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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC_04-15-92_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 April 15, 1992 PRESENT: Planning Commissioners present were: James W. Golladay, Jr., Chairman; John R. Marker, Vice Chairman /Back Creek District; Manuel C. DeHaven, Stonewall District; S. Blaine Wilson, Shawnee District; Ronald W. Carper, Gainesboro District; George L. Romine, Shawnee District; Marjorie H. Copenhaver, Back Creek District; Todd D. Shenk, Gainesboro District; Roger L. Thomas, Opequon District; John H. Light, Stonewall District; Beverly Sherwood, Board Liaison; and David L. Schroeder, City Liaison. Planning Staff present were: Robert W. Watkins, Secretary; Kris C. Tierney, Deputy Planning Director; and Evan A. Wyatt, Planner 11 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Golladay called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. BIMONTHLY REPORT Chairman Golladay accepted the Bimonthly Report for the Commission's information. COMMITTEE REPORTS Comprehensive Plan - 4/13/92 Mtg. Mrs. Copenhaver reported that the Comprehensive Plan Subcommittee considered two requests for land to be included in the urban development area. The first request was from residents of the area located north of 644 and west of 522. The area consists of approximately 700 acres and contains about 200 homes. These people have failing septic systems and wells and have been working with the State Water Control Board to get water and sewer in their area. Mrs. Copenhaver said that the Health Department will be conducting a survey of the area. She said that the Subcommittee is trying to determine if the area can be designated as a service area, but not place it in the urban development area. 3481 The second request was from Glaize, Vickers, and Bowman to extend the urban development area to include approximately 200 acres north of the realigned Route 642 and bounded by Route 522 on the east and old Route 642 on the west and north sides. Development Review and Reeulations Subcommittee - 4/14/92 Mte. Mr. Thomas reported that the Subcommittee reviewed two requests to modify the zoning ordinance. The first request was from the Donald B. Rice Tire Retreading Operation to allow tire retreading in the M1 (Light Industrial) Zone. Mr. Thomas said that the consensus of the Subcommittee was to allow the use with restrictions, however, they were very specific about this particular type of use and its location in the M1 Zone. The second request was to allow human service centers in the M1 (Light Industrial) Zone and the Subcommittee recommended approval on this request also. Mr. Thomas said that the Subcommittee also discussed three new work items: the Residential Planned Community Zoning District (114); buffering along interstate highways; and encouraging the development of affordable housing. Sanitation Authority - 4/13/92 Mte_ Mrs. Copenhaver reported that Chuck Phares will be replacing Donald Hodgson on the Sanitation Authority board. Mrs. Copenhaver reported that the Authority has authorized design and bid funds to construct a 50,000 gallon storage tank on the Authority's Route 642 property that originally was purchased for their offices. This tank will provide pressure to feed, through looping lines, as far as Stonewall and possibly Clearbrook. Mrs. Copenhaver said that in the near future, there will be a 1,500,000 gallon tank at the quarry, a 500,000 gallon tank at the office site, another 500,000 gallon tank is proposed for the intersection of Route 7 and I -81, and including the tank just finished at Stonewall, plus the existing small tank at Greenwood will give the county a good reservoir of water, plus good water pressure. Transportation Committee - 4/06/92 Mr. Thomas reported that the Transportation Committee recommended approval of the Six -Year Secondary Road Improvement Plan and discussed a request from the School Board for a stop signal to be placed on Route 277 at the intersection of the Sherando High School and Warrior Drive. 911 3 SIX -YEAR SECONDARY ROAD IMPROVEMENT PLAN Action - Recommended Approval Mr. Evan Wyatt presented the proposed 1992 -1993 Six -Year Secondary Road Improvement Plan for Frederick County. Mr. Wyatt said that the Transportation Committee recommended that the projects included in this plan maintain the same priority as the plan that was approved by the Frederick County Board of Supervisors on October 23, 1991. Mr. Wyatt said that one request was received to revise the plan by Mr. Jim Petry. The request involves Item #17, the hard - surfacing of Route 629, from Route 608 to Route 622, which is currently unscheduled. There is a portion of Route 629 beyond (east) Route 622 that is gravel- surfaced, up to a point where there is a sharp curve, and the remaining portion of the road from the curve to Middle Road is paved. Mr. Petry felt it would be wise to include the unpaved portion of Route 629 so the entire road would be completed at the same time. Mr. Wyatt said that since the project was unscheduled, it would not jeopardize any project that already had funding. Mr. Wyatt said that the Transportation Committee decided to wait until fall before revising the plan to include this section. Mr. Marker asked about the Opequon Bridge construction over Opequon Creek on Cedar Creek Grade (Route 622). Mr. Marker said that the state.has repeatedly said that funds are available and construction would be completed, but nothing has been accomplished. It was noted that this item was removed from the 1991 -1992 Plan as a result of the archeological survey. Upon motion made by Mr. Marker and seconded by Mr. Romine, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does hereby unanimously recommend approval of the 1992 -1993 Six -Year Secondary Road Improvement Plan for Frederick County with the following revisions: 1) That the hard - surfacing of Route 629 ( #17 under New Hard Surface Road Improvements) be extended to include the gravel portion of Route 629 that is located between Cedar Creek Grade (Route 622) and Middle Road (Route 628). 