PC_09-20-95_Meeting_MinutesMEETING MINUTES
OF THE
FREDERICK COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Held in the Board Room of the Old Frederick County Court House in Winchester, Virginia on
September 20, 1995.
PRESENT: Planning Commissioners present were: Charles S. DeHaven, Jr.,
Chairman /Stonewall District; John R. Marker, Vice Chairman /Back Creek
District; Robert A. Morris, Shawnee District; Richard C. Shickle, Gainesboro
District; John H. Light, Stonewall District; Richard C. Ours, Opequon District;
Marjorie H. Copenhaver, Back Creek District; Roger L. Thomas, Opequon
District; Robert M. Sager, Board Liaison; Vincent DiBenedetto, Winchester City
Liaison; and Jay Cook, Legal Counsel.
ABSENT: S. Blaine Wilson, Shawnee District; Terry Stone, Gainesboro District; and George
L. Romine, Citizen at Large.
Staff present: W. Watkins, Director and Secretary; Evan A. Wyatt, Planner 11; and
Renee' S. Arlotta, Minutes Recorder.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman DeHaven called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Upon motion made by Mrs. Copenhaver and seconded by Mr. Thomas, the minutes
of the August 16, 1995 meeting were unanimously approved as presented.
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Chairman DeHaven accepted the Bimonthly Report for the Commission's
information.
Comprehensive Plans & Programs Committee ( PM - 9/25/95 Mtg.
Mrs. Copenhaver said that the CPPS has scheduled September 25, 1995 for the next
Round Hill Community Meeting. She said that the meeting will be held at the Round Hill Fire
Hall at 7:30 p.m. Mrs. Copenhaver said that the Committee will be presenting their proposals
to the Round Hill residents at that time.
Transportation Committee - 9/12/95 Mtg.
Mr. Thomas reported that the Transportation Committee reviewed the Secondary
Road improvement Plan at a public hearing. Mr. Thomas said that the plan will be forwarded to
the Planning Commission in October for action.
Sanitation Authority - 9/20/95 Mtg.
Mrs. Copenhaver reported that the Sanitation Authority has scaled down their plans
for their office complex because of costs. She said that they are planning to award the bid on
October 4. Mrs. Copenhaver reported that the completion date for the Parkins Mill project is
behind schedule because of a health emergency of one of the contract supervisors. She also
reported that there are problems running the sewer on Route 522 between the mobile home park
to Route 50. She explained that VDOT has left the contract for the extension of Route 522 to
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Route 50 and they will not grant the right -of -way the Sanitation Authority needs to put in the
sewer line because the contractor has authority over the land.
Winchester City Planning Commission - 9/12/95 & 9/19/95 Mtgs.
Mr. Shickle said that the City Planning Commission discussed F & M Bank's plans
for 9 Court Square.
Mr. Roger Koontz, citizen from the Gainesboro District, came forward to discuss
his opposition and concerns about the proposed expansions to the James Wood High School and
the Sherando High School. Mr. Koontz said that there has been an increase in the student
enrollment in both schools and the new additions would be filled by the time the expansion is
completed.
Mr. Koontz said that construction during the school year is terrible and dust, noise,
and inattention are all compounded. He said that all of the teachers he's spoken with are opposed
to expansion. Mr. Koontz felt the expansion would put a new school back at least five years and
maybe more. He felt it would be almost impossible to expand a cafeteria, a hallway, which is
one of the problems with one of the schools, or a library. He felt that the proposed increase in
students would really reduce the quality of education for all the children for many years to come.
Mr. Koontz felt the $5 -7 million could best be used towards the construction of
a new third high school. Mr. Koontz felt that at the very least, a decision should be postponed
and based on the number of students enrolled at the end of this first quarter. He said that smaller
schools and smaller classrooms make for a better educational opportunity for children and if James
Wood and Sherando go to 1500 students, the enrollment will never come down again. Mr.
Koontz said that in the final analysis, if this happens, the money would be wasted.
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Informal discussion regarding the proposed additions to James Wood High School and
Sherando High School by Thomas Sullivan, Assistant Superintendent, Frederick County
School Board_
No Action Required
Mr. Wyatt said that the Frederick County School Board has requested an
opportunity to present preliminary development plans for the proposed expansion of James Wood
High School and Sherando High School. He said that the proposed improvements will allow each
high school to increase its capacity from 1,250 students to 1,500 students.
Mr. Thomas Sullivan, Assistant Superintendent of Frederick County Schools, said
that the expansion of both high schools by 300 students was presented as a part of the County's
Capital Improvements Plan last Spring. He said that the expansion plan also included the
construction of Redbud Elementary School, the rebuilding of Stonewall Elementary School, and
renovations to Senseny Road School. Mr. Sullivan explained that the Sherando expansion consists
of an approximate 16,000 square foot addition at the southern end of the school for classroom
space. He said that in addition to the classroom space, there will be two science rooms, an extra
set of bathrooms, various offices, and a few improvements to the practice field (drainage, road).
