PC_05-18-11_Meeting_MinutesMEETING MINUTES
• OF THE
FREDERICK COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Held in the Board Room of the Frederick County Administration Building at 107 North Kent Street in
Winchester, Virginia on May 18, 2011.
PRESENT: June M. Wilmot, Chairman /Member at Large; Roger L. Thomas. Vice Chairman/
Opequon District; Gary R. Oates, Stonewall District; J. Stanley Crockett, Stonewall District; Lawrence R.
Ambrogi, Shawnee District; 1 -1. Paige Manuel, Shawnee District; George J. Kriz, Gainesboro District;
Charles F. Triplett, Gainesboro District; Greg L. Unger, Back Creek District; Kevin O. Crosen, Back
Creek District: Philip E. Lemieux, Red Bud District: Roderick B. Williams, Comity Attorney; and Kevin
McKannan, Winchester Planning Commission Liaison.
ABSENT: Christopher M. Mohn, Red Bud District: Brian Madagan, Opequon District
STAFF PRESENT: Michael T. Ruddy, Deputy Planning Director; Candice E. Perkins, Senior Planner;
Mark R. Cheran, Zoning & Subdivision Administrator; and Renee' S. Arlotta. Clerk.
CALL TO ORDER & ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Chairman Wilmot called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Upon motion made by Commissioner Kriz and seconded by Commissioner Triplett, the
Planning Commission unanimously adopted the May 18, 2011, Planning Commission agenda as
presented for this evening's meeting.
MINUTES
Upon motion made by Commissioner Kriz and seconded by Commissioner Triplett, the
minutes of April 6, 201 1 were unanimously approved as presented.
Upon motion made by Commissioner Kriz and seconded by Commissioner Triplett, the
minutes of April 20, 2011, were unanimously approved as presented.
Frederick County Planning Commission Page 2752
Minutes of May 18, 2011
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COMMITTEE REPORTS
Comprehensive Plans & Pro2rams Subcommittee (CPPC) — 5/09/11 Mtg.
Commissioner Kriz reported the CPPC discussed the Senseny /Eastern Frederick Urban
Areas Land Use Plan, which will be presented to the Commission at this evening's meeting by staff. The
CPPC was also provided a brief update on the Coin prehensive Policy Plan review by the Board of
Supervisors.
Sanitation Authority (SA) — 5/17/11 Mtg.
Commissioner Unger reported 6.65 inches of rain in April, which is up considerably;
average rainfall is typically three inches or less per month. He said the north quarry at the Diehl plant
was up about four feet, which is good. The SA is still having problems with rags in the system in the
Stephens City area and this is becoming quite serious now with all of the flooding. Commissioner Unger
stated that the SA has resolved the issue with the tank at the Lutheran Home on Route 50. He also
reported about an odor problem at the Parkins Mill Plant and concrete slabs are being placed to correct the
situation.
Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB) — 5/17/11 Mtg.
Commissioner Oates reported that the HRAB received an update from AT &T's
representative stating that the items requested by the HRAB at the previous meeting would not be done
because the applicant did not believe the items were reasonable. Those items were: 1) To camouflage the
pole to blend in with the surroundings; 2) To have an architect document the four nearby houses to see if
they would qualify for the national registry; 3) To reduce the tower's height to the minimum needed and
not the 199 feet requested; and, 4) To move the tower closer to the woods so it would not be as obvious.
Commissioner Oates said the HRAB's recommendation to the Planning Commission and the Board of
Supervisors is for denial.
Commissioner Oates said the second item was a rezoning application at the old Stone
Restaurant in Clearbrook. There were concerns about increasing the truck traffic in such a congested area
and eroding the historic nature of the area. He said after much deliberation, the Board voted to
recommend approval based on four conditions by the applicant: I) Remove all of the entrances near the
Hopewell Road intersection with Route I I and place screening in those islands; 2) Preserve the historic
house on the property that is a Quaker -built house from the 1700's and consider an adaptive reuse; 3)
Offer a proffer to never demolish the house; 4) Provide architectural documentation of the house.
•
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Minutes of May 18, 2011
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Winchester Planning Commission
® Mr. Kevin McKannan, Winchester Planning Commission Liaison, reported that the
Winchester Planning Commission is primarily working on mixed -use approvals at this time. Mr.
McKannan said the Commission is striving to balance the mix of various uses along the Old Town
Corridor. He noted a recent approval of a nightclub use and a taco house is in the process; however,
existing residential units are located above and will need to be considered. In addition, Mr. McKannan
reported some renovations taking place in Jim Barnett Park to convert Preston Field to aI football field.
Chairman Wilmot called for citizen comments on any issue not on this'evening's agenda.
No one came forward to speak and Chairman Wilmot closed the citizen comment portion of the meeting.
PUBLIC HEARING
An ordinance to amend the Frederick County Code, Chapter 165, Zoning, Article 1, General
Provisions; Amendments; and Conditional Use Permits, Part 102 Amendments; Section 165- 102.06
Conditional Rezoning. This amendment provides revisions to the public hearing requirements for
• proffers.
