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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC_10-19-94_Meeting_MinutesMEETING MINUTES OF THE FREDERICK COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION Held in the Board Room of the Old Frederick County Court House in Winchester, Virginia on October 19, 1994. PRESENT: Planning Commissioners present were: James W. Golladay, Jr., Chairman; S. Blaine Wilson, Shawnee District; Marjorie H. Copenhaver, Back Creek District; Terry Stone, Gainesboro District; John H. Light, Stonewall District; Charles S. DeHaven, Jr., Stonewall District; Robert A. Morris, Shawnee District; Richard C. Shickle, Gainesboro District; Roger L. Thomas, Opequon District; George L. Romine, Citizen at Large; and Robert M. Sager, Board Liaison. Planning Staff present: W. Wayne Miller, Zoning Administrator; and Kris C. Tierney, Deputy Planning Director. ABSENT: John R. Marker, Vice Chairman /Back Creek District; Vincent DiBenedetto, Winchester City Liaison CALL TO ORDER Chairman Golladay called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. BIMONTHLY REPORT Chairman Golladay accepted the Bimonthly Report for the Commission's information. COMMITTEE REPORTS Comprehensive Plan - 10/10/94 Mt?. Mrs. Copenhaver reported that the CP &PS reviewed the Corridor Road Plan which will become part of the Comprehensive Plan. She said that they also discussed a proposed use for Gore School. 3883 ra Economic Development Commission Mr. Romine reported that the EDC received a discussion from a Dowell J. Howard representative concerning technical high schools. Mr. Romine said there is interest in establishing one in this area. SUBDIVISIONS: Subdivision Application #007 -94 of Harry Stimpson to subdivide 14.9277 acres for a proposed motel. This property is identified as PIN 85 -A -146 and 146A and is located on the west side of Town Run Lane (Rt. 1012), south of Fairfax Pike (Rt. 277), East of the Town of Stephens City Mr. Miller said that the proposed subdivision of 1.5152 acres from a larger tract of 14.9304 acres meets all the requirements of the zoning and subdivision ordinances. He said that the staff is recommending that the master plan requirement be waived. The Commissioners questioned whether there would be enough room on a one and a half acre parcel to place a motel and parking. Mr. Stephen M. Gyurisin with G.W. Clifford & Associates was present to represent this application. Mr. Gyurisin said that the site is adequate to handle the proposed 70- unit motel with on -site parking. The Commission expressed concern that with all the development along Route 641, and now at Route 1012, there was going to be a need for a road south of the Route 277 corridor, to serve Ridgefield, The Meadows, and the Stephens Ridge subdivisions. They did not have a problem with this particular proposal, because there was a traffic light to control traffic, however, they felt that some egress and ingress was needed for people back in that area. There were no citizen comments. Upon motion made by Mr. Thomas and seconded by Mr. Romine, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does hereby unanimously approve Subdivision Application #007 -94 of Harry Stimpson to subdivide 14.9277 acres for a proposed motel on the west side of Town Run Lane (Route 1012) in the Opequon Magisterial District. 3884 tl Subdivision Application #008 -94 of C_ Douglas Adams to subdivide 9.552 acres for a proposed office building located in the Shawnee District and identified as PIN #64 -A- 45G. This property is located on the north side of Airport Road (Rt. 645), West of the Winchester Regional Airport, and adjacent to Project Hope. Action - Approved Mr. Miller said that the proposed use is a child services center. Mr. Sam Sabbaugh, President of the Children's Services of Virginia, explained that a private child - placing agency places children who need to be away from their own homes into therapeutic foster homes. He said that families who are interested in working with a needy child apply to his agency and if the family has the proper credentials, the child services center places the child with the family. Mr. Sabbaugh said that the Children's Services of Virginia contracts through public agencies, such as the Department of Social Services or the courts, they obtain custody of the child, and then place the child in one of their many foster homes throughout Virginia. He said that their office would be occupied by social workers, administrators, and therapists (6 -8 people) who will work with the children and the families. Mr. Sabbaugh added that no children would stay at this location. Mr. Sabbaugh also explained that they are licensed by the State of Virginia to operate throughout Virginia and they will serve the entire commonwealth, however, the families are situated within a 100 miles radius. The Planning Commission felt this subdivision was in conformance with the approved master plan for the Airport Business Center and felt that the request met all