HomeMy WebLinkAboutTCAgenda2025January271.Adoption of Agenda
2.Welcome and Introductions
3.Route 277 Speed Limit Reduction Request
3.A.Route 277 Speed Limit Reduction Request
4.Projects Summary
4.A.Projects Summary
5.SmartScale Update
5.A.SmartScale Update
6.County Project Updates
6.A.County Project Updates
7.Other
7.A.Contractors Update
7.B.Transit Discussion Update
AGENDA
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2025
8:30 AM
FIRST-FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM
FREDERICK COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA
TC01-27-25Route277SpeedLimitReductionRequest.pdf
TC01-27-25ProjectsSummary.pdf
TC01-27-25SmartScaleUpdate.pdf
TC01-27-25CountyProjectUpdates.pdf
TC01-27-25Other.pdf
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Transportation Committee
Agenda Item Detail
Meeting Date: January 27, 2025
Agenda Section: Route 277 Speed Limit Reduction Request
Title: Route 277 Speed Limit Reduction Request
Attachments:
TC01-27-25Route277SpeedLimitReductionRequest.pdf
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December 18, 2024
Barbara Pierce and Gary Arghyris
Shenandoah Sheds, LLC and Pad Prep, LLC
1518 and 1500 Fairfax Pike
White Post, VA 22663
sra63beach@yahoo.com
To: FCVA Transportation Committee; Staff Liaison & Planning Assistant Director Mr. Bishop, AICP
Cc: FCVA Sheriff Milholland; VDOT Mr. Stevens, PE, Mr. Spielman, LDE;
FCVA Economic Development Authority; County Administrator Mr. Bollhoefer; Opequon Supervisor Mr. Wells
Re: Seeking committee support & referrals to Sheriff’s Office, VDOT & BOS for eastward expansion of Rt. 277’s 45 MPH zone
Zoning Map
Speed Limit Transition Area 1256 Fairfax Pike
https://www.virginiaroads.org/datasets/vdot-posted-speed-limits/explore?location=39.074455%2C-78.171325%2C17.91
Future Land Use with SWSA, Eastern Road Plan and Trails
https://fredcogis.fcva.us/FrederickCountyGIS/
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Introduction
We’re writing in support of both road safety and fostering the implementation of FCVA’s
Comprehensive Plan such that commercial entrance spacing promotes C&I uses without
infringing upon the development potential of adjoining parcels.
We believe there may already be ample public safety support from our neighbors and law enforcement
to initiate and possibly replicate the processes by which Back Mountain Road’s speed limit was reduced
from 55 to 45 MPH. https://fclfweblinkpub.fcva.us/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=43400&dbid=0&repo=Frederick-County-Admin
And while we support and congratulate the county and the developers for accomplishing the first two
C&I projects’ rezonings of road-fronting parcels from RA to M1 in this 55 MPH area, we’re asking your
committee to consider if law enforcement, road safety, all C&I land use developers and the rights of
adjoining and nearby parcel owners may benefit significantly from expanding the existing 45 MPH zone
eastward by at least 0.6 to 0.9 mile.
§ 165-202.03 Motor vehicle access. https://ecode360.com/8707988
The committee may learn that about 2 to 3 years ago, before approvals of the M1 rezonings and
a change in future land use added a Neighborhood Village, VDOT was satisfied with the 55
MPH conditions at that time. With changes underway, please consider if support from the
committee for an eastward expansion of a 45 MPH speed limit might make agreeable TIAs less
challenging for VDOT (image below from an unrelated project.) We suspect that VDOT’s
Access Management policies are, and will continue to be, integral to aligning C&I land uses,
safely increasing commercial traffic in both directions and preserving the enjoyment and
development rights of adjoining and nearby parcel owners.
With or without a comprehensive debate about C&I developers owning enough road frontage to contain all of the
required commercial entrance spacing that their projects need, an avoidable delay in expanding the 45 MPH zone
would seem to leave in place a specification for over 1,000 feet of road frontage with no other (full use) driveways
in order to develop each independent (not shared) Full Commercial Entrance in this 3,000 to 5,000 feet long section
of roadway. We’re wondering if the committee might be interested in possibly recommending a fairly prompt and
properly sized expansion of the existing 45 MPH as a prudent first course of action that can maximize opportunities
to implement county plans with fewer gaps between C&I land arising from access issues and/or a relatively few
scattered landowners that remain uninterested in domain or domicile changes.
