HRAB 01-16-07 Meeting MinutesFrederick County Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB)
January 16, 2007
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, Martin Killingbeck, Maral
Kalbian (Consultant), Gary Oates (Planning Commission Liaison).
Members Absent: Virginia McClure, Mary Turner.
Staff- Kevin Henry- Planning Technician, Lauren Krempa, Zoning Inspector
Agenda Items: September 2006 Minutes, November 2006 Minutes, and I-81 Distribution
Center rezoning proposal (Triad Engineering).
Other: Willa Cather grant possibilities.
The meeting began at 6:30 P.M. The first item of the agenda was the election of officers.
The first nominations were for the Chairman seat. Ms. Fravel nominated Chairman Kriz,
which was seconded by Mr. Killingbeck. Chairman Kriz was unanimously reappointed
Chairman of the HRAB. The HRAB decided to hold the election of Vice -Chairman until
next month to allow for more voting members to be present for nominations. The final
nomination was for Secretary, which Mr. Henry was unanimously reappointed.
Both the September 2006 and November 2006 minutes were unanimously approved with
an amended change to the November 2006 minutes that included a notation in regards to
the viewshed preservation of Spring Hill in Winchester. The City of Winchester was
dually notified of the rezoning request and additions were made to the minutes.
The third item on the agenda for the meeting was for the HRAB to evaluate the I-81
Distribution Center rezoning proposal. The application was represented by Triad
Engineering who made a brief presentation on the rezoning and then asked for questions
from the HRAB. Ms. Kalbian specifically inquired about the determination of the
Nathaniel Branson House being ineligible for state registry. Ms. Kalbian suggested that
the owner fill out a Preliminary Information Form (PIF) to help determine the eligibility
of this structure for state recognition because she disagreed with the determination the
applicant had made on the rezoning proposal. Ms. Kalbian went on to say that the last
time a survey was conducted on the Nathaniel Branson House was 1990, at which time
the structure received a relatively high rating, 4/5. As a final suggestion for this structure,
Ms. Kalbian suggested that the applicant should preserve this structure for an office use
related to the Distribution Center.
Chairman Kriz asked the applicant to describe what environmental assessments have
been done on the property. Mr. Dunlap, of Triad Engineering stated that a Phase I
environmental assessment had been done, which seeks to find hazardous materials or
other intrusive materials.
Ms. Kalbian mentioned that protection of the property (Alexander Branson) across Route
11 needs to be taken into consideration. Mr. Lawson, attorney representing Triad, stated
that the applicant would be willing to place a landscaped berm along Route 11 to help
avoid negative impact on the viewshed of the Alexander Branson House.
Representatives from Triad Engineering pointed out that the large industrial building to
be constructed would be an attractive fagade.
The HRAB recommended that the applicant provide a PIF for the Nathaniel Branson
House and viewshed protection for the Alexander Branson House across Route 11, by
placing a landscaped berm on the applicant's side of the Route 11 (western side).
Before closure of the meeting Staff went over projects in the works. The possibility of a
grant for the Willa Cather birthplace will be researched and presented at the next
meeting. Some closing thoughts were given by Commissioner Oates in lieu of the I-81
Distribution Center proposal, in that the HRAB or the Comprehensive Plan & Programs
Subcommittee needs to closely look at the Martinsburg Pike design standards, with
respect to historical properties/structures.
There being no other business the HRAB adjourned at 7:45 P.M.