Action — Recommended Approval
Senior Planner, Candice E. Perkins, reported that this revision will allow the Board of
Supervisors to waive the public hearing requirements for proffer revisions when the proposed revision
does not affect conditions of use or density and when the proposed revision has a benefit to the County.
Ms. Perkins said the proposed amendment is in conformance with the Code of Virginia. She noted that
the Board of Supervisors discussed the amendment at their meeting on April 27, 2011 and instructed the
staff to proceed with a public hearing.
Chairman Wilmot had a question for staff on the process; specifically, if the Commission
would simply see the request, but not act, as it moves forward for the Board's action. Ms. Perkins said
the Board of Supervisors would be the body that needs to waive the public hearing requirement. She said
if they did waive the public hearing requirement, the request would come back through as a public
meeting item and the Planning Commission would make a recommendation to the Board.
Chairman Wilmot next opened the public hearing and called for citizen comments. No
one came forward to speak and Chairman Wilmot closed the public comment portion of the hearing.
No other issues of concern were raised by the Commission.
•
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Minutes of May 18, 2011
Page2754
Commissioner Thomas made a motion to recommend approval of the ordinance
amendment. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Kriz and unanimously passed.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Frederick County Planning Commission does hereby recommend approval
of an ordinance to amend the Frederick County Code, Chapter 165, Zoning, Article I, General Provisions;
Amendments; and Conditional Use Permits, Part 102 Amendments; Section 165- 102.06 Conditional
Rezoning. This amendment provides revisions to the public hearing requirements for proffers.
(Note: Commissioners Mohn and Madagan were absent from the meeting.)
COMMISSION DISCUSSION
Introduction and discussion of the Senseny/ Eastern Frederick Urban Areas Land Use Plan. This
discussion is an introduction to the land use plan and an opportunity to provide input on ensuring a
coordinated approach to addressing the future growth of this area.
No Action Required
Deputy Planning Director, Michael T. Ruddy, reported that the Comprehensive Plans &
Programs Committee (CPPC) received an introduction to this plan at their meeting on May 9, 2011, as
directed by the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Ruddy noted that the various area land use plans are very
important to the County's planning effort because they provide the ability to implement the
Comprehensive Policy Plan in a detailed area, while working with the citizens and stakeholders of the
area. Mr. Ruddy said this study effort will encompass the area of the County that is generally east of the
City of Winchester and Route 522 South to the Clarke County line and from Redbud Run in the north to
the Opequon Creek in the south. He said the study area will include the Route 7 and Route 50 Business
Corridor Plans which were both adopted in 1994. Mr. Ruddy noted that the study area has been expanded
to incorporate the eastern portion of the Southern Frederick Land Use Plan, which was adopted in 1999.
The study area includes both the Red Bud and Shawnee Districts and a small portion of the Stonewall
District. Mr. Ruddy said there has been consideration of expanding the area further to bring it all the way
to I -81 and north of Route 37. The reasoning basically recognized that the eastern) part of Frederick
County is being considered and this would provide the ability to capture and complete the entire eastern
part of Frederick County. The expansion would pull in some key areas, such as Papermill Road and
Warrior Drive extended, tying into the Russell 150 project, and it will encompass a considerable amount
of land within this area.
Mr. Ruddy said an important part of this study is the public involvement and input;
therefore, in addition to working with the various community partners and stakeholders, it was important
to get as many citizens involved as early as possible in the process. He said the CPPC is hoping to use the
working groups, similar to those used with the update to the Comprehensive Policy Plan. The working
groups will cover various discussions concerning urban areas, particularly business and residential
development, transportation, historic and natural resources, and public facilities. Mr. Ruddy said the
study's efforts will attempt to identify and understand a variety of important issues, both current and
future, and promote a coordinated approach to addressing the future of this rapidly evolving part of
Frederick County.
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Chairman Wilmot asked Mr. Ruddy how much of the work will be done on the web. Mr.
Ruddy said there will need to be quite a bit of communication, which will be done through the working
groups and using the internet and the web site. Mr. Ruddy also anticipated getting out into the
community, possibly at the Greenwood Elementary School, the Greenwood Fire Hall, and into the Justes
Drive area. In addition, the many homeowners associations in this area will be involved, along with the
Winchester Regional Airport, Shenandoah University, and the Frederick County Landfill.
OTHER
2011 meeting.
Chairman Wilmot announced there were no pending items for the Conunission's June 1,
Upon motion made by Commissioner Kriz and seconded by Commissioner Triplett, the
Planning Commission unanimously voted to cancel their June 1, 2011 meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
No further business remained to be discussed and upon motion made by Commissioner
Kriz and second by Commissioner Thomas, the meeting adjourned at 7:16 p.m. by a unanimous vote.
Respectfully
_qv��
June M. Wilmot,
Eric R. Lawrence, Secretary
Frederick County Planning Commission Page 2756
Minutes of May 18, 2011