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PC_02-15-12_Meeting_Minutes® MEETING MINUTES OFTHE FREDERICK COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION Held in the Board Room of the Frederick County Administration Building at 107 North Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia on February 15, 2012. PRESENT: June M. Wilmot, Chairman /Member at Large; Brian Madagan, Opequon District; Gary R. Oates, Stonewall District; J. Stanley Crockett, Stonewall District; Lawrence R. Ambrogi, Shawnee District; H. Paige Manuel, Shawnee District; Kevin W. Kenney, Gainesboro District; Greg L. Unger, Back Creek District; Philip E. Lemieux, Red Bud District; Board of Supervisors' Liaison, Ross Spicer; and Roderick B. Williams, County Attorney. ABSENT: Roger L. Thomas, Vice Chairman/ Opequon District; Charles E. Triplett, Gainesboro District; Christopher M. Mohn, Red Bud District; and Kevin O. Crosen, Back Creek District. STAFF PRESENT: Eric R. Lawrence, Planning Director; Michael T. Ruddy, Deputy Planning Director; Mark R. Cheran, Zoning & Subdivision Administrator; John A. Bishop, Deputy Director - Transportation; Candice E. Perkins, Senior Planner; and Renee' S. Arlotta, Clerk. ® CALL TO ORDER & ADOPTION OF AGENDA • Chairman Wilmot called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Chairman Wilmot requested the agenda be amended to hear County Officials, Tab B, as the first item on this evening's agenda, followed by consideration of the minutes. A motion was made by Commissioner Oates to adopt the agenda as requested. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Madagan and unanimously passed. COUNTY OFFICIALS RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION FOR GEORGE W. KRIZ, RETIRING GAINESBORO COMMISSIONER Chairman Wilmot read a Resolution of Appreciation for George W. Kriz, retiring Gainesboro Commissioner. Chairman Wilmot presented the resolution to Commissioner Kriz, which was signed by each member of the Planning Commission, and thanked him for his service and his many contributions and accomplishments. Frederick County Planning Commission rage Minutes of February 15, 2012 -2- Commissioner Kriz read comments he had prepared in which lie highlighted some of the • major accomplishments made during his tenure on the Commission. He thanked various members of the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, and the staff for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Frederick County. INTRODUCTION OF KEVIN W. KENNEY NEWLY - APPOINTED GAINESBORO DISTRICT COMMISSIONER On behalf of the entire Commission, Chairman Wilmot welcomed the new Gainesboro District representative, Mr. Kevin W. Kenney. Commissioner Kenney thanked the Commission for the opportunity to serve on the Commission as the new Gainesboro District representative. MEETING MINUTES Upon motion made by Commissioner Oates and seconded by Commissioner Madagan, the Planning Commission unanimously approved the minutes of the January 4, 2012 meeting. • COMMITTEE REPORTS • Transportation Committee — 1/23/12 Mtg. Commissioner Oates reported the Transportation Committee discussed five items: 1) review and adoption of the committee charter; 2) prioritization of five projects proposed for grant applications; 3) discussion of stop signs in Canter Estates; 4) recommended VDOT study a request from the Saratoga HOA for a speed study on Senseny Road, between the lights at Greenwood Road and their subdivision; and 5) discussion of Frederick County's continued membership on the Interstate 81 Corridor Coalition. Membership dues have increased significantly and the committee requested input from the Sheriffs Office and the Office of Fire & Rescue on this decision, since much of the information to date has benefited them. Development Review & Rel4ulations Committee (DRRC) — 1/18/12 Mtg. Commissioner Kenney reported the DRRC selected officers. He said housing types in the RP District were discussed, as well as the lot sizes in the RA District. Commissioner Kenney said there was good discussion on these topics, and this discussion will continue at the next meeting. Frederick County Planning Commission Page 2829 Minutes of February 15, 2012 -3- Senseny Road / Eastern Frederick Urban Areas Land Use Plan Study 40 Deputy Planning Director, Michael T. Ruddy, reported this study group has been quite busy throughout the months of December and January. Mr. Ruddy said the working group effort was turned over to the facilitator group who met on several occasions in January. On February 1, they forwarded a draft of the Senseny Land Use Plan to the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. The Planning Commission's Annual Retreat is scheduled for February 25 and the Planning Commission and the Board will have the opportunity at that time to review the work accomplished. Economic Development Commission (EDC) — 2/03/12 Mtg. Commissioner Madagan reported the primary focus at this meeting was a discussion of the staff's overview of a recently- completed workforce study. Commissioner Madagan said the staff utilized specialized web -based software to analyze workforce availability and gaps in nine core industries. He said the analysis revealed our area has a large workforce