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Home My WebLink AboutPCMinutes2025June4 Frederick County Planning Commission Page 4200 Minutes of June 4, 2025 MEETING MINUTES OF THE FREDERICK COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION Held in the Board Room of the Frederick County Administration Building at 107 North Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia on June 4, 2025. PRESENT: Tim Stowe, Chairman/Red Bud District; Roger L. Thomas, Vice Chairman/Shawnee District; Elizabeth D. Kozel, Shawnee District; Charles Markert, Red Bud District; Kevin Sneddon, Opequon District; Thomas Bottorf, Opequon District; Charles S. DeHaven III, Stonewall District; Betsy Brumback, Back Creek District; Jeff McKay, Back Creek District; Jason Aikens, Gainesboro District; Vaughn Whitacre, Gainesboro District; Mollie Brannon, Member at Large. ABSENT: Justin Kerns, Stonewall District. STAFF PRESENT: Wyatt G. Pearson, Director; John A. Bishop, Assistant Director; M. Tyler Klein, Senior Planner; Shannon L. Conner, Administrative Guaranty Coordinator. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Stowe called the June 4, 2025 meeting of the Frederick County Planning Commission to order at 7:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Thomas led the Pledge of Allegiance. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Upon a motion made by Commissioner Thomas and seconded by Commissioner Kozel, the Planning Commission unanimously adopted the agenda for this evening’s meeting.. ------------- Frederick County Planning Commission Page 4201 Minutes of June 4, 2025 COMMITTEES Historical Resources Advisory Board – 5/16/25 Chairman Stowe reported the Board reviewed the rezoning application for Laurel Ridge Community College. The Board also continued discussion of use of historic preservation funding and noted formal action is needed to allocate any of the funds. City of Winchester – 5/20/25 Commissioner Burnett reported, a conditional use permit for the installation of a 6 foot fence was sent forward for approval. An ordinance to rezone 93 parcels totaling 92 acres was sent forward for approval and an ordinance to rezone 97 parcels totaling approximately 131 acres was also sent forward for approval. ------------- CITIZEN COMMENTS Chairman Stowe called for citizen comments on any subject not currently on the Planning Commission’s agenda or any item that is solely a discussion item for the Commission. No one came forward to speak and Chairman Stowe closed the public comments portion of the meeting. ------------- PUBLIC HEARING Draft Update of the 2025-2026 Frederick County Interstate, Primary, and Secondary Road Improvement Plans. The Primary and Interstate Road Improvement Plans establish priorities for improvements to the Primary and Interstate Road networks within Frederick County. Comments from the Transportation Committee will be forwarded to the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. Ultimately, the priorities adopted by the Board of Supervisors will be forwarded to the Commonwealth Transportation Board for consideration. The Virginia Department of Transportation and the Planning Commission of Frederick County, in accordance with Section 33.2-331 of the Code of Virginia, will conduct a joint public hearing in the Board Room of the Frederick County Government Center, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, Virginia at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. The purpose of this public hearing is to receive public comments on the proposed Six Year Plan for Secondary Roads for Fiscal Year 2026 through 2031 Frederick County and on the Secondary System Construction budget for Fiscal Year 2026. Action – Recommend Approval John A. Bishop, Assistant Director, reported this is a public hearing item to consider the update of the 2025-2026 Interstate, Primary, and Secondary Road Improvement Plans. Summary of Changes: Interstate Plan: Removal of paragraph identifying the potential implementation of Route 37 East as an alternative to widening of I-81. Frederick County Planning Commission Page 4202 Minutes of June 4, 2025 Primary Plan: No changes at this time. Secondary Plan: No changes at this time. Mr. Bishiop continued, the Transportation Committee reviewed this item on May 12, 2025, and recommended approval with the correction of a typo in the Interstate Plan where Exit 317 was inadvertently entered as Exit 318 and to add a freight emphasis to the statements regarding rail transportation in the Interstate Plan. Chairman Stowe called for anyone who wished to speak regarding the Public Hearing to come forward. No one came forward and the Public Hearing was closed for the public comment portion. Upon motion made by Commissioner Thomas and seconded by Commissioner Brannon BE IT RESOLVED, the Frederick