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Safety
Roadside activities like checking one’s mailbox, mowing the lawn, walking or riding a bike
alongside a 55 MPH zone (80 feet per second) have been dangerous for a long time. Prior to
these 2015 Minutes, this citizen had already developed a concern for motorists’ safety in the
vicinity of Shenandoah Sheds, LLC:
Since then, we believe that this VDOT graphic indicates that DMV has 22 Crash Reports in just
this approximate 0.5 mile portion of 55 MPH roadway. We’ve witnessed the aftermath of
several accidents, including one this year where the responding officer Deputy Walther seemed
to share our belief that fewer accidents and injuries might be achievable with a slower speed
limit. https://vdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=ef9957cd10964a7286d2f9df5b85e833
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We believe that if they are surveyed, many of our neighbors who traverse Fairfax Pike daily in
the 0.9 mile area will express a willingness to support 45 MPH:
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Commercial Development
The approximate 0.9 mile area already contains several businesses. The eastern end of it is
where a new Major Collector Rd is planned in the vicinity of Elvira Nursery, LLC (about 0.6
mile from the 45 MPH zone), as well as access to 149 acres (about 0.9 mile from the 45 MPH
zone) where the future land use was recently updated to a combination of Mixed Use
Commercial/Office and 800 Neighborhood Village households.
With about 567’ of frontage (that may increase a bit as the south side of VDOT’s ROW is
widened), entrance spacing in a 45 MPH environment can allow 1518 and 1500 Fairfax Pike to
help FCVA to achieve its stated land use goal of 25% C&I. We’re asking for the committee’s
support and necessary referrals for identifying both obstacles and opportunities for promoting
road safety while stimulating an alignment of land uses that promote business development of
small parcels of land that already contain residential structures along this transportation corridor.
Thanks for reading our letter.
Please note that we do not have a lawyer for these matters.
We welcome and will acknowledge all inquiries mailed to 1518 Fairfax Pike or e-mailed to sra63beach@yahoo.com
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§ 165-202.03. Motor vehicle access.
A. New driveways.
(1) Private driveways or entrances shall be allowed to provide access to individual
residences or uses. Private driveways or entrances shall also be allowed to provide
access to parking lots and loading areas shared by a number of residences or uses.
[Amended 7-10-2013]
(2) In order to provide safe and convenient access and to provide efficient travel on arterial
highways, a minimum spacing shall be provided between new driveways onto and
entrances onto collector roads, arterial highways, and primary highways, in the
following zoning districts: [Amended 12-10-2008; 7-10-2013; 3-8-2023]
B1 Neighborhood Business
B2 Business General
B3 Industrial Transition
TM Technology-Manufacturing
M1 Light Industrial
M2 Industrial General
(3) In addition, the minimum spacing requirements shall apply to: [Amended 7-10-2013]
(a) Any business, industrial or institutional use in any zoning district; and
(b) Any residential development in which more than one dwelling shares a parking lot.
