HRAB 09-19-06 Meeting MinutesFrederick County Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB)
September 19, 2006
Held in the Board of Supervisors Executive Session Room of the County
Administrative Building at 107 N. Kent Street, Winchester, VA.
Members Present: Rhoda Kriz (Chairman), Elizabeth Fravel, Martin Killingbeck, Felicia
Hart, Gary Oates (Planning Commission Liaison), Virginia McClure.
Members Absent: Maral Kalbian (Consultant).
Staff. Kevin Henry- Planning Technician, Susan Eddy- Senior Planner
Agenda Items: August 2006 Minutes, Village at Opequon Rezoning (PHR&A),
Historical Plaques, and Allegheny Power (powerline through Opequon district).
Other: State grant opportunity, Stephens City historical landscape preservation
The meeting began at 6:30 P.M. with the HRAB unanimously approving the August 2006
minutes.
Since the applicant was not in attendance for the meeting the HRAB amended to skip the
Rezoning application until later in the evening, thus giving the applicant a chance to
arrive late and still make a presentation.
The third item on the agenda for the meeting was for the HRAB to approve a historical
plaque application that staff received for Valley Mill Farm. Staff gave a brief description
of Valley Mill Farm also mentioning that the property had recently been recognized by
the National Register. The HRAB unanimously felt that Valley Mill Farm deserves a
historical plaque. The HRAB also felt that the property known as the Opequon House
would also qualify for a plaque. Opequon House has yet to submit an application, but
staff has been in contact with the property owner.
The fourth item on the agenda was in regards to Allegheny Power extending power lines
through Frederick County, in particular the Opequon Magisterial District. Planning staff
felt that it would be appropriate to bring this request before the HRAB, to identify
historical areas the power lines should stay away from. Senior Planner Eddy gave a
description of the project Allegheny is intending to perform. Commissioner Oates and
Mr. Killingbeck felt it would be appropriate for the properties identified in the Rural
Landmark Survey as potentially significant to have I/4 mile buffers in which the power
lines would have to travel around. The HRAB also felt that clusters of historical
properties should also have the same buffer requirements.
The HRAB decided to proceed with the Rezoning application even though the applicant
was not present. Chairman Kriz felt that the applicant should fill out a Preliminary
Information Form (PIF) through the state with regards to the Adams House. The Adams
House is currently not identified in the Rural Landmark Survey as being potentially
significant. Since the Survey was done over 15 years ago, the HRAB felt it would be
appropriate if the State was able to comment on the property. The HRAB also felt that it
would be appropriate for a Phase I archeological survey of strictly the areas around the
primary dwelling and accessory buildings. The HRAB believed that the applicant should
also proffer a vegetative buffer around the Adams House. The HRAB requested that the
applicant officially come before them before proceeding to the Planning Commission.
In other matters, Ms. Fravel mentioned that in Stephens City a garden club monitors
historical landscaping throughout the city. Chairman Kriz suggested that the HRAB
members can attend those meetings; and also that the HRAB should encourage saving
historical trees within rezoning proposals or identify trees that are native, but rare in the
area for the developer to provide as part of a landscaping proffer.
Staff mentioned again the options for applying for a local/state grant that would allow for
the county to identify historical districts, and place these districts within the Frederick
County Comprehensive Policy I .
With no other business the HRAB adjourned at 7:40 P.M.