the requirements of the zoning and subdivision ordinances. Upon motion made by Mr. Wilson and seconded by Mr. Thomas, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does hereby unanimously approve Subdivision Application #008 -94 of C. Douglas Adams for the subdivision of a 1.500 acre parcel off a 9.552 acre tract for the establishment of a child services center. DISCUSSION REGARDING RECREATIONAL VEHICLES IN FLOOD PLAINS Mr. Miller said that on May 19, 1994, Mr. William A. Kalberer, a FEMA inspector, identified a potential violation on the North South Skirmish Association's (NSSA) site. He said that Mr. Kalberer identified recreational vehicles within the floodplain portion of the property and Mr. Kalberer was also informed that some of the recreational vehicles remain in the floodplain area for extended periods of time. 3885 H Mr. Miller said that Frederick County amended its Zoning Ordinance on August 12, 1992 to ensure compliance with FEMA regulations and Section 165 -106F of the ordinance prohibits recreational vehicles within floodplain districts. Mr. Miller said that these amendments were necessary to enable Frederick County to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. Mr. Miller stated that the Development Review and Regulations Subcommittee (DRRS) discussed this issue and considered two options. The first option was to enforce the current requirements and the second option would allow recreational vehicles provided that certain performance standards were met. Those conditions were: 1) the recreational vehicle is fully licensed; 2) the recreational vehicle is installed on wheels and ready for highway use; 3) the recreational vehicle is attached to the site only by quick disconnect type utilities and security devices; 4) the recreational vehicle has no permanently attached additions. The Commissioners felt that the NSSA was a tremendous resource to the County for tourism and economic development. As long as the amendment followed State regulations, they were interested in accommodating this organization. Chairman Golladay instructed the staff to proceed with advertising the amendment for the Commission's next public hearing. REQUEST FOR SUPPORT OF PROPOSAL TO DESIGNATE ROUTE 55 AS A VIRGINIA BYWAY Mr. Tierney presented a letter and supporting materials from John R. Davy, Jr., of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, to John R. Riley, Jr., Frederick County Administrator, requesting the County's support for the proposal to designate Route 55 as a Virginia Byway. Although there were no restrictions attached to designating a scenic byway, the Commission felt that it would he used by special interest groups as an argument to prevent certain proposals involving the highway. The Commission also pointed out that Route 55 was a heavily traveled road and they were concerned about encouraging tourism along the road for safety reasons. Upon motion made by Mr. Light and seconded by Mr. Wilson, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does not endorse the proposal to designate Route 55 as a Virginia Byway. 3886 5 PROPOSED MULTIFAMILY USE OF GORE SCHOOL Mr. Tierney said that the Board of Supervisors has received a bid for the sale of Gore School which contains a caveat that the purchaser be permitted to convert the building to multi - family housing. He said that the Board asked the staff to look into what would be involved if this offer were to be accepted. Mr. Tierney said that in light of specific statements in the Comprehensive Plan, it was the staffs opinion that multifamily housing would not be appropriate for the school or for the Gore area in general. He said that first, there is no public sewer or water supply to accommodate such a use and second, rezoning to RP (Residential Performance) in the absence of public facilities would contradict established policies. He stated that there is language in the Comprehensive Plan stating that appropriate business uses would be acceptable and the staff feels that a B2 (Business General) use would be more appropriate than multifamily housing. The Commission felt that the $50,000.00 that the County would receive for the sale of the school would not compensate for the consequences of violating the Comprehensive Plan and the precedent situation that would be set. Upon motion made by Mrs. Copenhaver and seconded by Mr. Morris, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does not endorse the rezoning the Gore School from RA (Rural Areas) to RP (Residential Performance) to accommodate multi - family use because it would violate policies set forth in the Comprehensive Plan. The vote on this resolution was as follows: YES (DO NOT ENDORSE MULTI - FAMILY USE OF GORE SCHOOL): DeHaven, Morris, Thomas, Romine, Wilson, Copenhaver, Light, Stone NO• Shickle, Golladay (Mr. Marker was absent) 3887 ADJOURNMENT No other business remained to be discussed and the meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Robe r Watkins, Secretary Ja s W. Golladay, Jr., hair 3888