(4) Minimum spacing shall also be provided in all zoning districts between a) new
residential driveways onto and commercial entrances onto collector roads, arterial
highways, and primary highways, and b) the intersections of other roads with such
collector roads, arterial highways, and primary highways. Minimum spacing between
driveways/entrances and between driveways/entrances and intersections shall be as
follows: [Amended 7-10-2013]
Minimum Residential Driveway, Full Commercial Entrance and Intersection
Spacing on Primary Highways, Arterial Highways, and Collector Roads
Road Classification
Minimum Required Spacing
(feet)
Minor collector 100
Major collector:
Residential driveway/entrance 150
Commercial entrances 250
Primary or arterial:
Frederick County, VA
Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/FR1364 on 2024-08-27
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Minimum Residential Driveway, Full Commercial Entrance and Intersection
Spacing on Primary Highways, Arterial Highways, and Collector Roads
Road Classification
Minimum Required Spacing
(feet)
With posted speed limit 45 mph or
less
250
With posted speed limit more than
45 mph
495
(5) In all cases, the spacing distances shall be measured from the tangents to the curb return
of the driveways or intersecting streets.1
(6) Existing access. When a parcel abuts a minor or collector street that intersects with the
arterial or primary highway and when the parcel cannot be provided with an entrance
onto the arterial or primary highway that meets the spacing requirement, access to the
parcel shall be only from the existing entrance on the minor or collector street and new
entrances shall not be allowed directly onto the arterial or primary highway. [Amended
7-10-2013]
(7) Shared access. When a lot is created on a collector road or arterial or primary highway,
shared means of access to the road or highway shall be created by access easement,
shared driveway, shared entrance or other means to ensure that the spacing requirements
have been met. [Amended 9-26-2012; 7-10-2013]
(a) When a lot is divided or developed that can be provided with a driveway/entrance
meeting the spacing requirements but that is adjacent to other parcels or lots that
will not be able to have entrances meeting the spacing requirements, means of
highway access to the adjoining property may be required by the Zoning
Administrator on the lot to be divided or developed.
(b) When a lot is divided or developed that cannot be provided with access meeting
the spacing requirements and when means of shared access that meets spacing
requirements has been provided on adjoining lots that can be used to provide access
to the lot in question, entrances shall not be allowed directly onto the arterial or
primary highway from the lot to be divided or developed.
(c) When a number of lots are divided or developed that have been included together
on an approved master development plan, site plan or subdivision plat, shared
driveways/entrances shall be provided as required to meet the spacing
requirements.
(d) When shared access is provided to meet the requirements of this section, the
Zoning Administrator may require that it be provided in the form of an access
easement. The Zoning Administrator may require a deed of dedication describing
1. Editor's Note: Former Subsection A(6), which concerned minimum spacing for access on minor collection roads and which
immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 7-10-2013, which ordinance also renumbered former Subsection A(7)(a) as
Subsection A(6) and former Subsection A(7)(b) as Subsection A(7).
Frederick County, VA
§ 165-202.03 § 165-202.03
Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/FR1364 on 2024-08-27
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provisions for joint use and maintenance of that easement. Provisions for shared
entrance signs may also be required.
(e) Shared access easements shall be provided in a manner so that shared driveways
are clearly separated from parking areas, loading areas and pedestrian walkways.
(f) Shared access easements that follow lot lines are preferred.
(8) New lots. No new lot shall be created on any state-maintained road unless spacing
requirements can be met for driveways/entrances on the lot or unless access is provided
through shared or existing access. [Amended 7-10-2013]
(9) Number of driveways or entrances. No more than one driveway or entrance shall be
allowed per parcel unless each driveway/entrance from the parcel separately meets the
spacing requirements, relative to each other and relative to any intersections within the
minimum required spacing distance in all directions. The Zoning Administrator may
permit entrances/driveways that do not meet the minimum spacing requirements if they
are utilized solely for emergency access and are not open to the public; such entrances
must be gated or chained. [Amended 7-10-2013]
(10) Entrances on collector and minor streets. Whenever a parcel abutting an arterial
highway also abuts a collector or minor road, in order to obtain an entrance on the
arterial road, an entrance must be provided on the collector or minor road. This shall
only be required if a safe entrance can be provided on the collector or minor road,
meeting all requirements of the Frederick County Code and the Virginia Department of
Transportation.
(11) All driveways and entrances onto state-maintained highways must also meet all
requirements of the Virginia Department of Transportation and all other requirements
of the Frederick County Code. [Amended 7-10-2013]
(12) New driveways and entrances shall align with existing or planned driveways,
crossovers, turn lanes or other access features. This shall only be required if the resulting
alignment provides safe access and if all requirements of the Frederick County Code
and the Virginia Department of Transportation are met. [Amended 7-10-2013]
(13) The location of new driveways and entrances shall conform with road improvement
plans or corridor plans that have been adopted by Frederick County or the Virginia
Department of Transportation. [Amended 7-10-2013]
(14) Private roads providing lot access to multifamily and single-family small lot housing, as
permitted in § 144-24 of the Subdivision Ordinance, shall be a minimum of 20 feet in
width. The pavement design for the private roads shall include eight inches of aggregate
base material, Type I, Size No. 21-B, and shall be paved with a 165 No. psy asphalt
concrete, Type SM-2A, surface treatment. In addition, curb and gutters, standard curb
CG-6, CG-7 or roll-top curb and sidewalks shall be provided along private roads;
however, the Zoning Administrator may approve a waiver of sidewalks on private
streets, provided that another recreational amenity is substituted for the sidewalk.