2) The addition of improvements to the bridge over Opequon Creek on Cedar Creek Grade (Route 622 under Incidental Construction) N 3483 z DISCUSSION REGARDING THE EXTENSION OF SEWER AND WATER SERVICES TO THE ROUND HILL AREA No Action Mr. Tierney said that a request was submitted to the Comprehensive Plan Subcommittee for extension of the urban development area to include the Round Hill area and the recommendation from the Subcommittee was for denial. Mr. Tierney said that a study is currently underway, funded in part by grant money, which is focusing on the Round Hill Community Center, along with Clearbrook and Brucetown, to determine a cost effective method for supplying wastewater treatment. He said that the study will run through the summer and is scheduled to conclude in October. As a result of that study, the Subcommittee hopes to have a recommendation for some method of handling wastewater in those areas. Mr. Tierney felt that this study played a part in the Subcommittee's recommendation not to extend the urban development area at this time. Mr. Ronald Rhodes, Mr. Forrest Brown, and Mr. Conners, partners of Signal Station Associates, were in support of supplying sewer and water services to the Round Hill Community and requested time before the Commission to express their concerns. Mr. Rhodes said that because failing septic tanks are being pumped on an accelerated basis and because of the potential for contamination of water supply wells, individual property owners and the business community are extremely concerned. Mr. Brown said that on an informal basis, they have collected over 285 signatures from residents of the community who support these services. Regarding the staff's concern on the perceived risk of runaway development in the area that would be precipitated by providing sewer and water service to the community, Mr. Rhodes felt the Comprehensive Plan dictated the permitted areas of development and existing regulations and controls were established to protect the surrounding areas. Mr. Rhodes said that either a self - contained community system or an extension of the main line from the hospital area would serve the community's needs equally well. Mr. Forrest Brown said that as a business owner (Home Theater Video at Signal Station), responses from community residents, and from residents as far as Capon Bridge, have been very positive toward commercial development in their community. Mr. Brown said that most of the drainfields in this area are failing and he felt a study needed to be done by the County health services. Mr. Brown said that the community was willing to pay for the system- - their questions now were how can they get the services, what will the services cost, and when can it be installed. Mr. Glenwood Nicholson, a store owner since 1966, was also in favor of sewer and water services being provided for the Round Hill Community. Mr. Nicholson said that he has been requesting water and sewer services to serve the community since 1972. Mrs. Sherwood said that the County has designated rural community centers 3484 5 throughout the county and each center is unique according to its size and specific needs. She said that these centers serve the rural areas of our county with commercial services, fire companies, churches, etc. Mrs. Sherwood said that the issue of concern is opening the land in between to development and the impact on the county in dollars. The question was how to serve the rural development areas with water and sewer without making the rural areas highly populated or high - density development areas. Mrs. Sherwood felt a solution was possible and the county was in the process of studying the options. Mr. Watkins suggested that the Round Hill community appoint a representative to the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) studying the alternative wastewater treatment facilities in the county. He also suggested that a special meeting could he arranged with members of the TAC and residents of the Round Hill community to discuss the options available. Mr. Schroeder, Winchester City Planning Commission Liaison, said that the City is currently studying the corridor overlay along Amherst Street in hopes of not duplicating the state of appearance of Routes 50, 7, 11 South, and 11 North. Mr. Schroeder said that the City is trying to preserve the appearance of that area so that as you approach Winchester, you have an architecturally pleasing area to view. Mr. Schroeder expressed the need for the City and County to work together on how this area is developed. No formal action was taken by the Commission at this time. DISCUSSION ON THE WINCHESTER AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY (WATS) Mr. Watkins said that the Winchester Area Transportation Study (WATS) is an overall study of Winchester and the urban development area of Frederick County to examine the overall traffic needs in growing areas, particularly in relation to the major roads. Mr. Watkins reviewed each of the three different parts of the WATS study with the Commission: 1) Short Range Plan - The study has determined which portions of major roads are currently deficient in terms of geometry, safety, and traffic. Based on this determination, various short term solutions have been proposed. These improvements include only projects that will either cost $200,000 or less or projects that are currently programmed by VDOT in their Six -Year Improvement Programs. The improvements included: a) the currently programmed improvements to Cedar Creek Grade, Route 522 South, Greenwood Road and Route 647; b) new traffic signals on Pleasant Valley Avenue and on Cedar Creek Grade at Route 37; c) a variety of other improvements including bridge and rail crossing improvements, geometric improvements, turn lanes, sign and signal improvements, parking restrictions, etc. 2) Corridor Studies - The study has examined several interstate interchange areas in order to address current deficiencies in those areas. Those areas are: 3485 E a) Interstate 81/ Route 37/ Route 11/ Route 642 b) Interstate 81/ Route 17 -50/ Route 522 c) Interstate 81/ Route 11/ Route 37 North d) Interstate 81/ Route 277/ Route 11/ Route 647. 3) Long Range Planning - Various roads were found to be currently deficient or projected to be deficient by 2015, including: Route 277, Route 647, Route 642, Route 1l South, Papermill Road, Cedar Creek Grade, Senseny Road, Greenwood Road, and Route 7. Interstate 81, between Route 50 and Route 11, was also projected to be deficient. It was noted that deficiencies on the Interstate would be due to locally generated traffic. The Commissioners reviewed slides of the study areas and discussed the recommendations presented by the WATS study. The study was scheduled to be forwarded to the Transportation Committee's May 4 meeting. 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 J, Ja m s W. Golladay, Jr., 044inan 3486