on identified issues and to submit comments associated with a prepared questionnaire. The CPPS
utilized this information to establish objectives for the Northeastern Land Use Plan,
Northeastem Land Use Plan Objectives
Policies
► Develop policies which provide for a balance of growth and preservation.
► Develop policies which prohibit higher density growth within defined portions of the
study area.
► Ensure that public water and sewer service with adequate capacity accompanies future
development proposals.
► Ensure that adequate Levels of Service for all road systems are maintained or are
achieved as a result of future development proposals.
► Apply appropriate quality design standards for future development within the study
area.
Land Use
► Concentrate industrial uses near major road and railroad transportation systems.
► Encourage industrial uses to locate within planned industrial parks.
► Provide for interstate business development opportunities on the eastern and western
sides of Interstate 81 interchanges.
► Concentrate business uses at strategic locations along the Route 11 North corridor.
► Discourage random business and industrial land uses along Route 11 that are
incompatible with adjacent existing land uses.
► Promote residential land uses within Rural Community Centers that are of comparable
scale to existing residential uses.
Transportation
Identify appropriate locations for signalized intersections to maintain or improve
Levels of Service.
Encourage central access points to industrial areas, minimizing new driveways and
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intersections with Route 11 North, Route 761, Route 664, Route 669, and Route 671.
► Encourage the expansion of Route 11 to a four -lane roadway.
► Determine appropriate locations for new connector roads within industrial and
commercial areas to minimize traffic impacts on Route 11 North and existing
secondary roads.
► Discourage new access along the historic Milburn Road corridor (Route 662).
Infrastructure
► Identify appropriate locations within the study area for inclusion in the Sewer and
Water Service Area (SWSA).
► Determine impacts of proposed future land uses on the Opequon Waste Water
Treatment Plant.
► Determine appropriate types of water and sewer systems to serve existing and
proposed land uses.
Historical
► Ensure that recommendations of Third Winchester Battlefield Preservation Plan are
implemented to the extent possible.
► Determine appropriate methods to protect significant historic areas and corridors that
are identified by the Battlefield Network Plan.
► Have the Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB) identify appropriate locations
to implement Developmentally Sensitive Ares (DSA) land use designations to protect
potentially significant historic resources as identified by the Frederick County Rural
Landmarks Survey.
Environmental
► Identify environmentally sensitive areas such as flood plains and steep slopes to ensure
that future land use impacts to these areas are minimized or avoided.
► Identify areas for agricultural and open space preservation.
► Encourage land preservation programs such as conservation easements, agricultural
and forestal districts, and public purchase of permanent easements.
Northeastern Land Use Plan
The Northeastern Land Use Plan is intended to expand upon, and supersede the Route 11 North Land
Use Plan which was adopted in 1996. The study area boundaries have been significantly expanded
to incorporate approximately 14,500 acres ofland between Interstate S 1, the West Virginia state line,
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the Opequon Creek, and the northern study area boundary limits of the Route 7 East Corridor Plan.
The revised study area boundary accounts for the entire acreage which comprised the Route 11 North
Land Use Plan.
The Northeastern Land Use Plan has been designed to provide for a balance of land uses which
includes industrial and commercial growth along the major road and railroad corridors, and the
preservation of rural areas and significant historic features within the study area boundaries. Future
land uses within the study area boundary should be sensitive to existing and planned land uses. The
land use plan has been designed to provide the opportunity to develop industrial and business uses
in a well-planned, coordinated manner.
Industrial land uses are proposed adjacent to the Winchester and Western Railroad in the southern
and northern portions of the study area, and adjacent to the CSX Railroad in the southern portion of
the study area and within the Stephenson Rural Community Center between Old Charles Town Road
(Route 761) and the Global Chemstone Quarry. Proposed industrial land uses should be developed
within master planned industrial parks which discourage individual lot access on the Martinsburg Pike
(Route 11 North) corridor. Industrial land uses should be adequately screened from adjoining land
uses to mitigate visual and noise impacts. Furthermore, industrial land uses should be planned to
provide greater setbacks and buffers and screening along Martinsburg Pike to enhance the appearance
of the corridor.
Business and commercial land uses are proposed along the Martinsburg Pike corridor, on the east and
west side of Interstate 81 Exits 317, 321, and 323, and within the southeastern portion of the Sewer
and Water Service Area (SWSA) near Old Charles Town Road (Route 761) and Milburn Road
(Route 662). It is envisioned that commercial land uses which cater to the interstate traveler will be
developed along the three Interstate 81 interchange areas, while retail, service, and office land uses
will occur along the Martinsburg Pike corridor and the southeastern portion of the SWSA. The
development of business and commercial land uses is encouraged at designated signalized road
intersections. All business and commercial uses are encouraged to provide inter -parcel connectors
to enhance accessibility between uses and reduce disruptions to primary and secondary road systems.
Additionally, business and commercial land uses which adjoin existing residential uses and significant
historic resources should be adequately screened to mitigate impacts.
The preservation and protection of significant historic resources, environmentally sensitive areas, and
open space areas is encouraged by this land use plan. The majority of the acreage within the study
area which comprises these features has been protected from industrial and commercial development
through its exclusion from the SWSA expansion. This acreage includes the core area of the Opequon
Battlefield (3`d Battle of Winchester); significant historic properties including Sulfer Spring Spa (34-
110), Cleridge (34-111), and Hackwood (34-134); the majority of the steep slope and mature
woodland areas; and all of the flood plain and wetland areas associated with Opequon Creek.