to accommodate food and beverage manufacturing. However, some of the unexpected results were that this area contains a large number of software professionals and could theoretically support mid -size software development companies. Additionally, there appears to be a large skilled workforce in the areas of scientific research and development, as well as medical supply manufacturing. Commissioner Madagan reported that another item of discussion was an update provided by the staff on the business showcase, which was placed in the Millbrook High School, and the students' impressions before and after review of that showcase. The last discussion item was a briefing on the presentation the EDC provided to the Virginia Economic ® Development Partnership earlier this year. COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS: Chairman Wilmot announced the committee appointments for the upcoming year. Comprehensive Plans & Programs Committee (CPPC): Gary R. Oates, Stonewall District Commissioner; Christopher M. Mohn, Red Bud District Commissioner; H. Paige Manuel, Shawnee District Commissioner; Philip A. Lemieux, Red Bud District Commissioner; ex officio member, Roger L. Thomas, Opequon District Commissioner; Marjorie H. Copenhaver, citizen member and past member of the Planning Commission; James W. Golladay, citizen member and past member of the Planning Commission; and ex officio member, June M. Wilmot, Planning Commission Chairman. Development Review & Regulations Committee (DRRC): Greg L. Unger, Back Creek District Commissioner; Kevin W. Kenney, Gainesboro District Commissioner; Kevin O. Crosen, Back Creek District Commissioner; Lawrence R. Ambrogi, Shawnee District Commissioner; Gary R. Oates, Stonewall District Commissioner; ex officio member, Roger L. Thomas, Opequon District Commissioner; ex officio member, June M. Wilmot, Planning Commission Chairman; Jay S. Banks, Back Creek District citizen member; Whitney L. Wagner, Stonewall District citizen member; John Conrad, citizen member representing the Top of Virginia Building Association; and Dwight Shenk, Gainesboro District citizen member. Frederick County Planning Commission Page 2830 Minutes of February 15, 2012 -4- Winchester City Planning Commission: Chairman Wilmot noted that at the previous Planning • Commission meeting, Commissioner Mohn had expressed his challenge in attending all of the Commission meetings for the City of Winchester. Chairman Wilmot said there are a number of people willing to assist Commissioner Mohn. Therefore, Christopher M. Mohn will remain as the Liaison to the City of Winchester Planning Commission and he will be assisted by Commissioner Stan Crockett, Commissioner Kevin Kenney, Commissioner Gary Oates, and Chairman June Wilmot. CITIZEN COMMENTS Chairman Wilmot called for citizen comments on any issue not on this evening's agenda. No one came forward to speak and Chairman Wilmot closed the citizen comments portion of the meeting. PUBLIC HEARING Rezoning 901 -12 of Snowden Bridge Station, submitted by GreyWolfe, Inc., to rezone 6.512 acres from RA (Rural Areas) District and 6.180 acres from RP (Residential Performance) District, totaling 12.692 acres, to MI (Light Industrial) District, with proffers. The properties are located adjacent to CSX Railroad, 620 feet east of Route 11 on the north side of !Snowden Bridge 40 Boulevard. The properties are further identified by P.I.N.s 43 -A -143, 43 -A -144; 43 -A -145, 43 -A- 146, and 43 -A -147 in the Stonewall Magisterial District. Action — Recommended Approval with Proffers Commissioner Oates announced that he would abstain from all discussion and voting on this particular item due to a possible conflict of interest. Commissioner Kenney announced that he would abstain from all discussion and voting on this particular item due to a possible conflict of interest. Deputy Planning Director, Michael T. Ruddy, reported that this property is located in the middle of a developing area covered by the Northeast Land Use Plan. Mr. Ruddy stated that the land uses proposed in this application are consistent with the goals of the 2030 Comprehensive Policy Plan and the Northeast Land Use Plan. He next explained how this proposal fits in with a couple other projects in the general area: immediately to the south is the North Stephenson rezoning request, which was approved several years ago; more recently, the Graystone rezoning request is immediately across the tracks to the project's east and was approved last year; and a little further to the east is the Snowden Bridge project. Mr. Ruddy said the common thread that combines all of these projects together is Snowden Bridge Boulevard, which runs from Old Charlestown Road all the way through these projects and ties back into Route 11. • Frederick County Planning Commission Page 2831 Minutes of February 15, 2012 -5- Mr. Ruddy reported that the applicant has proffered to construct Ezra Lane in the general ® location shown on the plat that accompanies the proffer statement, from Snowden Bridge Boulevard to Nulton Lane. He said the applicant has proffered to install signalization improvements at the intersection of Ezra Drive and Snowden Bridge Boulevard as specified by VDOT. In addition, he said the applicant