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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC_10-20-99_Meeting_MinutesMEETING MINUTES OF THE • FREDERICK COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION This meeting was held in the Board Room of the Frederick County Administration Building at 107 North Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia on October 20, 1999. PRESENT: Charles S. DeHaven, Jr., Chairman/Stonewall District; John R. Marker, Vice- Chairman/ Back Creek District; Marjorie H. Copenhaver, Back Creek District; Robert A. Morris, Shawnee District; S. Blaine Wilson, Shawnee District; Richard C. Ours, Opequon District; George L. Romine, Citizen at Large; and Jay Cook, Legal Counsel. ABSENT: John H. Light, Stonewall District; W. Wayne Miller, Gainesboro District; Roger L. Thomas, Opequon District; Terry Stone, Gainesboro District; Robert M. Sager, Board Liaison; and Vincent DiBenedetto, Winchester City Liaison STAFF PRESENT: Evan A. Wyatt, Deputy Director; Michael T. Ruddy, Zoning Administrator; and Renee' S. Arlotta, Clerk. CALL TO ORDER Chairman DcHaven called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. APPLICATIONS ACTION SUMMARY Chairman DeHaven accepted the report for the Commission's information. COMMITTEE REPORTS Transportation Committee - 10/05/99 Mtg. Mr. Michael T. Ruddy, Zoning Administrator, reported that the committee discussed the Secondary Road Plan. • Frederick County Planning Commission Minutes of October 20, 1999 Page 426 -2- 0 Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB) - 10/19/99 Mtg. Mr. Robert M. Morris, HRAB member, reported that the HRAB discussed possible projects the HRAB could embark upon this year. Mr. Morris said that in the past, the HRAB has only responded to zoning requests; however, the HRAB believes there is a great deal more the group could do, perhaps pursuing opportunities for historic overlay districts, or becoming a certified local government for historic preservation. Mr. Morris also reported that Maral Kalbian was present at the meeting with a number of copies of her new book entitled, "Frederick County, Virginia - History Through Architecture." Sanitation Authority (SA) - 10/18/99 Mtg. Mrs. Marjorie Copenhaver, Planning Commission liaison to the SA, said that Wellington Jones, the SA's Engineer /Director, reported that l0%" of rain fell in September, which raised and stabilized quarry levels. She reported that the SA concluded test pumping at the Back Creek well and during the test, 1,200 gallons per minute were pumped for 96 hours. She said the results were positive. Mrs. Copenhaver also reported that new connections for water and sewer have been running about 400 per year for the past few years, according to Mr. Jones. She said Mr. Jones had commented that these figures point to the fact that growth within the County is "controlled growth," as compared to the end of the 1980's, when the SA was averaging about 1,000 new connections per year. PUBLIC HEARINGS Request to expand the Urban Development Area (UDA) by incorporation of a 16.9 -acre portion of a 41- acre parcel. This parcel is located on the south side of Cedar Creek Grade (Route 622), adjacent to the City of Winchester Corporate Boundary, in the Back Creek Magisterial District, and is identified with P.I.N. 63 -A -2, zoned RA (Rural Areas). Action - Recommended Approval with Condition Mr. Evan A. Wyatt, Deputy Planning Director, said that the Comprehensive Plans and Programs Subcommittee (CPPS) considered a request to allow the expansion of the Urban Development Area (UDA) to incorporate a 16.9 -acre portion of a 41 -acre parcel, which is severed by the City /County boundary line. He said the property is owned by Joseph A. Allen, et als. Mr. Wyatt advised the Commission that the Frederick County Sanitation Authority Board approved a request to allowthis acreage to be served with public water and sewer by the City of Winchester Public Utilities, as there are no lines from the Frederick County Sanitation Authority in this area. L J Frederick County Planning Commission Minutes of October 20, 1999 Page 427 -3- Mr. Wyatt continued, stating that the CPPS believed the Allen request was analogous to the • Westridge Subdivision UDA expansion request, which was also a portion of a larger tract that was severed by the City /County line. He said the CPPS believed the Allen request would allow for improved public services by creating a local street network between the Allen parcel and the Westridge Subdivision, connecting Cedar Creek Grade (Rt. 622) and Middle Road (Rt. 628). Mr. Wyatt stated that the CPPS recommended approval of the Allen request with the condition that the development of the property provide access from Cedar Creek Grade to a connection with the Westridge Subdivision to ensure improved public services through a complete road network. Mr. Stephen M. Gyurisin with G. W. Clifford & Associates, Inc., the engineering/design firm representing the applicant, was available to answer questions from the Commission. Mr. Gyurisin pointed out two different connection points that could be made with Westridge Subdivision. Members of the Planning Commission believed the extension of Westview Lane in Section M was the most important connection needed because it would allow direct access to the Frederick County portion of the development, via Cedar Creek Grade. It was noted that the County's public service personnel, such as the sheriff, fire and rescue, and school buses, would not have to traverse streets in the City of Winchester to get to the site. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the request with the condition that the development provide access to Cedar Creek Grade from Westview Lane in Section III to ensure improved public services. There were no citizen continents. 