PC_04-19-89_Meeting_MinutesMEETING MINUTES
OF THE
FREDERICK COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Held in the Board Room of the Old Frederick County Court House, Winchester,
Virginia, on April 19, 1989.
PRESENT: Planning Commissioners present were: James W. Golladay, Jr.,
Chairman; Beverly Sherwood, Vice - Chairman; John Marker, Back Creek
District; Carl M. McDonald, Gainesboro District; Manuel C.
DeHaven, Stonewall District; George L. Romine, Citizen at Large;
Douglas Rinker, Citizen at Large; and Marjorie H. Copenhaver,
Citizen at Large.
ABSENT: S. Blaine Wilson, Shawnee District; and Kenneth Y. Stiles, Board
Liaison.
Planning Staff present were: Robert W. Watkins, Secretary;
Kris C. Tierney; and Evan A. Wyatt.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Golladay called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
BIMONTHLY REPORT
The Commission and staff reviewed pending and approved applications.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Ordinance Committee
Mr. McDonald reported that the Ordinance Committee discussed highway
entrances and new concepts for some ordinance changes. He said that these
ideas will be presented at the worksession on April 24, 1989 at 7:30 p.m.
SUBDIVISIONS
Final Subdivision Plat of Lenoir City Company of Virginia for the
subdivision of one lot consisting of 10.0000 acres in the Stonewall
District.
Action - Approved
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Mr. Tom Gilpin, with Lenoir City Company of Virginia, said that the
proposed lot was located approximately 400 feet south of the American
Woodmark Distribution Center, at the end of Tyson Drive.
Upon motion made by Mr. DeHaven and seconded by Mr. Romine,
BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does hereby
unanimously approve the Final Subdivision Plat of Lenoir City Company of
Virginia for one ten -acre lot (Lot 9), for M -1 use. This property is
located on the northwest side of Tyson Drive in the Stonewall Industrial
Park, Stonewall Magisterial District.
MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLANS
Revised 14DP #012 -88 of Pioneer Heights for 275 single - family lots on 104
acres, zoned RP, in the Shawnee District. (This item was tabled from April
5, 1989.)
Action - Approved
The staff noted that this plan was tabled at the last Planning
Commission meeting because of concerns with entrances to the development,
and in particular, whether or not there should be an entrance on Route 7,
via the 400 foot frontage on Mr. Wilkins' property.
Mr. Bruce Edens of Greenway Engineering, the project engineer, said
that in order to exit at that point, vehicles would have to go east bound
on Route 7 and turn across one of the steep crossovers to get back to
Winchester. He said that they felt this would not be a desirable entrance
and in lieu of that, the owner has offered to contribute money to upgrade
Greenwood Road, when that becomes viable.
Concern was expressed about the potential traffic impacts and the
present condition of Route 656. There was a discussion on the anticipated
time frame for the upgrade of Route 656, the owner's time table for
construction, and the possibility of the owner contributing money for the
upgrade of Route 656.
A motion was made by Mr. Romine and seconded by Mr. DeHaven to
approve the revised version of the plan with no entrance onto Route 7.
This motion failed by the following vote:
YES (to approve with no Route 7 entrance): Romine, DeHaven, Golladay
NO: Rinker, Sherwood, McDonald, Copenhaver, Marker
A motion was made by Mr. Marker and seconded by Mr. McDonald to
approve the alternate version of the plan with the entrance onto Route 7.
BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does hereby
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unanimously approve Revised MDP 0012 -88 of Pioneer Heights for 275
single- family detached, urban traditional units on 104 acres, zoned RP,
with an entrance onto Route 7. This property is located one mile east of
Winchester on the east side of Route 656 and the south side of Route 7, in
the Shawnee District.
OTHER
1 b the Potomac Edison Com any for Approval of the Bartonville -
11 Redbud 138 kV Electric Transmission Line and the West Winches
on
Action - Approved
The staff explained that the Potomac Edison Company is requesting
that the Planning Commission review its proposed new transmission line for
conformance with the Comprehensive Plan. It was noted that the Frederick
County Comprehensive Plan does not address the location of electrical
transmission lines.
Mr. John Wetsel, counsel for the Potomac Edison Company, said that
the projects will: (1) extend a 138 kV electric transmission line from the
Company's Meadow Brook - Bartonville 138 kV electric transmission line
Located near the existing Bartonville Substation, south of the City of
Winchester, on Route 651, in a northeasterly direction to a point on the
existing Stonewall - Redbud 138 kV line located north of the City of
Winchester; and (2) extend a short loop line into the proposed West
Winchester Substation from this new line. Both transmission projects are
located entirely within Frederick County, Virginia. Mr. Wetsel said that
the construction of these projects is necessary in order for the Company to
meet increasing demands for electric service within its service area. The
proposed Bartonville- Stonewall /Redbud Transmission line is 9.6 miles long
and the West Winchester Loop is 0.6 mile in length. Both lines will be
constructed on single shaft steel pools.
