HRAB 10-20-20 Meeting MinutesFrederick County Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB)
October 20, 2020
Board of Supervisors Room of the County, Administrative Building
107 North Kent Street, Winchester, VA
Members Present: Crawford, Powers, Meadows, Molden
Members VIA Phone: Oldham, Straub
Members Absent: O’Neil, Rush, Cantu
Staff Present: Candice Perkins and Maral Kalbian
Agenda Items:
Call to order at 6:00 p.m.
Item 1: June 2020 Minutes – approved with updated membership present
Item 3: Review of a Conditional Use Permit for Hollow Road Solar
The Frederick County Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB) considered the above referenced
Conditional Use Permit application during their meeting on October 20, 2020. The HRAB reviewed
information from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR) and information provided by the
Applicant. This application seeks to construct a utility scale solar project located on two parcels of land that
total 236 acres. The project will consist of rows of ground-mounted photovoltaic modules, commonly
known as solar panels. The site is located at 806 Hollow Road in Gore, in the Back Creek Magisterial District
and identified by Property Identification Numbers (PINs): 27-A-11 and 27-A-12.
Historic Resources Advisory Board Comments:
The HRAB discussed the site and the potential visual impact the project would have on surrounding
historic resources. The project is adjacent to Sunrise (DHR #034-0486) which is listed on both the State
and National Register of Historic Places. The site also has extensive frontage on Hollow Road which is
listed as eligible for the historic register. There are also a number of identified historic sites within the
vicinity which have not been evaluated and therefore their historic significance is unknown.
The HRAB noted that there is a historic farm complex located on the site that had not been identified by
the applicant; the site consists of a vacant dwelling and barn which were pictured in the Environmental
Report. The HRAB stated that most likely this is a significant historic structure given the location and
photographs included in the Environmental Report. It was noted by the Board that this structure has
much architectural integrity (pattern of the house, central chimney, collection of structures, 18th century
house) and most likely important to the early history of this area. The HRAB noted that this structure
needs to be surveyed and preserved (mothballed), not demolished as proposed. The historical
significance of Hollow Road which is eligible for the State and Natural Register (also included in a book by
Willa Cather) was also discussed. The HRAB expressed concern that a viewshed analysis had not been
completed, and therefore the visual impact is unknown.
After reviewing the information provided, the Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB)
recommended approval of the CUP with the following comments:
• While a Phase 1 Archeological Survey will be completed as part of the permitting of this project,
the investigation into the structures on the subject property need to go further. The survey needs
to document the collection of historic structures on and around this development.
• A Phase II Survey needs to be conducted for the house/barn and surrounding site area.
• All proposed disturbance areas need to be moved away from the house and barn.
• The structures on the site need to be retained, stabilized and preserved (mothballed).
Meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.