0 Upon motion made by Mr. Ours and seconded by Mr. Romine, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does hereby unanimously recommend approval of the request to expand the Urban Development Area (UDA) by the incorporation of a 16.9 -acre portion of a 41 -acre parcel, identified with P.I.N. 63 -A -2 in the Back Creek District, and owned by Joseph A. Allen, et als with the condition that the development provide access to Cedar Creek Grade from Westview Lane in Section III to ensure improved public services. Request by Fellowship Bible Church to extend water and sewer service outside of the Sewer and Water Service Area (SWSA). This parcel is located on the south side of Middle Road (Rt. 628) and the north side of Apple Valley Road (Rt. 652) in the Back Creek Magisterial District and is identified with P.I.N. 63 -A -14. Action - Recommended Approval Mr. Evan A. Wyatt, Deputy Planning Director, stated that the Comprehensive Plans and Programs Subcommittee (CPPS) considered a request to allow the extension of public water and sewer service to the Fellowship Bible Church property during their September 13, 1999 meeting. Mr. Wyatt said the Frederick County Planning Commission Minutes of October 20, 1999 Page 428 4- representatives of the Fellowship Bible Church are limited in their ability to expand their facility due to the inability to expand their drainfield area, as well as the fact that their well system does not have the capability to provide adequate fire suppression. He said the church desires to install a 2%2" force main sewer line and a water line of adequate size to provide fire protection. He explained that the Frederick County Sanitation Authority (FCSA) requires developers to provide a minimum of an eight - inch fire line and it must be dedicated to the Authority. Therefore, this request would result in the development of a private sewer force main and a public water system for the fire suppression. Mr. Wyatt continued, stating that the CPPS felt two issues had changed since they denied a similar request for this service in 1996. First, the recent extension of the Sewer and Water Service Area (SWSA) boundary along the south side of Apple Valley Road (Rt. 652) to the intersection of Middle Road (Rt. 628), places the SWSA boundary directly across Apple Valley Road from the Fellowship Bible Church property, whereas, this boundary previously existed %2 mile south. Secondly the 1996 request proposed to connect to the City of Winchester Public Utilities system within the Westridge Subdivision which was located 3/4 mile from this property, whereas this request would connect to the Apple Valley Water and Sewer System which will ultimately be developed across from the Fellowship Bible Church property, when the Blackburn Limited partnership tract is developed. Mr. Wyatt stated that the CPPS recommended unanimous approval of allowing public water and private sewer service extension to the Fellowship Bible Church property based on these changes in conditions. Mr. Richard Hardison, representing the Fellowship Bible Church, was available to answer questions from the Commission. There were no public comments. . The Planning Commission agreed with the recommendation made by the CPPS that the request was appropriate, based on the two significant changes in conditions which had occurred since 1996. The Planning Commission had no other issues of concern. Upon motion made by Mr. Marker and seconded by Mr. Morris, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does hereby unanimously recommend approval of the request by Fellowship Bible Church to extend water and sewer service outside of the Sewer and Water Service Area (SWSA). PUBLIC MEETING Subdivision Application #21 -99 of Frank W. Nichols, submitted by Smallwood Homes, to subdivide a 0.682 -acre tract into two lots. This property is located on Fairfax Drive, 239' northwest of its intersection with Montgomery Circle, and is identified with P.I.N. 75 -A -72B in the Opequon Magisterial District. Action - Recommended Approval w/ Exception of Sidewalks Frederick County Planning Commission Minutes of October 20, 1999 Page 429 -5- Mr. Michael T. Ruddy, Zoning Administrator, stated that the request is for the subdivision • of a 29,740 - square -foot tract into two lots and the Master Development Plan requirement has been waived due to the size and scale of the request. Mr. Ruddy said that this is a residual parcel located between both the Fredericktowne and the Fredericktowne Estates subdivisions. He explained that the proposed lots comply with the dimensional requirements of the single - family detached urban housing type, in particular, the minimum lot size of 12,000 square feet. Mr. Ruddy continued, stating that the subdivision as submitted appears to satisfy the requirements of the Subdivision Ordinance with the exception of the required sidewalks. Mr. Ruddy said that sidewalks are required to be installed in the right -of -way along local streets in any subdivision containing one or more lots of less than 15,000 square feet in size. He said that due to the fact that the developments surrounding this proposed subdivision do not contain any sidewalks, and due to the size of the proposed lots, it may be appropriate to allow an exception to this requirement in this case. Mr. Steve Smallwood was representing this application and he was available to answer questions from the Commission. There were no citizen cmrunents concerning this subdivision application. No major issues of concern were raised by members of the Commission. Upon motion made by Mr. Ours and seconded by Mr. Romine, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does hereby unanimously recommend approval of the Frank W. Nichols property subdivision with an exception to the Frederick County Subdivision Ordinance, Section 144-18, Provision of Sidewalks, contingent upon the applicant satisfying all of the review agency comments. ADJOURNMENT unanimous vote. No further business remained to be discussed and the meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m. by Frederick County Planning Commission Minutes of October 20, 1999 Page 430 Respectfully submitted,