HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-20 CommentsCOUNTY of FREDERICK
Department of Planning and Development
540/ 665-5651
Fax: 540/ 665-6395
107 North Kent Street, Suite 202 • Winchester, Virginia 22601-5000
June 18, 2020
Evan Wyatt
Greenway Engineering
151 Windy Hill Ln
Winchester, Virginia 22602
RE: Request for Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB) Comments
Conditional Use Permit – the Bartonsville Energy Facility – Utility Scale Solar Project
Zoning: RA (Rural Areas) District
Magisterial District: Back Creek
Dear Mr. Wyatt:
The Frederick County Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB) considered the above referenced
Conditional Use Permit application during their meeting on June 16, 2020. The HRAB reviewed
information from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDH R) and information
provided by the Applicant. This application seeks to construct a utility scale solar project located
on 68 parcels of land that total 957 acres. The project will consist of rows of ground-mounted
photovoltaic modules, commonly known as solar panels. The site is located along Passage Road
and Springdale Road, west of the CSX corridor and the Town of Stephens City.
Historic Resources Advisory Board Comments:
The following historic resources are located on the subject site:
• #034-1078 Cherry Dale (Mary Stephens House) – located on site – 74-A-20
▪ Eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)
• Survey Area 2 has a structure (labeled building 1) that is not mapped.
o Building 1 is located in the southern portion of the APE and consists of a series of
collapsed buildings. Investigators did identify a potential residence, barn, and
several collapsed outbuildings. The property is in the relative mapped location of
the building attributed to R. R. Turner on the 1885 atlas (see Figure 13). No
evidence of the adjacent building depicted on the early twentieth century
quadrangles was noted during the reconnaissance. (Phase 1A survey - see page
22 for text and appendix C for photograph).
The following historic resources are located adjacent or within the vicinity of the subject
site (buffer area as described in the Applicant’s Phase 1A survey):
Historic Resources Advisory Board
CUP Comments – Bartonsville Energy Facility
June 18, 2020
Page 2
• #034-0071 – Rice Robinson House
• #034-0083 - Carter Hall
▪ Eligible for listing in the NRHP
▪ Located adjacent to the area of potential affect (APE)
• #034-1044 – Willow Grove
▪ Located adjacent to the area of potential affect (APE)
• #034-0007 – Kernstown Battlefield
▪ Eligible for listing in the NRHP
After reviewing the information provided, the Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB)
recommended approval of the CUP with the following comments:
• The buffers around the historic resources should contain a mixture of evergreen plant
species to ensure a natural appearing vegetative buffer.
• An enhanced buffer along Carter Hall should be provided; similar to the buffer
surrounding the proposed substation.
• A Phase 1 Archeological Survey will be completed as part of the permitting of this
project. This survey should document the collection of historic structures on and
around this development.
o This survey should determine if the structures onsite (Building 1 and
associated structures within survey area 2) are potentially significant.
o This survey should determine if this area would qualify as a rural historic
district.
Thank you for the chance to comment on this application. Please call if you have any
questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Candice E. Perkins, AICP, CZA,
Assistant Director
CEP/pd
cc: Chris Oldman, HRBA Chairman,
Tyler Klein