HRABMinutes2024May17Frederick County Historical Resources Advisory Board (HRAB)
May 17, 2024
First Floor Conference Room of the County Administrative Building
107 North Kent Street, Winchester, VA
Members Present: Nicholas Powers, Lucas Cook, Steve Cantu, and Jack Owens
Members Absent: Dr. Robert Meadows, Dana Newcomb, Robert Molden, Gary Crawford, and David
Sforza
Others Present: Maral Kalbian, Amy Feltner, Wyatt Pearson, Tyler Stine (CUP applicant), Robert Sproul
(Harrison & Johnston, Plc.)
Agenda Items:
Call to order at 10:00 a.m.
Item 1: Election of Officers
The HRAB committee shall elect a Chair and Vice-Chair at the first meeting held each year. Nicholas
Powers nominated Lucas Cook to fill the Chair position. Steve Cantu seconded. All were in favor.
Lucas Cook nominated Nicholas Powers to remain as Vice-Chair. Jack Owens seconded. All were in favor.
Lucas Cook motioned to move the discussion of the CUP prior to other business matters, followed by
acceptance of the meeting minutes. The motion was approved by all members.
Item 2: Review of 171 Old Firehouse Lane Conditional Use Permit Application
Tyler Stine addressed the committee about the intended operations for a landscaping business.
Firehouse lane is a shared drive that is also accessed by the Fox Meadow event center and the
Independent School of Winchester (old Round Hill Fire Hall). He continually provides dust mitigation
efforts for the safety and wellbeing of the school children. The applicant plans to convert the existing
house into an office for two employees and utilize the existing graveled parking area for outdoor storage
and equipment/vehicle parking. The maximum of 25 vehicles were requested to allow for future
expansion. Although the roof top is the only visible feature to the adjacent dwellings, the applicant
intends on installing a berm with plantings to further screen the property. The business would not be
opened to the public for private sales. Robert Sproul stated the operation will have no impact on the
adjacent areas and asked the committee to recommend approval. Wyatt Pearson explained the business
has been in operation for more than a year at 171 Old Firehouse lane under a violation. Any adverse
impacts would have surfaced. The Board of Supervisor ’s approval of the Conditional Use Permit (CUP)
would resolve the active violation.
The four adjacent dwellings were discussed, and the Committee requested a mix of plantings opposed to
monotype of plantings.
Jack Owens motioned to recommend approval. Steve Cantu seconded. All were in favor.
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Item 3: Minutes
Steve Cantu motioned to approve the November 21, 2023, minutes. Nicholas Powers seconded. The
minutes were approved unanimously.
Item 4: Review and Update Bylaws
The changes to the bylaws were discussed. Lucas Cook stated the reference in the bylaws to the
Formulating Good Recommendations was a great tool in assisting and guiding the committee members
in making decisions. Maral Kalbain noted that the document was still relevant.
Nicholas Powers motioned to approve the bylaw changes. Steve Cantu seconded. All were in favor.
Item 5: Historic Plaque Program
Maral Kalbain stated the information in V-CRIS is based on the information provided to the County by
herself through the 1999 book, The Frederick County History through Architecture. Historical structures
are required to be over 50 years old to meet the historical designation, the V-CRIS information is 40 years
old which is outdated. A new survey is warranted but will be costly.
Maral Kalbain suggested requesting funds from the Board of Supervisors to reestablish the plaque
program. Staff will research the appropriate avenue for this request. Additional areas that the
committee can investigate are grants. Maral Kalbain stated grants must be specific, for example, the
Revolutionary War era or a specific area of the county. The committee felt that battlefields should not
be the focus. Jack Owens will reach out to the Historic Conservation Easement foundation for
information and advice to acquire funding. Staff will research the cost of a single plaque, as requested,
to establish a basis for funding to continue the plaque program.
The committee will discuss the funding options for the Historic Plaque Program at the next scheduled
meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:02 a.m.
Nicholas Powers motioned to adjourn the meeting. Steve Cantu seconded.
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