PC_08-20-97_Meeting_Minutes•` MEETING MINUTES
OF THE
FREDERICK COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Held in the Board Room of the the Frederick County Administration Building at 107 North Kent Street in
Winchester, Virginia on August 20, 1997.
PRESENT: Charles S. DeHaven, Jr., Chairman/Stonewall District; John R. Marker, Vice- Chairman/Back
Creek District; John H. Light, Stonewall District; Robert A. Morris, Shawnee District; Terry Stone, Gainesboro
District; Marjorie H. Copenhaver, Back Creek District; George L. Romine, Citizen at Large; W. Wayne Miller,
Gainesboro District; Roger L. Thomas, Opequon District; Robert M. Sager, Board Liaison; Vincent DiBenedetto,
Winchester City Liaison; and Jay Cook, Legal Counsel.
ABSENT: Richard C. Ours, Opcquon District; and S. Blaine Wilson, Shawnee District.
STAFF PRESENT: Kris C. Tierney, Director; Evan A. Wyatt, Deputy Director; Eric R. Lawrence, Planner II;
and Renee' S. Arlotta, Clerk.
• CALL TO ORDER
Chairman DeHaven called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
MINUTES OF JULY 16, 1997
Upon motion made by Mr. Marker and seconded by Mr. Romine, the minutes of July 16, 1997
were unanimously approved as presented.
BIMONTHLY REPORT
Chairman DeHaven accepted the Bimonthly Report for the Commission's information.
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• COMMITTEE REPORTS
Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB) - 08/19/97 Mtg.
Mr. Morris reported that the HRAB reviewed a proposed application for a conditional use permit
by T. P. and Susan Goodman for outdoor social and recreational activities at the Hackman Estate. Mr. Morris
said that the HRAB unanimously recommended the approval of the conditional use permit.
Economic Development Commission (EDC)
Mr. Romine reported that considerable effort is being put into training and workforce skills
improvements for the industrial group and the EDC is also dealing with the subject of a foreign trade zone.
Sanitation Authority (SA) - 08/19/97 Mtg.
Mrs. Copenhaver reported that the SA had a routine meeting, however, they will be having a
joint meeting with the Board of Supervisors on September 24 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss their long -range plans, their
five -year plan, and their annual report.
•
Winchester City Planning Commission (WPC)
Mr. DiBenedetto reported that the WPC met regarding property that the City has joint custody
over, Westminster- Canterbury. He said that Westminster- Canterbury had submitted plans to amend the
contingencies of the original development plan with regard to setbacks, building heights, etc. Mr. DiBenedetto
said that the plan submitted generated an interesting public hearing, at the end of which the WPC felt the changes
were too drastic and some guidance was provided as to what might be acceptable. He added that the WPC tabled
the plan and it will be reviewed again during next month's meeting.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Proposed Amendments to the Frederick County Code, Chapter 165, Zoning, Article IV, Supplemental
Use Regulations, Section 165 -23, Setback Requirements, Section 165 -27, Off - Street Parking; Parking
Lots, Section 165 -29, Motor Vehicle Access, Section 165 -30, Signs, Section 165 -35, Nuisances, Section 165-
36, Landscaping, Section 165 -37, Buffer and Screening Requirements, Section 165 -47, Landfills,
Junkyards, Trash Disposal and Inoperable Vehicles, and Section 165 -48.7, Utilities; and Article XXI,
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• Definitions. These amendments will establish development design standards that are intended to enhance
corridor appearance.
Action - Recommended Approval
Mr. Wyatt presented the proposed amendments to Article IV, the Supplemental Use Regulations,
and Article XXI, Definitions. Mr. Wyatt stated that the amendments are intended to enhance existing design
requirements for corridor appearance within our conununity. He said that during the Planning Commission
Retreat in February of 1997, the Board of Supervisors expressed a great deal of interest in corridor appearance
and asked the Development Review and Regulations Subcommittee (DRRS) to begin work on it. Mr. Wyatt said
that the DRRS has received input from the development and design community and has worked with the Chamber
of Commerce to create "intent statements" which were used to draft the proposed amendments. Mr. Wyatt
showed slides as lie reviewed each section of the text amendments.
