HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEAAgenda2026May281.Welcome and Introductions
2.Meeting Minutes
2.A.Meeting Minutes of April 30, 2026
3.Legislative Update
4.GardenFest 2026 Planning
5.Other
AGENDA
CONSERVATION EASEMENT AUTHORITY
THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2026
9:00 AM
PLANNING DEPARTMENT CONFERENCE ROOM
FREDERICK COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
WINCHESTER, VA
CEA05-28-26MeetingMinutesApril30.pdf
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Conservation Easement Authority
Agenda Item Detail
Meeting Date: May 28, 2026
Agenda Section: Meeting Minutes
Title: Meeting Minutes of April 30, 2026
Attachments:
CEA05-28-26MeetingMinutesApril30.pdf
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MEETING MINUTES
OF THE
FREDERICK COUNTY CONSERVATION EASEMENT AUTHORITY
Held in the Planning Department Conference Room of the Frederick County Administration Building at
107 North Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia on April 30, 2026.
PRESENT: Diane Kearns, Chairman; Patricia Scheulen-Ferrell, Leslie Spencer, Wendy Dorsey, Philip
Haines, Charles Markert, Planning Commission Liaison; Albert Orndorff, Board of Supervisor Liaison.
ABSENT: Todd Lodge, Vice-Chairman and Elaine Cain.
STAFF PRESENT: John Bishop, Assistant Planning Director, Eric Bittner, Planner II, Tonya Sibert,
Commissioner of Revenue.
PUBLIC MEETING
Welcome and Introduction
The meeting was called to order by the Chairman Kearns at 9:00 a.m. and she determined there was a
quorum.
Meeting Minutes
Patricia Scheulen-Ferrell made a motion to approve March 27, 2026, minutes and was seconded by Mrs.
Spencer.
Comprehensive Plan Update
Mr. Bishop gave an update on the meeting with the citizens. Staff have complete six sections of
Comprehensive Plan. Some of the meetings were not well attended but then the Conservation Section of
the Comprehensive Plan was highly attended. Right now, we have over 1,300 surveys back. Several
surveys are related to the Data Centers. Chairman Kearns inquired about the rural development surveys.
The only comment Mr. Bishop said was some survey referenced save the farms. No other information
given at this point.
TDR Discussion: Staff mentioned that Mr. Pearson is researching areas that would be a good fit for TDR’s.
The Board of Supervisors has given Mr. Pearson some direction. No time frame as to completion of
research.
Farm Hop Debrief
The event was well received. Citizens are unaware that Frederick County had such a program. Citizens
showed interest and support for the program. In talking with the citizens, most of the citizens were
concerned about their property being small with one to two acres of land.
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Chairman Kearns stated that Clarke County had a conservation event with vendors. Chairman Kearns will
contact Jada to be put on next year rooster for the event.
Chairman Kearns mentioned there was an article in the paper about an event sponsor by Jada Latcher a
business owner and the Clarke County Conservation Easement attended. According to the paper, the
business owner wants to make this an annual event. If the committee is in agreeance, I will contact her so
the committee could be included at next year’s event.
GardenFest Debrief:
Mr. Bishop has registered the Frederick County CEA for the June 6, 2026, event. Mr. Bishop was allocated
funds to purchase a banner. Mr. Bishop is trying to acquire a banner. Staff will be attending. His arrival
time is 7 a.m. The event starts at 8:00 a.m. Mrs. Spencer and Chairman Kearns will be representing
Frederick County CEA. Mr. Haines might be able to come. The CEA does have a QR Code for donation.
Supplies needed are brochures on CEA and the PDR program name tags, and etc. Chairman Kearns and
Mrs. Spencer will represent the CEA Committee. Mrs. Spencer created a basic post on Facebook for other
events and she will create one for the GardenFest event.
Other:
Chairman Kearns mentioned that EDA has changed in staff. Doug Rinker is heading up the EDA and
hopefully he will have a different view and ideas as far as businesses that come to Frederick County. The
Agricultural Tourism falls under the EDA area. Chairman Kearns mentioned that Agricultural Tourism
and CEA have similar goals The farming industry is falling off and if the committee could think outside the
box with ideas. Chairman Kearns express the idea to Mr. Jason Aikens the liaison for the Board. Chairman
Kearns made a point to the Board of Supervisors if we want to attract new industries with good paying jobs
then the County needs to provide a good quality of life and preserve the open space for residence.
A member mentioned she was researching some conservation mapping resources on a website. Mrs.
Spencer would like to present the information she found. The conservation committee should have some
different types of maps and different layers showing all TDR and PDR lots. The other layers could be
battlefield, watershed and wetland. Staff noted that this is something that could be created by our department
mapping employee. CEA needs to educate the farmers and property owners with the right resources to
protect their land. To be discussed at next meeting further.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:53.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________________
Diane Kearns, Chairman
______________________________
John A. Bishop, CEA Secretary
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