Significant historic resources including the core area of Stephensons Depot (2nd battle of Winchester),
Woodburn (34-102), Kenilworth (34-113), the Branson House (34-137), and the Milburn Road
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corridor (Route 662), and minor areas of steep slope and mature woodlands fall within the expanded
SWSA boundary. The land use plan incorporates a Developmentally Sensitive Areas (DSA)
designation to ensure that these features, as well as existing residential clusters and public land uses
are protected from future industrial and commercial development proposals. The DSA is a
community and historical preservation area; therefore, adjacent uses which are incompatible should
provide adequate buffers and screening. The DSA is intended to discourage any development along
the Milburn Road corridor and to promote a higher standard of development along the Martinsburg
Pike corridor where residential clusters and public land uses dominate. Development regulations
should be reviewed to ensure that they protect and promote a cohesive community environment
within the study area with special attention to the DSA, while providing flexibility to encourage high
quality development.
The expansion of the Urban Development Area (UDA)_ is not proposed within the land use study
boundary; therefore, higher density residential land use is not proposed. The CPPS considered the
allowance of residential land uses within the three Rural Community Centers (RCC); however, it was
determined that detailed studies of each RCC should occur before land use recommendations were
made for these areas. The CPPS recommended that future residential land use within the RCC should
only occur in conjunction with public water and sewer service, and should be compatible with existing
residential densities and lot sizes within each community center.
Northeastern Land Use Plan Infrastructure Components
The proposed industrial and commercial land uses identified in this land use plan are recommended
to be developed with public water and sewer service unless they are of a scale that can be served by
a conventional well and drain field system. Therefore, it is the recommendation of this land use plan
to not allow the use of public or private package treatment plants for future industrial and commercial
development. Furthermore, proposed industrial and commercial land use development should only
occur if impacted road systems function at a Level of Service (LOS) Category C or better. The
installation of public water and sewer infrastructure, the development of new road systems and new
signalization, and improvements to existing road systems will be the responsibility of private property
owners and developers, unless the Board of Supervisors determine that public private partnerships
are appropriate.
Transportation: Proposed industrial and commercial development within the land use plan
boundary will necessitate improvements to existing road systems and the
construction of new road systems. The land use plan provides for the general
location of new collector roads and signalized intersections to channel
vehicular traffic between key intersections throughout the study area. These
collector roads are intended to promote efficient traffic movement between
land uses, enhance safety by limiting individual commercial entrances and
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turning movements at random points, and preserve capacities on existing road
systems to ensure adequate levels of service. The general location of new
collector roads and new signalized intersections is depicted on the land use
plan map. The development of these transportation improvements will be
required as proposed industrial and commercial projects are realized.
Improvements to existing primary and secondary road systems will be
required throughout the study area. To ensure that these road improvements
occur, proposed developments should be expected to provide dedicated right-
of-ways and construct all improvements deemed necessary by the Virginia
Department of Transportation and the Board of Supervisors. Improvements
to the existing primary and secondary road systems include improving
Martinsburg Pike (Route 1 I North) to a four -lane facility, and improving the
width and geometrics of Rest Church Road (Route 669); Woodbine Road
(Route 669); Branson Spring Road (Route 668); Woodside Road (Route
671); Brucetown Road (Route 672); Stephenson Road (Route 664); and Old
Charles Town Road (Route 761).
A corridor has been reserved along the proposed alignment of Route 37 -
Alternative C; Phase IV. This corridor is flanked on either side by proposed
industrial and commercial land uses. The proposed industrial and commercial
land uses may provide an opportunity for the development of a future
interchange along the phase of the Route 37 corridor.
Water and Sewer: Proposed industrial and commercial development within the land use plan
boundary will be developed in conjunction with public water and sewer
infrastructure. Public water infrastructure exists within the study area along
Martinsburg Pike from the southern study area boundary to the intersection
with Interstate 81 Exit 321. This infrastructure extends to the east, following
portions of Stephensons Road (Route 664); Old Charles Town Road (Route
664); and Gun Club Road (Route 666). Currently, no public sewer
infrastructure exists within the study area boundary.
Currently, the Opequon Waste Water Treatment Plant (OWWTP) is the
closest treatment facility to the study area boundary. Utilization of the
OWWTP would require the development of pump stations and lift stations
throughout the study area. The proposed industrial and commercial land use
acreages have been compiled to determine the potential impacts to the
OWWTP capacities. The estimated development of these acreages
demonstrates that capacities at the OWWTP will be exceeded prior to the
buildout of these areas.
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The Board of Supervisors will need to work with the Frederick County
Sanitation Authority (FCSA) to determine appropriate methods for
establishing public water and sewer infrastructure with adequate capacities.
Appropriate methods may include partnerships and agreements with adjoining
localities to utilize existing infrastructure, the development of new treatment
facilities for water extraction and sewer treatment, or public private
partnerships to develop necessary infrastructure. It is recommended that a
plan for public water and sewer infrastructure be developed by the FCSA and
adopted within the Comprehensive Policy Plan by the Board of Supervisors
to coincide with this land use plan.
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