HRAB 11-21-23 Meeting MinutesFrederick County Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB)
November 21, 2023
First Floor Conference Room of the County, Administrative Building
107 North Kent Street, Winchester, VA
Members Present: Gary Crawford, Lucas Cook, David Sforza, Nicholas Powers, Dana Newcomb
Members Absent: Robert Meadows, William Orndoff, Robbie Molden, Jack Owens
Others Present: Kayla Peloquin, Maral Kalbian, Carole Taylor (TTR Sotheby's International Realty),
Jan Van Haute, Steve Pettler (Harrison & Johnston), John Regan (Christopher Land LLC), David
McElhaney (Urban, Ltd.), and David Frank (Pennoni)
Agenda Items:
Call to order at 6:00 p.m.
Item 1: Minutes
The September 19, 2023 minutes were approved unanimously.
Item 2: Review of Inn at Vaucluse Spring Conditional Use Permit (CUP) Application
The HRAB has been asked to provide a review agency comment pertaining to a CUP application for a
campground/tourist camp/recreation area/resort, a public restaurant, and a special event facility.
The +/-44.25 acre property (Property Identification Number: 84-A-53A) is in the RA (Rural Areas)
Zoning District. The property is located west of Martinsburg Pike (Route 11) and south off Vaucluse
Road (Route 638) in the Back Creek Magisterial District. An existing permit (CUP#02 -95) approved in
1995 for a bed and breakfast allows for 15 guest rooms and a restaurant for guests only.
Jan Van Haute and Carole Taylor explained the intention for a fine dining restaurant and boutique
hotel experience preserving the historic integrity of the Inn. The applicants stated that a major
renovation was done in 1995, therefore only minor cosmetic updates to the manor house will be
necessary. The applicants discussed plans for the restaurant to seat 45-50 people at a time and the
ways to share the history with the guests. The Manor House was built circa 1785 and other buildings
were added to the property thereafter.
Lucas Cook made a motion to recommend the applicants apply for the Inn at Vaucluse Spring to be
listed on the National Register of Historic Places. David Sforza seconded the motion. The motion
passed unanimously. Nick Powers abstained from the vote.
19
Item 3: Review of Jordan Springs Comprehensive Plan Amendment Application
The HRAB has been asked to provide a review agency comment on a Comprehensive Plan
Amendment Application #02-23 for Jordan Springs. The properties are +/-176.25 acres (Property
Identification Number: 44-A-294A) and +/- 55.67 acres (PIN: 44-A-294). The properties are located
south of the existing Snowden Bridge development, west of Jordan Springs Road (Route 664), and
north of Woods Mill Road (Route 660) in the Stonewall Magisterial District. Both properties are
currently split zoned RA (Rural Areas) and B2 (General Business) near the existing hotel. The
Comprehensive Plan for long range land use classifies these properties as remaining rural except for
the small portion of business around the hotel. The application proposes amending the long -range
land use to high-density residential.
Staff described the Comprehensive Plan amendment process that, if approved by the Board of
Supervisors, can change the long-range land use or guiding text in the Comprehensive Plan. The Board
of Supervisors reviews requests for amendments to the Comprehensive Plan annually and references
the plan when evaluating land-use applications. HRAB’s role is to provide input on the potential
impacts to historic resources from the proposal and provide recommendations. Should the Board of
Supervisors approve any amendments, a rezoning would still need to occur prior to development and
HRAB would have another opportunity to comment on more specifics at that time.
Staff added that a rezoning approved in 2001 changed the zoning from RA (Rural Areas) to B2 (General
Business) with a Historic Area (HA) Overlay Zone on approximately 10 acres surrounding the hotel.
Zoning Ordinance (§165-703) specifies what can and cannot be done in an HA overlay zone. HRAB
members expressed support for the HA overlay. The applicants stated the HA overlay is intended to
remain and that the hotel be preserved and incorporated into a recreational amenity for an active
adult community. The hotel has been used for many different purposes throughout history. HRAB
members discussed a potential safety concern of buried unexploded Civil War ammunition.
By a consensus, HRAB members recommended investigating if the state has maps of the property
that have been evaluated with Lidar or some form of ground penetrating radar to determine if
there are any potential hazards underground from the Civil War that should be removed or
avoided. Furthermore, members recommended applying to add the hotel to the National
Register of Historic Places and extend the historic preservation landbay shown on the concept
plan as much as possible to preserve the natural and built environment, particularly around the
creek bed.
Item 4: Review Brockton Comprehensive Plan Amendment Application
The HRAB has been asked to provide a review agency comment pertaining to a Comprehensive Plan
Amendment Application #03-23 for the Brockton Property. The property is +/-6.39 acres (Property
Identification Number: 42-A-194) located on the western side of the intersection of N. Frederick Pike
(Route 522) and Route 37 in the Gainesboro Magisterial District. The property is currently zoned RA
(Rural Areas) and the Comprehensive Plan for long range land use classifies this property as remaining
rural. The application proposes amending the long-range land use from rural to business.
20
David Frank stated this site is located at the intersection of two highly traveled corridors and a
business use makes sense given the location and surrounding land uses. There was a discussion on
the Civil War fort near James Wood and if there is anything left of the earthen fort near what is
presently Redoubt Lane.
By a consensus, HRAB recommended investigating and documenting the remnants of the nearby Civil
War earthen fort where present day Redoubt Lane (named after the fort) extends to the southeast
of the property. Although the construction of Route 37 likely altered the landscape, there may be
some history left to uncover from the Second Winchester Battlefield.
Item 5: Review Sargent Comprehensive Plan Amendment Application
The HRAB has been asked to provide a review agency comment pertaining to a Comprehensive Plan
Amendment Application #04-23 for the Sargent properties. The properties are +/-117 acres (Property
Identification Number: 76-A-42) and +/- 5.00 acres (PIN: 76-A-42A). The properties are located west
of Front Royal Pike (Route 522 S), south of Tasker Road (Route 642), and east of White Oak Road
(Route 636) in the Shawnee Magisterial District. Both properties are currently zoned RA (Rural Areas)
and the Comprehensive Plan long range land use classifies these properties as mixed-use
industrial/office and industrial. The application proposes amending the long-range land use to high-
density residential and industrial.
David Frank described the intent to utilize the natural topography & ravine to ease the transition
between residential land uses to the west and industrial land uses to the east. HRAB members
expressed support for that concept.
By consensus, HRAB recommended further study of the Sherman-Rogers-Sargent house on the
property.
Item 6: Historic Plaque Program
Staff provided an update on the Historic Plaque Program for which two plaques remain from the
original 1995 order of 40 plaques. As discussed at the September meeting, letters were mailed out
and staff followed up with to the owners of Long Green and Hackwood. Both property owners plan
to attend the January 10, 2024 Board of Supervisors meeting to receive their plaques. Staff stated
that no funding is available in the county budget to continue the program and any continuation would
require outside funding.
There was a discussion on requiring developers to contribute to a fund for the historic plaques
through the rezoning process. Members agreed to think about how this may function and continue
discussion at the next HRAB meeting.
Item 7: Meeting Time Discussion
21
Staff mentioned an effort to move HRAB meetings to regular business hours. A survey was sent out
and 5 members responded. Most responses and attendees indicated Friday morning would be the
best option. Staff will look into confirming a new meeting time for the new year.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:44 p.m.
22