Loading...
CEA 03-28-13 Meeting AgendaFrederick County Conservation Easement Authority TO: Conservation Easement Authority FROM: Eric R. Lawrence, CEA Secretary SUBJECT: March Meeting DATE: March 22, 2013 The Frederick County Conservation Easement Authority will be meeting on Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 8:00 a.m. in the Board of Supervisor's Executive Session Meeting Room in the County Administration Building, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, Virginia. The Conservation Easement Authority will discuss the following agenda items: 1. Welcome and Introductions 2. February 28, 2013 Meeting Minutes 3. Update on Potomac Conservancy activities 4. Open Discussion 5. Next meeting date — April 25, 2013 6. Other Please contact the Planning Department (540-665-5651) if you are unable to attend this meeting. ERL/bad Enclosures C/O Frederick County Planning Department, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, VA 22601 (540-665-5651) MEETING MINUTES OF THE COUNTY CONSERVATION EASEMENT AUTHORITY Held in the First Floor Conference Room of the Frederick County Administration Building at 107 North Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia on February 28, 2013 at 8:00 a.m. PRESENT: Diane Kearns, Chairman; Robert Solenberger; Todd Lodge; Jeff Green; and Gene Fisher, Board of Supervisors Liaison. ABSENT: Elaine Cain, Treasurer; John Marker; Ron Clevenger; and Charles Triplett, Planning Commission Liaison. STAFF PRESENT: Eric R. Lawrence, CEA Secretary; and Bev Dellinger, Secretary III. PUBLIC MEETING: 1. Welcome and Introductions 2. October 25, 2012 Meeting Minutes Chairman Kearns pointed out a minor change in the minutes. The location of the meeting was listed as the Executive Session Room and it was actually held in the First Floor Conference Room. On a motion made by Mr. Solenberger and seconded by Mr. Lodge, the October 25, 2012 minutes were approved. 3. Update on Conservation Easement Activity; Conservation Partners held' a second joint meeting with Frederick and Shenandoah County residents in January. Chairman Kearns said it went very well and was well attended. Mr. Lawrence learned at thepresentation that the tax benefits have been renewed for this year, and that's gotten people who thought they'd missed the deadline more interested. Update on the Business Development Advancement Study Mr. Lawrence stated that about a`year ago the County initiated a study trying to create more business development sites and industrial zoning sites. The premise was, through the Comprehensive Plan, there are areas which are planned for development and there are areas we do want developed. The thought was, how do we advance those areas that we have planned for business development and make sure they're shovel ready when industry comes into the community so that we have sites available. Through the study, it was found that landowners may be uncomfortable with the costs involved in rezoning their property. The BDAS put together a concept, which is at this time a proposed concept, to help the property owner go through the rezoning process, first by covering the costs of a rezoning so they would be ready for industrial business development. Secondly, infrastructure like transportation, water and sewer, has to be available. We would try to obtain that through state and federal grants. Conservation Easement Authority Page - 182 - February 28, 2013 All this is contingent upon if the property owner is willing to sign an option contract with the County. The proposed option contract with the County is an agreed upon sales price, arrived at by appraisal, where the property owner would reduce the sales price by the equivalent amount of the transportation, water and sewer costs. If the property owner agrees to it, it goes under option contract with the County using the Frederick County Industrial Development Authority. The County would then go after revenue sharing and state funding to construct the necessary transportation improvements, and work with the FCSA to install the necessary water and sewer services. At the end of the process, the County would have a shovel -ready business site and the property owner would have land that is marketable. Mr. Lawrence stated the BDAS Committee presented this Retreat with the Board of Supervisors, and heard positive I work on the concept and once they're done, ask for a wo: Supervisors and the Planning Commission. 4. Next Meeting Date April 25, 2013 5. Other Chairman Kearns asked Mr. Lav applications. Mr. Lawrence said he 11 Chairman Kearns asked Mr. Fisher who: do a documentary for the CEA. Mr. Academics/Media Center. ; Chairman Kearn number on them. if we could put k to Ms. Murphy at the Planning Commission he BDAS will continue to n April with the Board of ?A brochure in the land use it. ah University in order to to call someone in the ing some generic CEA cards with the Planning Department's would be a good tool to have something to hand out to people. at 8:45 a.m. submitted, Diane Kearns, Chairman Eric R. Lawrence, CEA Secretary Conservation Easement Authority Page - 183 - February 28, 2013