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PC_09-18-91_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 18, 1991. PRESENT: Planning Commissioners present were: James W. Golladay, Jr., Chairman; Beverly Sherwood, Vice Chairman; Carl M. McDonald, Gainesboro District; S. Blaine Wilson, Shawnee District; Manual C. DeHaven, Stonewall District; John Marker, Back Creek District; Marjorie H. Copenhaver, Citizen at Large; Douglas Rinker, Citizen at Large; George L. Romine, Citizen at Large; and Roger L. Thomas, Citizen at Large; and Kenneth Y. Stiles, Board Liaison. Planning Staff present were: Robert W. Watkins, Secretary; Kris C. Tierney; W. Wayne Miller; and Evan Wyatt. CALL TO ORDER/MINUTES Chairman Golladay called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The first order of business was the consideration of the minutes of August 21, 1991. Upon motion made by Mr. McDonald and seconded by Mrs. Sherwood, the minutes of August 18, 1991 were unanimously approved as presented. BIMONTHLY REPORT information. Chairman Golladay accepted the Bimonthly Report for the Commission's COMMITTEE REPORTS Rural Issues Subcommittee - 9/9/91 Mtg, Mr. Wilson said that there was a considerable amount of citizen participation at the public meeting on the proposed Rural Areas District regulations held on September 9 at the James Wood High School Amherst Campus. 3391 Ordinance Committee - 9/16/91 Mtg. Mr. McDonald reported that the Ordinance Committee studied the Top of Virginia (TOV) Building Association's concerns on the subdivision ordinance and have reached an agreement on all their concerns except the issue of the 15,000 square foot lots. Mr. McDonald said that the subdivision ordinance will be brought before the Planning Commission on October 2, 1991. eiiT Mrs. Copenhaver reported that discussion centered around progress with awarding the contract for the northern route waterline and hiring a consultant engineer to design the water treatment plant in Stephens City. Transportation Committee - 9/25/91 Mr. Wyatt said that the Transportation Committee will meet to review the Six - Year Secondary Road Improvement Plan on September 25. He said that a public hearing will be held October 7, 1991. Discussion with the Frederick County School Board Regarding the Site Plan for Sherando High School off Route 277 in the Ooequon District. Mr. Wyatt said that this site plan is being presented to the Commission for informational purposes and to request that the Commission give the staff the authority to administratively approve the plan. Mr. Wyatt said that this plan will also be presented to the Board of Supervisors for their information. Chairman Golladay stated that he had a continuous business relationship with the contractor who is doing site work at the school and, therefore, would abstain from voting. Mr. Thomas Malcolm, Frederick County School Superintendent, thanked members of the Planning Staff for their cooperation during the site planning process, considering the tight time schedule they were under. Mr. Malcolm introduced the project architect, Mr. Phil Pappas, of Mills, Oliver & Webb. Mr. Pappas presented the layout of the proposed Sherando High School. He 3392 explained that the school site is 40 acres and normally, this would not be adequate for a high school; however, because the school will be sharing facilities with the Parks and Recreation Department, they were able to reduce the amount of space required. Mr. Pappas explained that there was not enough room on the site for the detention pond, so it was located in a natural drainage area on the park's property. Mr. Pappas said that the location for the drainage detention area must be approved at the state and federal level due to funding requirements Mr. Malcolm said that the School Board and the Parks and Recreation Commission have entered into an agreement where the Parks Department will maintain all the outdoor facilities and the School Board will maintain all the inside facilities that are used by the Parks and Recreation Department. Vice Chairman Sherwood asked if the library would be open to the public. Mr. Malcolm replied that they were striving for that, but it would probably take a few years to acquire the type of book selection desired by the general public. The Commission suggested that the entrance road be lengthened to help vacate traffic after events. Mr. Stiles said that for a number of years people have tried to find ways to make good use of expensive school facilities. He said that all too often, after school hours, on weekends and throughout the summer, school facilities remain unused. He said that with the arrangement established between the School Board and the Parks Department, this facility will be available for use by the public. Mr. Stiles spoke highly of the cooperation, patience and forethought shown by Mr. Malcolm and the School Board, Mr. Doran, the director of the Parks and Recreation Department and the Parks and Recreation Commission. Upon motion made by Mr. Romine and seconded by Mr. Rinker, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does hereby unanimously authorize the staff to proceed with administrative review and approval of the Sherando High School Site Plan. (Mr. Golladay abstained from voting.) An ordinance to amend Chapter 21 of the Frederick County Code, Zoning, to establish a Historic Area Overlay Zone (HA) under Article XIV consisting of regulations aimed at protecting areas of the County which contain significant historical sites and /or structures. Action - Approved Mr. Tierney presented the regulations for the Historic Area Overlay Zone (HA) 3393 4 proposed by the Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB). He said that a worksession was held with the Planning Commission and the regulations have been put into ordinance format. Mr. Tierney said that the regulations would allow for the establishment of Historic Area Overlay Zones which could be applied to geographic areas throughout the county and would supplement the existing zoning of those areas. The historic area site would be recommended by the HRAB or residences in an area. The recommendations would be reviewed by the HRAB and a recommendation forwarded to the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Tierney reviewed the regulations with the Commission. Commissioners felt that specific wording was needed stating that inclusion into an Historic Area Overlay Zone would be based on the individual property owner's consideration. From a business /industrial viewpoint, Mr. Romine felt that there was a certain potential for harassment towards property owners who mant to develop land that may have some historical significance or that is adjacent to land with some historical significance. Mr. Stiles was concerned that if a person owned property in a historic district and wanted to remove one of several out buildings, the proposed ordinance would require that person to offer that one structure and some land for sale, which seemed impractical. Mr. Stiles also inquired if the regulations provided for an appeals process. Another question raised was whether a person purchasing property in a historic district would be informed that the property was within a historic district. The staff noted that the zoning would be shown on the county's tax map, the same as any other zoning. The Commission also felt it should be clearly stated that a public hearing will be held by the HRAB, the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. They felt that concerns should be worked out at the HRAB level, since that group would be the most knowledgeable about the historical aspects of a site. There were no citizen comments. Upon motion by Mr. Thomas and seconded by Mrs. Copenhaver, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does hereby recommend approval of the ordinance to amend Chapter 21 of the Frederick County Code, Zoning, to establish a Historic Area Overlay Zone (HA) under Article XIV, consisting of regulations aimed at protecting areas of the county which contain significant historical sites and /or structures with amended wording such that regulations could not be placed on a property against the wishes of the property owner and that a public hearing be held by the HRAB as well as the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. The vote was as follows: 3394 5 YES (TO APPROVE): Marker, Copenhaver, Sherwood, Rinker, Thomas, Golladay NO. McDonald, DeHaven, Wilson, Romine UPCOMING MEETINGS: The staff announced a possible worksession for the Commission's second meeting in October on the Impact Assessment Model. A public information meeting on Route 37 will be held at the Greenwood Fire Hall on October 1 from 3:30 to 8:00 p.m. A meeting of The Virginia Commission on Population Growth and Development will he held at Remount in Warren County on October 16. ADJOURNMENT No further business remained to be discussed and the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. by unanimous vote. Respectfully submitted, Robert W. Watkins, Secretary Ja r Iles W. Golladay, Jr., irman s.3y5