A question was raised regarding the three foot earth berm within the 30' setback. A Planning
Commissioner wanted to know if die berm of die raised islands would gradually decrease to allow visibility. Mr.
Wyatt answered that there will be visibility. Mr. Wyatt said that VDOT's site distance and visibility
requirements will have to be met.
Another question was raised regarding monument signs. A member of the Commission asked
if the proposed 150' height allowance was consistent with most of the existing signs and whether it was enough
of an incentive for using monument signs instead of pole signs, Mr. Wyatt replied that the DRRS believed that
the signs currently in place in the County, which allow 150 square feet, should be the upper limit; and they felt
a momnnent sign of that size would be very visible. Mr. Wyatt was not certain whether the 150' would provide
® enough incentive.
No other issues were raised by the Commission.
There were no public comments.
Planning Commissioners congratulated the Planning Staff on the amendments. They
recognized that a lot of thought and hard work had gone into writing the proposed amendments.
Upon motion made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Mr. Romine,
BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does hereby unanimously recommend
approval of dne amendments to the Frederick County Code, Chapter 165, Zoning, Article IV, Supplemental Use
Regulations, Section 165 -23, Setback Requirements, Section 165 -27, Off -Street Parking; Parking Lots, Section
165 -29, Motor Vehicle Access, Section 165 -30, Signs, Section 165 -35, Nuisances, Section 165 -36, Landscaping,
Section 165 -37, Buffer and Screening Requirements, Section 165 -47, Landfills, Junkyards, Trash Disposal and
Inoperable Vehicles, and Section 165 -48.7 Utilities; and Article XXI, Definitions. These amendments establish
development design standards intended to enhance corridor appearance.
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Frederick County Plowing Conanission
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DISCUSSION ITEMS
• Discussion of the Flex -Tech Development Concept
No Action Required
Mr. Lawrence said that the Development Review and Regulations Subcommittee (DRRS) has
begun consideration of the Flex -Tech retail /industrial land use concept, which has been encouraged by the local
development community, in particular, the Winchester - Frederick County Industrial Parks Association. Mr.
LaRTence said that this land use concept combines retail, warehousing, distribution, and manufacturing elements.
Mr. Lawrence next presented slides which illustrated the Flex -Tech concept in northern Virginia.
Mr. Lawrence stated that several of the challenges will be to decide in which district, if any, flex -
tech should be permitted; what uses would be appropriate within flex -tech, how to separate truck traffic from the
vehicular traffic; and what performance standards will be necessary.
One of the Commission's primary concerns, if flex -tech was permitted in existing industrial
parks, was the problem of creating substantial retail traffic congestion for existing users in areas that are already
partially developed. It was pointed out that this additional traffic would not have been considered during the
design of the original master development plan, and major road modifications might be necessary. No one
questioned that this type of environment was needed, however, it was expressed that existing flex -techs in the
metropolitan areas had problems mixing large trucks and retail customers.
Commission members suggested having a separate area within the industrial park for flex -tech.
• They believed the industrial park should be designed for flex -tech in the original concept, not put in after the
industrial park had already been planned. They suggested some size requirements, such as maximum square
footage or total number of occupants per building, but then allow flexibility for the park owner to work out other
details. Conmmission members also discussed the possibility of creating a new zoning district especially for flex -
tech, with minimum size requirements, buffering requirements, etc.
Mr. Lawrence said that he would relay the Commission's concerns and suggestions to the DRRS
for their future discussions on this topic.
ADJOURNMENT
No further business remained to be discussed and the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. by
unammous vote.
Kfis . TieWrcy'Sec
Charles S. DeHaven, Chairman
(Jr.)
CJ
Frederick County Planning Commission
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