Mr. Sullivan explained that they will lose a couple parking spaces, but hope to pick those up again
behind the agricultural building. Mr. Sullivan stated that the expansion for both schools was
allowed for in the original design of the buildings.
Regarding the James Wood School, Mr. Sullivan stated that the proposed addition
fits between the two stair towers at the rear of the building. He said that one of the problems at
James Wood School was that the cafeteria was not as big as they would like. He said that they
planned to expand the cafeteria for extra seating. Mr. Sullivan explained that the existing exterior
cafeteria.wall would be moved outward to enclose the entire canopy area. He said that they will
also correct some problems in the kitchen area and move the faculty dining area. Mr. Sullivan
said that the James Wood expansion will he an approximate 18,500 square foot addition. He said
it will also include a series of classrooms, a storage area, and the creation of two more biology
and general science rooms.
Mr. Sullivan stated that both schools would have the same amount of classroom
space after expansion. He said that the central cores of both schools were originally designed to
handle 1,500 students. Mr. Sullivan said that funding was part of a literary loan application and
they are hoping to receive $2 1 /s million per project. He said that bids are due September 28 and
construction is scheduled to begin as soon as possible in order to be ready for school opening next
fall. Mr. Sullivan said that the interest on the payback amount is much smaller for the two
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expansions than for construction of a new school. He noted that neither school could be
expanded further than 1,500 students. He said that Sherando would be limited by space and
James Wood would be limited by central core facilities.
Mr. Sager, Board Liaison, noted that the infrastructure for both schools was
designed to support a much larger school. He said that each design was for 1,500 capacity, so
this plan will not stretch the existing infrastructure. Mr. Sullivan confirmed this.
Commissioners questioned the impact on classroom instruction during the
construction phase during the school year. Mr. Sullivan said that he didn't foresee a huge
problem, although there probably would be some inconvenience. Mr. Sullivan said that they
would strive to minimize impact and maximize student safety. Mr. Morris noted that there should
be minimal disruption at Sherando, primarily because construction will take place at the opposite
end of the school from where most school activity is taking place. Commissioners also noted that
expansion to an existing facility was certainly less expensive than other alternatives, such as
building other separate schools, because expanding existing facilities didn't require additional
principals, janitorial services, administrative staff, etc.
Site Plan #031 -95 of God's Glory Land for a religious retreat with lodging and recreational
facilities. The property is identified with PINS 37 -A -45, 37 -A -46, 37- A -46A, and 37 -A-
46B in the Back Creek Magisterial District.
Action - Approval
Mr. Wyatt stated that the site plan being presented was a part of the conditions for
granting the conditional use permit for God's Glory Land in May of 1994. Mr. Wyatt said that
three of the nine conditions placed on the permit involved the Planning Commission's review and
approval. He said that those three conditions were: 1) that the Planning Commission be a part of
the review and approval process of the site plan (earlier on, there were unknowns about the private
wastewater treatment facility and the actual construction of the site because of steep slopes); 2)
that the Commission be a part of the review and approval process for the different phases of the
project; 3) the zoning ordinance states that a private wastewater treatment facility can only serve
one parcel of land with one use and at this time, the project is still in four separate parcels of land
(the applicant has prepared a plat of consolidation and pending approval by the Commission and
other review agencies, it will be recorded).
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Bruce Edens, the project surveyor, pointed out the phasing plan to the Commission
using an overhead slide.
Commissioners had concerns about spillover from the sewage treatment facility into
Back Creek, if there was a large storm flow. Mr. Edens assured the Commission that they would
meet all requirements of the Department of Environmental Quality. Commissioners asked if all
the roads would be constructed as a part of Phase I or if they would also be constructed in phases.
Mr. T. G. Adams, the owner of the property, said that all the roads have been constructed with
compacted stone, with the exception of Samuel Street, which is roughed -in. Mr. Adams said that
he planned to asphalt all the roads with prime and seal or blacktop.
Upon motion made by Mr. Marker and seconded by Mr. Thomas,
BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does hereby unanimously
agree to grant the staff administrative approval authority for the God's Glory Land site plan
provided that all comments and concerns of the Planning Commission are adequately addressed,
that the applicant legally record the plat of consolidation, and that all review agency requirements
are addressed on the site plan. The Planning Commission also unanimously grants the Zoning
Administrator the authority to allow the disturbance of the floodplain to ensure that improvements
on the site are located in the appropriate areas.
There being no further business to discuss, Chairman DeHaven adjourned the
meeting at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert W. Watkins, Secretary
Charles S. DeHaven, Jr., Chairman
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