has proffered a cash contribution of $0.10 per square foot of structural development to be directed to Frederick County Fire and Rescue. Mr. Ruddy stated that a couple of issues discussed at length during the development of this proposal involved transportation. Those issues were the development of bicycle and pedestrian accommodations and VDOT's final comment. Mr. Ruddy explained that when the agenda was assembled, a final comment from VDOT had not yet been received. He said a final comment was received today from VDOT and they re- iterated their previous position that the bicycle and pedestrian accommodations should be addressed, in addition to the signalization and concerns i with the location of the signal and its distance away from the existing signal on Route 11. Mr. Ruddy said the staff believes that the bicycle and pedestrian accommodations will be addressed and obtained through the development of this project and the adjacent development in Snowden Bridge Boulevard. With regard to VDOT's comments and concern about signalization, the staff shares a similar concern; however, it is recognized that the location of the intersection is indeed the only location where the intersection could be located within that stretch of Snowden Bridge Boulevard between Route I 1 and the railroad crossing. He said it is in the same location where the access was previously proffered with the North Stephenson relocation. Mr. Ruddy pointed out that Redbud Road lis proposed to be relocated through this project; there is also the potential that Redbud Road could be relocated through the adjacent Graystone project, which could potentially alleviate some of the traffic, concerns of that particular signal. He noted that both he and the Deputy Director - Transportation have attempted to • address the concerns about signalization of this particular intersection in the staff report, while at the same time recognizing the intersection is in an appropriate location. Mr. Tim Stowe, with Stowe Engineering, PLC, was representing this rezoning application. Mr. Stowe stated they are working on a master development plan (MDR ) that will address the pedestrian and bicycle matter for all of the properties included in the North Stephenson area, as well as this rezoning area. Mr. Stowe explained they are restrained on where they can access this property. He believed they've done the best they possibly can with the access point on Ezra Lane. Chairman Wilmot next opened the public hearing to citizen comments and called for anyone wishing to speak on this matter. No one came forward to speak and Chairman iWilmot closed the citizen comment portion of the public hearing. i Commissioner Crockett said he read the report on VDOT's continents and he realized the intersection is probably not in the perfect location, but he did not think it was significant enough not to go forward. Commissioner Crockett proceeded to make a motion to recommend approval of the rezoning with the proffers offered. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Madagan and unanimously passed. BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commission does hereby unanimously recommend approval of Rezoning #01 -12 of Snowden Bridge Station, submitted by Grey Wolfe, Inc., to rezone 6.512 acres from RA (Rural Areas) District and 6.180 acres from RP (Residential Performance) District, totaling 12.692 acres, to Ml (Light Industrial) District, with proffers, to accommodate industrial uses. • Frederick County Planning Commission Page 2832 Minutes of February 15, 2012 iThe vote was as follows: YES (TO REC. APPROVAL): Unger, Ambrogi, Manuel, Crockett, Wilmot, Madagan, Lemieux ABSTAIN: Oates, Kenney (Note: Commissioners Thomas, Triplett, Mohn, and Crosen were absent from the meeting.) Rezoning #02 -12 of Renaissance Commercial Center, submitted by Greenway Engineering, to rezone 8.9817 acres from the B3 (Industrial Transition Business) District and 0.4989 acres from the RA (Rural Areas) District to the B2 (General Business) District; and 1.5527 acres from the B3 District and 0.1439 acres from the RA District to the B3 District, totaling 111.1772 acres, with proffers, for commercial use. The properties are located on the west side of Valley Pike (Route 11 South), approximately '/z mile south of the Route 37 interchange near Interstate 81, Exit 310. The properties are further identified with P.I.N.s 75 -A -2C and 75 -A -211 in the Back Creek Magisterial District. Action — Recommended Approval with Proffers Senior Planner, Candice E. Perkins; reported this development is Iparticipating in a revenue - sharing agreement to implement the proposed Renaissance Drive improvements, as well as the • extension of Prosperity Drive. Ms. Perkins explained these improvements will allow for the development of the first phase of this roadway, which is the construction of two of the four lanes proposed, as well as a new signalized intersection at Renaissance Drive and Route 11. Ms. Perkins stated that with this application, the applicant has proffered a variable width right -of -way to allow for the construction of Renaissance Drive as described in the agreement; the applicant has proffered to prohibit truck stops and adult retail; and the