Mr. Russell Davis, Regional Area Planner for the Potomac Edison
Company, gave a presentation on his company's need for power line
facilities in the Frederick County area. Mr. Davis presented the
correlation between customers served and projected demand.
Ms. Patience Fisher, Environmental Analyst from the Allegheny Power
System, gave a presentation on the routing study done for the line and
associated environmental concerns.
Mr. Allen Fleissner, Project Engineer, described the structures
proposed.
The commissioners inquired if underground installation was studied.
Mr. Wetsel said that their study showed an incremental cost difference
between aboveground and underground lines of approximately $3,125,000 per
mile. Discussions ensued on payback of the line by customers to the
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Potomac Edison Company and maintenance of aboveground and underground
lines.
Mr. Donald W. Luttrell, a resident of Frederick County, asked about
the feasibility of running the power line down the existing railroad track.
Mr. Wetsel said that this was not feasible because they would need a 30'
right -of -way for underground lines and a 65' right -of -way for aboveground
lines. Mr. Wetsel said that the railroad right -of -way does not allow them
enough clearance.
Upon motion made by Mr. Romine and seconded by Mr. McDonald,
BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does hereby
unanimously recommend to the Board of Supervisors that the proposed 138 kV
electric transmission projects proposed by the Potomac Edison Company are
in conformance with Frederick County's Comprehensive Plan.
Cancellation of Conditional Use Permit #019 -87 of Jane G. Sullivan for a
public garage on Route 645 in the Shawnee District. (This item was tabled
from April 5, 1989.)
Action - Tabled
The staff noted that this item was tabled at the last meeting so
that staff could contact the applicant in an effort to make it clear that
if a variance was not obtained, the conditional use permit would be
revoked. The staff said that the Sullivans were contacted and they wished
to apply for the variance.
Mrs. Sherwood moved to table consideration of cancellation of this
application until May 17, 1989, in order to await the outcome of the next
Board of Zoning Appeals meeting. This motion was seconded by Mr. Rinker.
BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does hereby
unanimously agree to table consideration of the cancellation of CUP #019 -87
of Jane G. Sullivan for a public garage until May 17, 1989 in order to
await the outcome of the next Board of Zoning Appeals meeting.
DISCUSSION OF THE MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE REQUIREMENT IN THE M -2 (INDUSTRIAL
Mr. Watkins said that Mr. Thomas E. Davis of Dove & Associates has
asked to discuss the maximum lot coverage in the M -2 District. He said
that the actual issues are the interpretation and appropriateness of a 50%
maximum lot coverage requirement for buildings and pavement in this
district.
Mr. Tom Davis, of Dove & Associates, said that his client, the Ryder
Truck Company, has property north of the City of Winchester on Kent Street.
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He said that presently, they have a gravel and dirt parking lot and during
the rainy season, they are faced with a maintenance problem. Mr. Davis
said that Ryder Truck Company is proposing to install stormwater
management, using an underground pipe system. Mr. Davis said that, from
their standpoint, they would recommend to go with 85% coverage and 15%
greenspace.
The Commission felt that as long as stormwater management was
addressed, they did not have a problem with changing the percentage on
maximum lot coverage. Regarding this particular site, they felt the paving
and 15% added green space would be an improvement. However, they did not
want to create a precedent situation and felt that the ideal situation
would be to consider this type of situation on a case by case basis.
Mr. Rinker said that he understood the issue of aesthetics, but he
was concerned about going below the 25% greenspace limit. He said that he
had concerns about groundwater and he preferred not to have an excessive
amount of paving in Frederick County.
OTHER
FEE SCHEDULE AND COUNTY ENGINEER
Mr. Watkins noted that the Board of Supervisors approved the new fee
schedule and also approved a contract with an engineer, Harris, Smariga,
Orsillo, Inc.
INTRODUCTION OF EVAN A. WYATT, PLANNER I
Mr. Watkins introduced Evan A. Wyatt, Planner I /Zoning Inspector,
who was hired by the Frederick County Planning Department on January 17,
1989.
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AJOURNMENT
There was no further business to discuss and the meeting adjourned
at 8:35 p.m.
Respec
7fully submitted,
ltd
Ja s V. Golladay, Jr./Chairman
Robert W. Watkins, Secretary
RMT-19