HomeMy WebLinkAboutHRABMinutes2026February20Frederick County Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB)
Meeting Minutes
February 20, 2026
First Floor Conference Room of the County Administrative Building
107 North Kent Street, Winchester, VA
Members Present: Lucas Cook (virtual), Nicholas Powers, Gary Crawford, Delane Karalow, Steve Cantu,
Michael Swedberg, Dana Newcomb, Maral Kalbian and Justin Kerns, Planning Commission Liaison.
Members Absent: Jack Owens and Elijah Filbert.
Staff Present: Eric Bittner, Wyatt Pearson, and Tyler Klein.
Agenda Items:
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m.
Item 1: Introductions – New Members
Eric Bittner introduced Commissioner Justin Kerns as the new Planning Commission Liaison. The HRAB
members introduced themselves.
Item 2: HRAB Business – Election of Chair and Vice Chair
Eric opened the floor for nominations for Chairman. Gary Crawford made motion to nominate Lucas
Cook and Steve Cantu seconded the motion. The floor was closed for nominations. The vote was
unanimous for Lucas Cook as the Chairman.
Eric opened the floor for nominations for Vice-Chairman. Gary Crawford made motion to nominate Steve
Cantu and Steve Cantu declined the position. Steve Cantu nominated Nicholas Powers and Gary
Crawford seconded the motion. The floor was closed for nominations. The vote was unanimous for Nick
Powers as the Vice-Chairman.
Steve Cantu made a motion to move Item 4: Historic Restoration grant Review to take place ahead Item
3: Winchester Gateway – Conditional Use Permit. No objection.
Item 4: Historic Restoration Grant Review
Eric Bittner provided a summary of the two received applications for the Heater House Restoration and
the St. Thomas Chapel Restoration requests. Maral Kalbian asked if there was a schedule of completion
of the Heater House project. Eric Bittner responded that he believed there was one included in the
budget, but he would need to confirm.
Maral Kalbian suggested that additional time be given for more applications, citing the short submittal
window. Gary Crawford agreed, stating that he had heard from organizations who were not aware of the
program. Discussion ensued. Gary Crawford made a motion to extend the application window to May
31st, and to consider the two applications after that time with any additional applications and Delane
Karalow seconded the motion. The vote was passed unanimously.
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Item 3: Winchester Gateway – Conditional Use Permit
Tyler Klein provided an overview of the application to develop a data center campus (+/- 805,000 square
feet) on +/- 71.85-acres of land zoned M1(Light Industrial) Zoning District. The subject property is
located southwest of the intersection of Middle Road and Apple Valley Road, and east of Route 37 in the
Back Creek Magisterial District.
Chris Mohn with Greenway Engineering and Thomas Lawson represented the applicant. Chris Mohn
provided more background on the project. Members discussed the previous recommendations from the
rezoning and the potential impacts on the nearby Kernstown Battlefield and historic properties.
Delane Karalow made a motion to recommend denial of the application due to the viewshed impacts on
the historic properties.
On a motion made by Gary Crawford to reconsider the application and seconded by Nick Powers. The
vote was passed unanimously. Mr. Kerns stated that the Planning Commission would benefit more from
recommended conditions instead of denial. Wyatt Pearson agreed it would be more productive to
provide recommended conditions. Tyler Klein reminded the Board of the 60’ height limit. Wyatt Pearson
suggested that the applicant can return to the Board with more information.
Discussion ensued. Delane Karalow made a motion to amend her motion to recommend denial to be a
motion to table the application until the applicant was able to return with a viewshed analysis,
specifically from the Kernstown Battlefield property and Sandy Ridge property(PIN 62-6-1), clarification
on the implementation of a Phase 1 archeological survey and results conducted on the property, and a
third party review of the Phase 1 study from the local DHR office and Shenandoah Valley Battlefields
Foundation (SVBF). Steve Cantu seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:37 a.m.
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