County Planning Commission does unanimously recommend approval of the Draft Update of the 2025-2026 Frederick County Interstate, Primary, and Secondary Road Improvement Plans. (Note: Commissioner Kerns was absent from the meeting) OTHER 2025-2050 Comprehensive Plan Update Wyatt G. Pearson, Director reported, The Code of Virginia §15.2-2223 authorizes localities to prepare and adopt comprehensive plans “with the purpose of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development.” The Code requires the Comprehensive Plan to be updated at least every 5 years. He noted, Frederick County’s currently adopted plan last 5-year updates was in 2021; the last plan re-write was in 2010. Mr. Pearson shared the studies and updates that have been taking place: Background Studies: • Community Profile (Berkley Group) • Housing & Market Assessment (Partners for Economic Solutions, PES) • Land Use Cost Analysis Study (Tischler-Bise) • Transportation Model Update Community Profile (Berkley Group) • “Roadmap” to understanding where the County is today • Existing conditions analysis: o Population/demographics, housing, workforce, natural and historic resources, community health and safety, community facilities and infrastructure, land use, and transportation. • Foundation for community-oriented and data-driven decision making • Intended to replace “Appendix II” of the plan • Draft Community Profile under review by Staff Housing & Market Assessment (PES) • Project market conditions based on anticipated job and household growth and development trends. Frederick County Planning Commission Page 4203 Minutes of June 4, 2025 • Identify gaps between market demand and market offerings via a housing needs assessment. • Assess the adequacy of the County’s supply of commercial land based on the projected demand. • Demand for industrial land projected as well as absorption rates and whether existing planning areas are sufficient • Stakeholder interview conducted by PES the week of May 27th. Land Use Cost Analysis Study (Tischler-Bise) • Evaluate the full cost of land uses, particularly residential development. • Analysis regarding whether a surplus or deficit is created by different types of housing units, the impacts each land use has on a jurisdiction’s fiscal condition, and to identify the types of nonresidential land uses with a fiscal and economic benefit to the County. • Prototype Lots: Rural Lots, Suburban Lots, Incorporated Town Lots, Apartments, Age-Restricted Units, Retail, Office, Warehousing, Manufacturing, Data Center. • Stakeholders engaged analysis under. Transportation Model Update - (Mr. Bishop presented) • Modeling of existing transportation system through capacity analysis, alternatives assessment and land use and transportation interactions. • Additional evaluation of Planned roads such as future Route 37 segments, South Frederick Parkway and interchange, Tasker Road flyover, and others identified through the public input process or by leadership • Schedule and Consultant – TBD Public Participation Plan (PPP) – (Mr. Klein presented) • Comprehensive planning process should invite meaningful and robust community engagement. • (PPP) outlines how community stakeholders and partners will be engaged in the planning process for the development of the Plan. • Inclusive, transparent and integral o Open to all o Clear, documented and easily accessible o Occurs throughout o Critical to success of planning effort Project Timeline Stakeholder Interviews and Reconnaissance, Topic Based Events and Community Surveying, Prioritization and Plan Formulation, Community Meetings, Plan Presentation and Adoption. • July 1st start • Variety of public engagement strategies during each project phase • Joint work session after phase 1, 2, and 4 • Plan adoption anticipated in August 2027 Frederick County Planning Commission Page 4204 Minutes of June 4, 2025 What’s Next? Phase 1 – Stakeholder Interviews and Community Reconnaissance (6-months) • Background studies completion • BOS and PC interviews • Needs assessment with other key stakeholders • Project website and photo inventory • Joint work session #1 (November 2025) The Planning Commission briefly discussed the Comprehensive Plan Update and appreciated the timeline and information that was presented. Mr. Pearson noted there are three (3) CPPA’s for this year and they are Meadow Brook Technology Park (Tract), Winchester Gateway 2, and Middletown Business Park. ------------- ADJOURNMENT No further business remained to be discussed, and a motion was made by Commissioner Thomas to adjourn the meeting. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Kozel and unanimously passed. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ____________________________ Tim Stowe, Chairman ___________________________ Wyatt G. Pearson, Secretary