applicant has proffered a monetary contribution of $0.05 per square foot of structural development to Frederick County Fire and Rescue. Ms. Perkins added that the land uses proposed in this application are consistent with the goals of the Frederick County Comprehensive Polic i Plan. Mr. Evan A. Wyatt, with Greenway Engineering, was representing this application. Mr. Wyatt stated the County and the applicant have been working in a partnership to advance transportation improvements prior to development, which is the basis for the revenue sharing agreement with the County. He said the applicant has committed to the local match which provides a little more than $1 million towards the construction project. He said other events occurring in advance of the rezoning are shown on the display. Mr. Wyatt explained the applicant worked with the Brim Group, the owners of the adjacent property immediately behind and to the west, to complete a land swap. He said this provided the Brims with a portion of the applicant's property, so when the Brims come in for development of their property, the road will have already been constructed with an entrance on their side and it will align with the extension of Prosperity Drive. In return, the applicant was able to obtain from the Brim Group the right -of -way access the County needed down to the railroad tracks. Mr. Wyatt stated the project is proposing a new urban collector road link between Shady Elm and Route 11. He said this first phase preserves the revenue funds and sets up an opportunity for a second project that could potentially extend the road through the Artillery Project for a full connection. Frederick County Planning Commission Page 2833 Minutes of February 15, 2012 -7- Mr. Wyatt explained that this area was determined to be necessary to advance some of the projects VDOT • is pursuing with Exit 310 and will provide alternative routing for the County in the future, should access be lost. He said the applicant has advanced the project and proffers that would normally go with this. He said the design plan is currently under review by the County. The applicant's goal is to have the actual project go to competitive bid in April of 2012 and to be constructed immediately thereafter. Mr. Wyatt reported the project calls for a new signalized intersection, which is important because the Prosperity Drive traffic, currently trying to make a left to go north on Route 1 I towards the City, has a difficult time at this point. He said signalization will help to alleviate this problem issue. He said, additionally, the project calls for connectivity of Prosperity Drive. Mr. Wyatt commented that because Hof the introduction of this complete road length, the dynamics of what this property needs to be has changed; now it is more conducive to a 132 -type project, similar to the land development activity to the south. Mr. Wyatt said most, if not all, of the transportation issues have been mitigated and the proffers commit to the right -of- way dedication. The sole means of access will be off the Renaissance Drive and there will be no accesses on Route 11. Commissioner Unger inquired about the method for crossing the railroad tracks. Mr. Wyatt replied that the County has been working with CSX and the idea at this time is to do an at -grade crossing. Mr. Wyatt said the alignment sets forth the ability to accomplish this. He noted that the effort in working with the Brim Group frees up the right -of -way to get there. Chairman Wilmot next opened the public hearing to citizen comments and she called for anyone wishing to speak. No one came forward to speak and Chairman Wilmot closed the public comment portion of the hearing. Commissioner Unger stated that he liked this project and he was pleased it was going through in this way; he thought it was a good idea. Commissioner Unger next made a motion to recommend approval of the rezoning with proffers offered by the applicant. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Manuel and was unanimously passed. BE IT RESOLVED, That the Frederick County Planning Commi Ision does hereby unanimously recommend approval of Rezoning 402 -12 of Renaissance Commercial Center, with proffers, submitted by Greenway Engineering, to rezone 8.9817 acres from the B3 (Industrial Transition Business) District and 0.4989 acres from the RA (Rural Areas) District to the B2 (General Business) District; and 1.5527 acres from the B3 District and 0.1439 acres from the RA District to the B 3 District, totaling 1 1.1772 acres, with proffers, for commercial use. (Note: Commissioners Thomas, Triplett, Mohn, and Crosen were absent from the meeting.) OTHER Chairman Wilmot announced a reminder of the Planning Commission's 2012 Retreat on Saturday, February 25, at 8:00 a.m., to be held at the Public Safety Building. Frederick County Planning Commission Page 2834 Minutes of February 15, 2012 iADJOURNMENT J • ff:D No further business remained to be discussed and upon motion by Commissioner Oates and second by Commissioner Madagan, the meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m. by a unanimous vote. Respectfully one M. Wilmot, R. Lawrence, Sbcretary i Frederick County Planning Commission Page Lisa-) Minutes of February 15, 2012