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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC_04-21-99_Meeting_MinutesPr MEETING 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 April 21, 1999. PRESENT: Charles S. DeHaven, Jr., Chairman/Stonewall District; John R. Marker, Back Creek District; Robert A. Morris, Shawnee District; Marjorie H. Copenhaver, Back Creek District; John H. Light, Stonewall District; W. Wayne Miller, Gainesboro District; Richard C. Ours, Opequon District; Roger L. Thomas, Opequon District; and Jay Cook, Legal Counsel. ABSENT: S. Blaine Wilson, Shawnee District; Terry Stone, Gainesboro District; George L. Romine, Citizen at Large; Robert M. Sager, Board Liaison; and Vincent DiBenedetto, Winchester City Liaison; STAFF PRESENT: Kris C. Tierney, Planning Director; Evan A. Wyatt, Deputy Director; Michael T. Ruddy, Planner II; Eric R. Lawrence, Zoning Administrator; and Renee' S. Arlotta, Clerk. CALL TO ORDER • Chairman DeHaven called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 3, 1999 AND MARCH 17, 1999 Upon motion made by Mr. Marker and seconded by Mr. Thomas, the minutes of March 3, 1999 were unanimously approved as presented. Upon motion made by Mr. Marker and seconded by Mr. Thomas, the minutes of March 17, 1999 were unanimously approved as presented. APPLICATIONS ACTION SUMMARY Chairman DeHaven accepted the report for the Commission's information. • Frederick County Planning Commission Minutes of April 21, 1999 Page 348 -2- • Discussion Reeardine the Back Creek Elementary School Facility on Middle Road Mr. Evan A. Wyatt, Deputy Planning Director, introduced the Assistant to the Superintendent of Public Schools, Mr. Thomas Sullivan, who was present to address the Commission regarding the Back Creek Elementary School Facility on Middle Road. Mr. Thomas Sullivan provided an overview of the project; he presented a general site plan to demonstrate the layout of the facility and addressed questions from the Commission. Some of the specific information and features of the project included: 1) the site is located on the south side of Middle Road (Rt. 628) approximately two miles west of Route 37; 2) the total site area is 37.75 acres; 3) the site contains drainfields because there are no public water and sewer facilities to the site; 4) the facility will contain 74,000 square feet of floor area and will accommodate 550 students; 5) there will be recreational facilities available at the school facility which can be programmed for use by the Department of Parks & Recreation; these facilities include two soccer fields, two ball fields, and a full -size gymnasium; 6) the facility will open for the 2000 -2001 school year; and, 7) this facility will close Robinson School. The main concern expressed by the Commission centered on effective traffic flow between automobiles and buses, in and out of the school facility, in the mornings and afternoons. It was noted that Middle Road is getting increasingly more traffic and they did not want to see an area of congestion created at this location. Mr. Sullivan stated that the procedure that works well at other schools is that automobiles are prohibited from entering the bus drive area. Mr. Sullivan said that parents picking up children use the side parking area and enter the school's side entrance. Planning Commission members voiced a desire to get this section of Middle Road on the Secondary Road Improvement Plan for widening and improvements, particularly the two to three mile section from Rt. 37 in the Stonebrook area out to the school, because Middle Road wasn't designed for the amount of bus traffic it will be receiving. Mr. Thomas moved to grant the staff administrative authority to approve the site plan and, in addition, requested that the staff check with VDOT on the ability to get road improvements on Middle Road over the next couple years before the school opens. This motion was seconded by Mr. Ours and unanimously passed. Discussion RePardine the Handley Reeional Library Facility on Tasker Road Mr. Michael T. Ruddy, Planner 11, presented the site plan for the Frederick County Branch of the Handley Library to be located on Tasker Road, directly in front of the lake at Lakeside. Mr. Ruddy stated that the site plan generally meets all the requirements of the zoning ordinance, however, one item that is yet to be resolved is the provision of sidewalks in conjunction with the project. Mr. Ruddy said that the subdivision ordinance requires that a sidewalk be provided within the road right -of -way when developing adjacent to a major collector road and the zoning ordinance requires that safe pedestrian walkways be provided • Frederick County Planning Commission Minutes of April 21, 1999 Page 349 I Pr -3- to all uses on land included in a site plan. Mr. Ruddy asked the Commission, in light of the potential future road improvements to Tasker Road (Rt. 642), to allow for a modified sidewalk connection from the library to Lakeside Drive and the adjoining Lakeside Condominiums. Mr. Edward Strawsnyder, Frederick County Public Works Director/ Engineer, was also present to answer questions from the Commission. The Planning Commission reviewed the site plan and recognized the importance of providing safe pedestrian access to the library from the adjoining residential neighborhoods. Upon motion made by Mr. Thomas, seconded by Mr. Marker, and unanimously passed, the Commission recommended approval of the modification and relocation ofthe required sidewalks as follows: approval of the relocated sidewalk on the west side of the library, but placed in a location extending to the property line northeast; and, authorized the staff to administratively approve the site plan from this point forward with a contingency of addressing the Tasker Road access issue in the future, if it becomes appropriate. Discussion Regarding the Proposed Update to the 1999 -2000 Comprehensive Policy Plan Mr. Evan A. Wyatt, Deputy Planning Director, presented the 1999 Comprehensive Policy Plan as recommended by the Comprehensive Plans & Programs Subcommittee at their meeting of April 14, 1999. Mr. Wyatt reviewed and answered questions from the Commission on the following six major sections of the 1999 Plan: 1) Southern Frederick Land Use Plan; 2) Modifications to Existing Language as Proposed by • Various Agencies; 3) Amendments to the Eastern Road Plan Map; 4) Sewer and Water Service Area Expansion; 5) Third Winchester Battlefield Preservation Plan; and 6) Relocation of Information to the Annual Report. Planning Director, Kris C. Tierney, responded to Commissioners' questions regarding the Third Winchester Battlefield Preservation Plan. The questions centered on public opinion regarding acceptance of the Plan and whether some landowners would feel their land is being devalued due to the limiting of sales potential by not having the property within the Sewer and Water Service Area. Mr. Wyatt continued vviththe Comprehensive Policy Plan discussion and suggestedthat annual statistical information, such as school enrollment data, be removed from the Comprehensive Policy Plan and placed in the Annual?Report. He said that if this is done, the update of the Comprehensive Policy Plan does not have to occur each year because tables and figures need to be revised. He said that the Annual Report could be included as an addendum to the Plan. Mr. Wyatt believed the Comprehensive Policy Plan would be ready for public hearing at the Commission's second meeting in May, which would be May 19. The Planning Commission was in agreement with the Plan as presented and instructed the staff to proceed with scheduling of a public hearing. • Frederick County Planning Commission Minutes of April 21, 1999 Page 350 PV M ADJOURNMENT No further business remained to be discussed and the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. by unanimous vote. Frederick County Planning Conunission Minutes of April 21, 1999 Page 351 Respectfully submitted,