Additionally, the Zoning Administrator may waive the requirement for curb and gutters
and allow alternate pavement design to accommodate low-impact design, provided that
Frederick County, VA
§ 165-202.03 § 165-202.03
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the private road design is determined to be acceptable by the Director of Public Works.
[Added 10-27-1999; amended 1-25-2012]
B. Alternative methods.
(1) The Zoning Administrator may allow other means of motor vehicle access which do not
meet the above requirements. Such means may involve the use of entrances which
physically limit or restrict left turns (such as a right-in/right-out only entrance), methods
which ensure one-way travel or other methods. [Amended 9-26-2012; 7-10-2013]
(2) In such cases, the Zoning Administrator may require a traffic access plan which
describes existing traffic, conditions and design on the streets abutting the site and the
methods proposed to ensure that the intent of this section has been met.
(3) Requested alternative methods of motor vehicle access which do not meet the minimum
requirements of § 165-202.03 must be approved by VDOT prior to approval by the
Zoning Administrator. [Added 7-10-2013]
C. Internal circulation. A complete system of internal traffic circulation shall be provided to
serve all uses in any shopping center, industrial park or any development included in a single
master development plan, site plan or subdivision plat approved by Frederick County. In such
developments, internal access shall be provided in a fashion so that all uses can be mutually
accessed without entering onto arterial or primary highways. In such cases, a pattern of
internal circulation shall be designed to ensure that conflicts are avoided between moving
vehicles, parking areas, pedestrian areas, loading areas and the various uses provided.
D. Pedestrian access. Safe pedestrian walkways shall be provided to all uses on land included in
a master plan or site plan approved by Frederick County. Sidewalks and multiuse trails shall
be provided in conformance with adopted Comprehensive Plan policies for present and future
roadway classifications and/or approved master development plans. Sidewalks shall be
installed in the right-of-way and adjacent to the boundary of the right-of-way of all proposed
and existing streets and shall contain adequate handicapped ramps at all intersections at
intervals acceptable to the Virginia Department of Transportation. There shall be a minimum
two-foot-wide grass strip or swale between the street edge and the sidewalk, where sidewalks
are required. Sidewalks shall be a minimum of five feet wide; multiuse trails shall be a
minimum of 10 feet wide. [Amended 9-26-2012; 1-26-2022]
E. Fire lanes. Fire lanes shall be required as set forth in Chapter 90, Fire Prevention and
Protection.2 [Added 12-9-1992]
2. Editor's Note: Former § 165-48.9, Advertising specialities - wholesale, added 5-10-2000, which immediately followed this subsection,
was repealed 6-22-2005.
Frederick County, VA
§ 165-202.03 § 165-202.03
Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/FR1364 on 2024-08-27
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Transportation Committee
Agenda Item Detail
Meeting Date: January 27, 2025
Agenda Section: Projects Summary
Title: Projects Summary
Attachments:
TC01-27-25ProjectsSummary.pdf
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Transportation Committee
Agenda Item Detail
Meeting Date: January 27, 2025
Agenda Section: SmartScale Update
Title: SmartScale Update
Attachments:
TC01-27-25SmartScaleUpdate.pdf
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Transportation Committee
Agenda Item Detail
Meeting Date: January 27, 2025
Agenda Section: County Project Updates
Title: County Project Updates
Attachments:
TC01-27-25CountyProjectUpdates.pdf
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Transportation Committee
Agenda Item Detail
Meeting Date: January 27, 2025
Agenda Section: Other
Title: Contractors Update
Attachments:
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Transportation Committee
Agenda Item Detail
Meeting Date: January 27, 2025
Agenda Section: Other
Title: Transit Discussion Update
Attachments:
TC01-27-25Other.pdf
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