Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC_08-07-68_Meeting_Minutes1 1 I 1 r 4 I i i 7& MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF FREDERICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA HELD August 7, 1968 - 4:00 o'clock, P.M. Present: J. W. Golladay, Chairman; D. K. Russell; C. L. Ritter; D. L. Baughman; Belmont Fout; Elmer Venskoske; and Joseph A. Massie, Jr., Secretary. The Meeting was called to order at 4:00 o'clock, P.M., by J. W. Golladay, Chairman, who announced that this was a Public Hearing upon the petition of Shenandoah Brick and Tile Corporation and Joseph Hughes and wife, to zone from Residential and Business to M -2, a certain 202 Acre tract of land lying North of Route # 7 and East of Route # 81, in Stonewall Magisterial District of Frederick County, Virginia. He thereupon called Mr. J. F. Larrick, Attorney for the petitioners to present the petition and evidence in support thereof. Mr. Larrick then made an introductory statement on behalf of the petitioners, and then called on the following witnesses: Harold G. Brown, Chairman of the Shenandoah Valley National Bank, who gave an early history of Colonial Brick and file Corporation, and its successor Shenandoah Brick and Tile Corpration. Next Mr. larrick called on Colonel Conrad Fallensbee, Executive Secretary of the Winchester - Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, who spo1e of the importance of the business to the community. Payroll over $400,000.00 per year, with purchases of another $100,000.00 per year. He stated that it generages a million dollars worth of business per year for the community. He also stated that the plant loss would result in higher building costs to this area. He stated that the business sells 80% of its products out of state, which is more valuable than one that sells almost entirely locally. Mr. Larrick then called on E. H Tavenner, real estate broker, who stated he had visited the property; that the land reclaimed by the corporation is very suitable for building purposes, and that the value of land areas have increased. He also stated that adjoining subdivisions would increase the value of the corporation land. Y) W CL Rix 0 4] N I W V) Cb M Z) O O in 177 Mr. Larrick then called on Carroll.Mason, real estate broker, who stated that he knew the operations of the Corporation; that he had sold expensive houses in subdivision next to old mining property; that the building of expensive houses will increase the value of nearby existing houses; that the operations will not damage the value of present hour; that his houses were selling for $20,000.00, four years ago; that he sold houses on Van Fossen and Battle Avenue4 close to the active mining before being completed. i At this time, Mr. C. M. Davis, one of the objectors said he recently sold his house on Battle Avenue for more than he had paid for it; and Mrs. R. W. Frey, one of the objectors, said some of the houses in.Shenandoah Hills Subdivision sold for as high as $60,000.00. Mr. Larrick then called Charles A. Christophersen, Assistant to Marvin Sutherland, Director of the Division of Mining. He referred to the new reclamation law, and stated that the Corporation has asked for apprdval of plans for the area under consideration, even though the State law does not go into effect until July 1, 1969. Mrs. R. F. Farmer then asked about the Bond required for reclamation. The Bond is $50.00 per Acre, and the Mining Bond is $1,000.00 - total bond for entire area would be about $10,000.00. Mr. Larrick then called on Mr. William F. Mullins, Chief Mining Inspector, who stated that very,few cases have been reclaimed under the Bond, in fact, two out of one hundred forty in coal fields, and that the cost here to reclaim in case of default would be less then in the case of coal fields; that forfeiture of the Bond would immediately cause the refusal to issue licenses until the excess cost of reclamation are paid. Mr. Larrick then called on Allen Turner, real estate appraiser, of Oakton, Virginia, who gave his qualifications, and spoke of the value of approximately $4,000.00 an Acre for 18 Acres between the Acme Store and the present mining property, which is being subdivided for residential purposes; that this was above the value of the land of Haven Wolfe near the City disposal plant, and that the quarrying operations of the Corporation did not decline the value of the property. on Wilson Avenue or Shenandoah Hills. Mr. Barr, Executive Director of the Corporation then ,q S r d ` presented his plan of operation, and explained that he was negotiating for a different right of way into the 202 Acres, which would be shorter, and that it probably would be obtained; that the 202 Acres has the best type of shale that is reasonably available; that the need for this shale is now critical; that the noise on Route # 7 is greater 24 hours a day than the noise would be from his Corporation; that the front end loader which does the strip mining moves at about i one mile per houre, and creates no more dirt than does the pick up truck on Denny Cole's dirt road; that it is economically sound to reclaim mine area; and that there is more noise from Haines Truck Terminal and Denny's Auction than comes from the Corporation; and that the dust is not like Grove's or Frey's Quarries, nor is the dust as great in hauling, as it is in hauling of ground lime stone; that no one on West Virginia Avenue has ever complained about the dust. When Mr. Barr was through, there was no further evidence. Whereupon, on Motion of Fout, seconded by Venskoske, motion was made to close the Public Hearing, which motion duly passed. Whereupon, on Motion duly made by Venskoske and seconded by Ritter to go into executive session, it was then duly passed. ' After the discussion of the petition, and the points for and against it raised by the parties present, the Planning Commission on motion duly made and seconded, resolved to return into public session, and said parties outside the room were notified and they returned. On Motion by Ritter, seconded by.Russell, the following resolution was adopted: BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning Commission of Frederick County does hereby recommend to the Board of Supervisors that the petition:-:- of Shenandoah Brick and Tile Corporation and Joseph Hughes and wife be approved and that the area described therein, containing 202 Acres, be re -zoned from its present zoning requirements to Zone Area M -2 for quarrying or strip mining purposes only, and conditioned upon the compliance now with the new reclamation act for strip mining, aid further requiring that the access road or right of way to the refined area, and land of the parties be treated with oil before 1t+7 4 I W V) W CL , d1 O m i I • W Q W CL a'tS i jlq commencement of operations, and be surface treated within one year after commencement of operations. Motion was thereupon passed unanimously. Whereupon, the Planning Commission had the reading of the minutes of the last meeting of the Planning Commission, and the same were approved. The Chairman then presente16 proposed plat for sale of a lot by Stewart Bell on Cedar Creek Grade, pursuant to the requirements of the Subdivision Act, and the same was thereupon ratified and approved and the same was then sent to the Board of Supervisors for their approval. The Chairman then advised the Commission that the plats for McNair and Associates for their survey and report have been delivered to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and may be seen at that time. The Chairman then reminded the Members of a Meeting of the Planning Commission on August 14th, 1968, at 4:00 o'clock, P.M. There being no further business to come before the Meeting, the same was thereupon adjomrned. Attest: Respectfully submitted, VJ seo ph A. Massie, Jr.; Secretary