PC_08-17-88_Meeting_MinutesMEETING MINUTES
of the
FREDERICK COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Held in the Board of Supervisors' Meeting Room in the Old Frederick County
Court House, 9 Court Square, Winchester, Virginia, on August 17, 1988.
PRESENT: Planning Commissioners present were: Frank H. Brumback, Chairman;
James W. Golladay, Jr., Vice - Chairman; S. Blaine Wilson;
Manuel C. DeHaven; Beverly Sherwood; Marjorie H. Copenhaver; and
Kenneth Y. Stiles.
Also present were: Robert W. Watkins, Secretary; and
Stephen M. Gyurisin, Advisory.
ABSENT: George L. Romine; and Carl M. McDonald
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Brumback called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
MINUTES
The first order of business was the consideration of the minutes of
August 3, 1988. Upon motion made by Mrs. Copenhaver and seconded by Mr.
Golladay, the minutes of August 3, 1988 were unanimously approved as
presented.
BIMONTHLY REPORT
The Commission and staff discussed pending applications.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Transportation Committee
Mr. Golladay reported that December 5, 1988 has been set for the
Secondary Road Improvement Requests public hearing.
Sanitation Authori
The Sanitation Authority met on August 8, 1988 and Mrs. Copenhaver
reported the following:
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1) The regional plant has been on line for about three weeks and the
Abrams' Creek plant will be closed in about two months. The Regional Board
has asked that the Abrams' plant be kept intact for possible future use.
2) A resolution was adopted to run the Route 277 water line to
Sherando Park. Half of the money will be funded by the County and one half
by loan from the County to the Sanitation Authority. Further extension of
the Route 277 water line will depend on the Wheatland developers.
3) The Sanitation Authority has again heard from the State
concerning running water to Camp 7.
4) The Route 50 line has been completely paid for by the property
owners, but will be completed at a later date than previously anticipated.
5) An alternative water supply for the quarry at Stephens City is
being investigated, for the purpose of being independent from the City.
SUBDIVISIONS
Final Subdivision Plat of Battlefield Partnership, Zoned B -2, for the
division of nine commercial lots (Lots 11 through 19) in the Back Creek
Magisterial District.
Action - Approved
Mr. Richard Hardison, a partner in the Battlefield Partnership, was
present to answer questions. Mr. Hardison presented the Commission with a
preliminary plan of the area, which included a road system approved by the
Transportation Department.
Mr. Golladay asked if sewer capacity was available and Mr. Hardison
said that capacity was available. Mr. Watkins added that this was served
through the Lakeside System.
Upon motion made by Mrs. Copenhaver and seconded by Mr. DeHaven,
BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does hereby
unanimously approve the final subdivision plat of Battlefield Partnership
for the division of nine lots, with VDOT streets and public utilities, for
commercial uses. This property is located in the Battlefield Partnership
Subdivision, on the east side of Route 11 South and south of Route 37, in
the Back Creek Magisterial District.
Mr. Stiles arrived at this point of the meeting.
PUBLIC HEARING
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An ordinance to amend the Frederick County Code, Chapter 21, Zoning, to
amend Article VI, Master Development Plans. (This item was tabled from the
August 3, 1988 meeting.)
Action - Approved
The Commission and staff reviewed the latest updates to the
amendment. After some discussion on the importance of addressing phasing,
it was decided to add the following phrase to Section 6- 5 -2.8: "A schedule
of phases, with the approximate location of phase boundaries and the order
in which the phases are to be developed, shall be provided."
Chairman Brumback called for public comment and Mr. Richard Hardison
came forward. Mr. Hardison said that he would like to see some flexibility
built into the ordinance because projects do not always develop the way you
would like them to or the way you anticipate. Mr. Hardison suggested that
if the developer had an approved site plan and properly zoned property,
that the staff be permitted to approve the final subdivision plats. The
Commission said that they would take Mr. Hardison's request into
consideration for future amendments.
Upon motion made by Mr. Stiles and seconded by Mr. Golladay,
BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does hereby
unanimously approve the ordinance to amend the Frederick County Code,
Chapter 21, Zoning, to amend Article VI, Master Development Plans, with the
addition of the previously mentioned phrase added to Section 6- 5 -2.8.
DISCUSSION OF A PROPOSED "HIGHER EDUCATION ZONING DISTRICT"
Mr. Watkins said that following a request by Shenandoah College, the
Ordinance Subcommittee is proposing to add a zoning district to the
ordinance for land that will be used for institutions of higher education.
Mr. Watkins said that Shenandoah College had concerns about the impact of
encroaching residential development on the development of their campus.
Mr. Stiles suggested that when the Ordinance Subcommittee meets
with representatives of Shenandoah College that adjoining property owners
should be notified of the meeting.
Mr. Leonard Newcome, a resident of College Park, came forward to
speak for residents of College Park subdivision. Mr. Newcome spoke in
favor of Shenandoah College and said that the residents of College Park
were not against development of the college. He said that the residents
are concerned, however, about the use of narrow College Park roads by
students of the school, especially if more dormitories are added. Mr.
Newcome was also concerned about access to the college. Mr. Newcome said
that the residents want to have some protection as far as traffic, moving
vehicles, etc.
time.
No action on this item was needed by the Planning Commission at this
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DISCUSSION ON ALTERNATIVE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
Mr. Watkins informed the Commission that a Health Director Review
Committee was formed consisting of people from the Frederick County Health
Department, the Virginia State Health Department, the Virginia State Office
of the Water Control Board, Frederick County, and Shenandoah County, who
will now be reviewing requirements for discharge systems (NPDES permits).
Mr. Watkins said that a meeting of local officials was held on
August 2, 1988 with Supervisor Roger Crosen, John R. Riley, Jr., County
Administrator, State Department Health officials, and Frederick County
Health Department officials on the subject of alternative sewage disposal
systems in Frederick County. The local officials made some recommendations
which closely follow the current recommendations of the Health Director
Review Committee and those recommendations are:
1) All mechanical discharge systems should no longer be approved in
Frederick County until a definite monitoring program can be established.
2) Sand filter systems should be reviewed and consideration should be given
to halting approval of same until monitoring systems can be established.
If approved, they should only apply when no other solution is available.
3) Flexibility must be established by the Health Department on conventional
septic system review and approval. Innovative technology should be
thoroughly reviewed and discussed with the applicant prior to denial.
4) On -site disposal systems should be encouraged wherever possible.
The Commission and staff discussed the impact of past and future
decisions made on discharge permits to the residents of Frederick County.
After considerable discussion on this problem in Frederick County, motion
was made by Mr. Golladay, seconded by Mr. Stiles, and unanimously approved
that the Commission draft a letter to the State Water Control Board
outlining the following concerns:
1) The need to look at the specific situation in Frederick County, ie: the
soils, the systems that work, the systems that fail.
2) The Commission feels strongly that alternative sewage disposal solutions
need to be investigated for the many residents who own properties that
are not approved for conventional septic systems or who do not have
access to county sewer lines.
3) It is the Planning Commission's understanding that monitoring systems
throughout the county is the responsibility of the Health Department and
the State Water Control Board.
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The Planning Commission had no further business to discuss and
adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert W. Watkins, Secretary
s,�t� --
•anb k H. SrumN c , Chairman
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