HRAB 08-16-22 Meeting MinutesFrederick County Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB)
August 16, 2022
First Floor Conference Room of the County, Administrative Building
107 North Kent Street, Winchester, VA
Members Present: Gary Crawford, Steve Cantu, Dana Newcomb, Nicholas Powers, and Lucas Cook
Members Absent: Christopher Oldham, Robert Meadows, Scott Straub, and Robbie Molden
Staff Present: Wyatt Pearson, Kayla Peloquin, and Maral Kalbian
Agenda Items:
Call to order at 6:00 p.m.
Item 1: Minutes
Steve Cantu made a motion to approve the minutes of the July 19, 2022 HRAB meeting. Dana
Newcomb seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Item 2: Review of Middletown LLC Rezoning Application
The HRAB considered the Middletown LLC rezoning application for 101.25 acres from RA (Rural Areas)
to M1 (Light Industrial) in the Back Creek Magisterial District. The subject parcel is located
approximately 3,000’ north of the Middletown Corporate limits and is bound on the western side by
Valley Pike (Route 11) and is bound on the eastern side by Interstate 81. Middletown Elementary
School is directly south of the parcel, and Mustang Lane, which is fully encompassed by the property,
provides sole access to the school.
Chris Mohn with Greenway Engineering, who is representing the applicant, noted that the proposed
rezoning aligns with the Eastern Frederick County Long Range Land Use Plan which designates the
parcel as mixed-use industrial/office. Chris Mohn said a mix of land uses will be sought within the
allowed uses of the M1 zoning district, such as a combination of manufacturing, industrial uses, and
office space.
There was a discussion on the proposed 11.2 acres for a public use area in a manner determined by
Frederick County as well as the extensive tree save areas and other proffers.
Chris Mohn shared photographs of the interior and exterior of the Jeff Henson house that was likely
constructed in the late 1800’s or early 1900’s. The structure is in poor condition and has been
renovated at some point, however the interior is has deteriorated throughout many years of being
uninhabited. The HRAB determined there is no compelling reason to preserve the Jeff Henson house,
which will be demolished as part of the project.
Due to the significance of Route 11 as a heavily traveled corridor throughout the Civil War and the
location of the site within the core area boundary of the Battle of Cedar Creek, there was a discussion
on the best way to capture the magnitude of these events through signage in the public use area.
Lucas Cook made a motion to recommend the applicant consider proffering the installation cost for
interpretive signage to be installed at a later time. The signs should capture the history of the area
prior to and including the Civil War (Battle of Cedar Creek, Sheridan’s Ride, and any other noteworthy
historical context of the area). Steve Cantu seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:59 p.m.