HRAB 11-21-06 Meeting MinutesFrederick County Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB)
November 21, 2006
Held in the Board of Supervisors Executive Session Room of the County
Administrative Building at 107 N. Kent Street, Winchester, VA.
Members Present: Rhoda Kriz (Chairman), Elizabeth Fravel, Mara] Kalbian (Consultant),
Gary Oates (Planning Commission Liaison).
Members Absent: Martin Killingbeck, Felicia Hart, Virginia McClure, Mary Turner.
Staff: Kevin Henry- Planning Technician
Agenda Items: September 2006 Minutes, Star Fort application grant, and Willow Run
rezoning proposal (Greenway Engineering).
Other: Allegheny Powerlines through Back Creek Magisterial District.
The meeting began at 6:30 P.M. without a quorum. Since there were only two voting
members present, the September 2006 minutes could not be approved.
The second order of business on the agenda was to inform the HRAB of a grant
application for Star Fort that will be presented to the Board of Supervisors in December.
The HRAB had no comments for the grant application and were pleased that Star Fort
would be receiving a grant to help implement the previously approved management plan
from 1999.
The third item on the agenda for the meeting was for the HRAB to revaluate the Willow
Run rezoning proposal that was previously on the agenda in October 2005. Staff
explained to the HRAB the reason for the proposals second appearance was due to drastic
changes in the land uses, specifically in areas effecting historical properties.
Mr. Evan Wyatt representing Greenway Engineering explained to the HRAB that this
rezoning proposal was more oriented towards the county's vision of the Urban
Development Area (UDA), by creating a mixed use community. Mr. Wyatt had
addressed a previous comment from the HRAB with respect to providing landscaping
along Cedar Creek Grade to help screen the Homespun historical property.
Most of the HRAB's focus of comments was related to the #740 and #750 Houses. The
#750 House has been eligible for the National registry since 1993. The new rezoning
proposal has changed the land use where these particular properties are located to
commercial and single family residences, instead of green open space as it was in the
previous application. Though buffering for these properties is not within the proffers,
Mr. Wyatt stated that buffering options would be displayed in the Master Development
Plan (MDP). The HRAB expressed great concern in the appropriateness of placing
intrusive land uses next to historic structures without proper mitigation. From this
conversation the HRAB recommended that the viewsheds for the #740 and #750 Houses
be established in way that does not negatively affect the historic value of the two
properties.
Ms. Kalbian suggested that the property owners should be informed by staff of the
possible preservation easement opportunities. The HRAB concurred and felt that Staff
should setup a meeting with the property owners and appropriate conservation related
staff to provide a better understanding of the opportunities outside the rezoning.
Ms. Fravel mentioned that there were no proffers associated with archeological features
of the property. In the previous proposal the applicant had not properly addressed
archeology on the site. Therefore, the HRAB agreed to submit the same comment from
the previous meeting in that the applicant needed to further address archeological and
environmental characteristics of the site.
The HRAB decided to proceed and provide the Planning Commission with all previous
comments as well as the need to provide view -shed protection for the #740 and #750
Houses, conservation easement information conveyance to the property owners, and
further archeological surveys.
The HRAB was then given a brief overview from Staff and Commissioner Oates of a
rezoning request that will be taking place on a Civil War site just South of Redbud Road.
The rezoning request (RP (Residential Performance) _> RA (Rural Areas)) is being made
to help further ensure preservation of this site. The HRAB did not have any comments
for the rezoning and were satisfied to see a project that will provide a large tract of land
towards historical preservation.
The final item of the evening was for the HRAB to review the Allegheny Power Line
proposal through the Back Creek Magisterial District. Staff provided a map with current
lines as well as the identified potentially significant historical properties with I/4 mile
buffers. Staff had suggested the HRAB provide the same comments as they did for the
Opequon Magisterial District portion of the line extension by placing I/4 mile buffers
around the potentially significant properties. The HRAB concurred and felt that any of
the properties on the National registry should provide a %2 mile buffer of protection.
There being no other business the HRAB adjourned at 8:15 P.M.