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HRAB 09-17-19 Meeting MinutesFrederick County Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB) September 17, 2019 Board of Supervisors Executive Session Room of the County Administrative Building 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, VA Members Present: Straub, Molden, Rush, Crawford and Cantu Members Absent: Oldham, Meadows, Powers and O’Neil Staff Present: Candice Perkins and Maral Kalbian Agenda Items: Call to order at 6:00 p.m. Item 1: Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman – Oldham (Chairman), Crawford (Vice-Chairman) Item 2: August 2018 Minutes - approved Item 2: Review of a Conditional Use Permit for commercial outdoor shooting range located at 6519 Valley Pike, Middletown. The Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB) considered the above referenced Conditional Use Permit application during their meeting on September 17, 2019. The HRAB reviewed information associated with the Rural Landmarks Survey, information from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR) and information provided by the Applicant. The Applicant seeks to operate a commercial outdoor shooting range located at 6519 Valley Pike in Middletown. The Study of Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley published by the National Park Service Study of Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley does not identify any battlefields within this area. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources identifies three mapped sites within the immediate area of the subject site: 034-0075 – Stickley House – onsite (potentially significant), 034-0260 – Vaucluse – 6470 Valley Pike (potentially significant), 034-0261 – House, 6579 Valley Pike and 034- 0080 – Indian Spring (potentially significant). Historic Resources Advisory Board Comments: The HRAB questioned the Applicant on their proposal for the house on the site, the Applicant stated that they plan on utilizing it for classrooms but that the house is in very poor shape. The Applicant also stated that they plan on 16-foot rear berms and 8-foot side berms. One member stated that they had concern about the value of historic properties surrounding this being impacted. Members also asked about the applicants plans for noise abatement and whether they had talked to the neighbors about this proposal Members further stated this could impact properties ability to list on the state/federal registries. Indian Springs is a very historic property in Frederick county. This was one of the sons-in-law of Jost Hite, the house it is extremely intact, and the setting is intact. The Stickley House is also possibly eligible for the registries. You look at direct affect, direct impact of a project - also visual and what you can hear. This would be considered a negative impact on historic properties. The Stickley house has significance, collection of buildings together, historic landscapes, historic train station, historic collection of Vaulculse. Concern was expressed regarding the following impacts on surrounding historic properties: • Impact on future applications for state/federal registries for structures. • Impact on the rural environment and the impact on future applications for historic districts. • Concern about the eroding of the historic integrity of this area. • Noise impact on properties surround the proposed use. • Noise impact on historic properties that hold outdoor events. HRAB members also discussed the need that does exist for this use, the fact that there are powerlines and a large substation near this use, the poor condition of some of the historic structures in this area, the Applicant’s ability to mitigate noise from the use. After reviewing this information and the Applicant’s materials and proposals, the Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB) ultimately did not support the approval of the Conditional Use Permit as presented. The HRAB expressed concern with the visual and noise impact this would have on the historic adjoining and surrounding properties. It was further noted that this area has a relatively intact collection of historic structures and could potentially qualify as a rural historic community. Meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.