HRAB 06-16-20 Meeting MinutesFrederick County Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB)
June 16, 2020
Board of Supervisors Room of the County, Administrative Building
107 North Kent Street, Winchester, VA
Agenda Items:
Call to order at 6:00 p.m.
Item 1: May 2020 Minutes - approved
Item 3: Review of a Conditional Use Permit for Bartonsville Energy Facility
The Frederick County Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB) considered the above referenced
Conditional Use Permit application during their meeting on June 16, 2020. The HRAB reviewed
information from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR) and information provided by the
Applicant. This application seeks to construct a utility scale solar project located on 68 parcels of land
that total 957 acres. The project will consist of rows of ground-mounted photovoltaic modules,
commonly known as solar panels. The site is located along Passage Road and Springdale Road, west of
the CSX corridor and the Town of Stephens City.
The HRAB reviewed information associated with the applicants HRAB and CUP application, the
applicant’s Assessment and Probability Analysis, Impact Analysis Statement, and preliminary site
plan.
The following historic resources are located on the subject site:
#034-1078 Cherry Dale (Mary Stephens House) – located on site – 74-A-20 - Eligible for
listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)
• Survey Area 2 has a structure (labeled building 1) that is not mapped.
o Building 1 is located in the southern portion of the APE and consists of a series of
collapsed buildings. Investigators did identify a potential residence, barn, and
several collapsed outbuildings. The property is in the relative mapped location of
the building attributed to R. R. Turner on the 1885 atlas (see Figure 13). No
evidence of the adjacent building depicted on the early twentieth century
quadrangles was noted during the reconnaissance. (Phase 1A survey - see page 22
for text and appendix C for photograph).
The following historic resources are located adjacent or within the vicinity of the subject site
(buffer area as described in the Applicant’s Phase 1A survey):
• #034-0071 – Rice Robinson House
#034-0083 - Carter Hall - Eligible for listing in the NRHP
#034-1044 – Willow Grove - Located adjacent to the area of potential affect (APE)
#034-0007 – Kernstown Battlefield - Eligible for listing in the NRHP
Historic Resources Advisory Board Comments:
The HRAB questioned the Applicant on their proposal and requested clarification on the following:
• Type of buffering proposed and whether it would look unnatural, the use of a mixture of
vegetation types could be utilized to ensure a more natural vegetative buffer. Enhanced
buffering was encouraged along Carter hall, like the buffer proposed for the substation.
• The HRAB questioned the applicant if they had had researched the eligibility of this area being
a rural historic district and if this proposal would impact the ability for a district. It was noted
that this would impact the ability, however in the future if the facility is removed the area may
be eligible again.
• It was noted that the Phase 1 survey may show more significant features – that the survey would
document the collection of historic structures on and around this proposal. The HRAB requested
that the applicant study the ability for this area to become a rural historic district and determine
if the structures onsite (Building 1 and associated structures within survey area 2) are potentially
significant
After reviewing the information provided, the Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB)
recommended approval of the CUP with the following comments:
• The buffers around the historic resources should contain a mixture of evergreen plant species
to ensure a natural appearing vegetative buffer.
• An enhanced buffer along Carter Hall should be provided; similar to the buffer surrounding
the proposed substation.
• A Phase 1 Archeological Survey will be completed as part of the permitting of this project.
This survey should document the collection of historic structures on and around this
development.
o This survey should determine if the structures onsite (Building 1 and associated
structures within survey area 2) are potentially significant.
o This survey should determine if this area would qualify as a rural historic district.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.