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HomeMy WebLinkAboutADAC 03-18-10 Meeting MinutesFrederick County Agricultural District Advisory Committee Minutes of March 18, 2010 MEETING MINUTES OF THE FREDERICK COUNTY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE Held in the first floor conference room of the Frederick County Administration Building at 107 North Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia on March 25, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. PRESENT: Cary Ay, James Douglas, Dudley Rinker, Gary Oates, John Stelzl and Gary Lofton. ABSENT: Walter Baker, Jack Jenkins and John Marker. STAFF PRESENT: Mark R. Cheran, Zoning Administrator; and Bev Dellinger, Secretary III. OTHER: Ellen Murphy, Commissioner of the Revenue and Neil Thorne, Land Use Coordinator. Mr. Cheran called the meeting to order. Mr. Cheran stated that as required by the Code of Virginia, Agricultural and Forestal Districts must be reviewed by the local government every five years after establishment. The Agricultural District Advisory Committee was created for the purpose of reviewing proposals that establish or renew districts. Tonight, we have three new districts applying to be created and included in the Agricultural and Forestal Districts, and we also have three existing districts for renewal. Mr. Cheran stated that people have expressed a desire to come into an Agricultural District, but they missed the state enforced renewal deadline. For those people, and any others who are interested, we will probably meet at the end of this summer to start the process of including them within an Agricultural District. 1. Creation of Albin Agricultural and Forestal District This proposed District contains 14 parcels containing 1,017.84 acres located in the Gainesboro Magisterial District across North Frederick Pike to the north, Route 37 to the east and Poorhouse Road to the west. It’s actually behind WalMart, all the way to Route 522. It’s 90% agricultural and 10% open space. It meets the criteria of the Ag and Forestal District Act. The location is identified by the Comprehensive Policy Plan as being within the Route 37 West Land Use Plan. The land use component envisions a 120-acre parcel located in the southeastern portion of the original 645-acre study area as potential office park-type development that will complement the medical center, pharmaceutical school and provide retail services that cater to these uses. The remaining 525 acres within the study area should remain in its present land use of pristine condition with land use of orchards, while preserving the historic integrity of the Battle of Second Winchester. One concern is that major roads are planned for the area. However, a balanced approach is needed to ensure the broader future land uses and transportation improvements of Route 37 West Land Use Plan are met and recognize this proposed District as an important element of the land use plan. Frederick County Agricultural District Advisory Committee Minutes of March 18, 2010 Staff would recommend that this District be created and included as one of the County’s Agricultural and Forestal Districts. The Committee unanimously voted to establish and include Albin within the Agricultural and Forestal Districts. 2. Creation of Apple Pie Ridge Agricultural and Forestal District This proposed district is located in the Stonewall and Gainesboro Magisterial Districts, contains 889.052 acres within 34 parcels, and is located across Payne Road to the north, Welltown Road to the east, Apple Ridge Road to the west and Glendobbin Road to the south. It meets the criteria of the Ag and Forestal District Act. All the parcels within the proposed District are in agricultural or residential use and are located outside the Urban Development Area and the Sewage and Water Service Area. The Comprehensive Plan shows a major road in the southern part of this district, which is Route 37, and this is the only concern. Just like the Albin District, this district will be reviewed in five years and changes can be made at that time. Staff recommends that this District be created and included as one of the County’s Agricultural and Forestal Districts. The Committee unanimously voted to establish and include Apple Pie Ridge within the Agricultural and Forestal Districts. 3. Creation of South Timber Ridge Agricultural and Forestal District This proposed district is located in the Back Creek Magisterial District, contains 466.70 acres within seven parcels, and is bordered by Hollow Road to the north, and Muse Road and Golden Orchard Road to the east. It meets the criteria of the Ag and Forestal District Act. All the parcels within the proposed District are in agricultural use or orchards and are located outside the Urban Development Area and the Sewage and Water Service Area. Staff recommends that this District be created and included as one of the County’s Agricultural and Forestal Districts. The Committee unanimously voted to establish and include South Timber Ridge within the Agricultural and Forestal Districts. 4. Update and Renewal of South Frederick, Double Church and Red Bud Agricultural and Forestal Districts Mr. Cheran stated that the South Frederick District was established in 1980, Double Church in 1995 and Red Bud in 2006. The South Frederick Agricultural and Forestal District is in the Back Creek Magisterial District and currently contains 5,974.65 acres. There is a proposed addition of five parcels to this District and three parcels wish to be removed from this District, making a total of 6,182.53 acres. The District is 90% agricultural and outside the UDA and SWSA. Staff would recommend updating and renewing this District. The Committee unanimously voted to update and renew the South Frederick Agricultural and Forestal District. Frederick County Agricultural District Advisory Committee Minutes of March 18, 2010 The Double Church Agricultural and Forestal District is located in the Opequon Magisterial District and currently contains 1,023.73 acres which are predominantly agricultural and open space. One parcel of 74.53 acres is coming out of the District, leaving a balance of 949.20 acres. This District is outside of the UDA and SWSA areas; however, the District will be impacted by future transportation improvements by the Route 277 Land Use Plan approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2008. The parcels have no land use designation, which indicates the area should remain rural. The boundary line has been adjusted to go around the Ag District. Staff feels that this District is agriculturally significant as outlined in the Agricultural and Forestal Districts Act and that the District would conform to the County’s Comprehensive Policy Plan. The Committee unanimously voted to update and renew the Double Church Agricultural and Forestal District. The Red Bud Agricultural and Forestal District is located in the Stonewall Magisterial District, currently contains 849.28 acres and is outside of the UDA and SWSA areas. Two parcels are coming into the District and two parcels are coming out, leaving a total of 1,079.69 acres. The District is 75% agricultural and 25% open space, and about half of the District is designated as a Developmentally Sensitive Area (DSA) within the Northeast Land Use Plan. Staff recommends the update and renewal of the Red Bud Agricultural and Forestal District. The Committee unanimously voted to update and renew the Red Bud Agricultural and Forestal District. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.