[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6685909,"mediaKeyId","2333239-cee1d95082a41018d224eee2964c376b","parentId",2333239,"title","Winchester Planning Commission initiates zoning amendment to define humanitarian services facilities","audioSeconds",465,"startMs",295000,"endMs",760000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333239-cee1d95082a41018d224eee2964c376b&start=295&end=760","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333239-cee1d95082a41018d224eee2964c376b/thumbnail_295000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6685909/Winchester-City/Frederick-County/Virginia/Winchester-Planning-Commission-initiates-zoning-amendment-to-define-humanitarian-services-facilities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6685909-85e2e8631810a1d6975b3896dd64883a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201707&Signature=lJudoB5spjxoHEgnA1z~bbIL-AjZ8I8gweR8sWfqjoOBprfX6sSSthqp-O2zPhSfuRBNJYCEUQpymq9vojXodBS7Mhwy8dgfU1J2oPW19wxt6zvqmWDWIOLAs4QyuP9w2Am~VeBLeV7A0oVPWtTp-HR82VFJ-UDzSGr0w5T1MbEMwRuO-EoNCvOWtWBPCwjrzxjYs2ey219-kkW~rKpe8XzPDjQqDyvi7zBul6rJbeeb4tqj04GmPij-2Uq4G8Z3-AHcg5L4cCVb1~nogXZc9g9nsTdIJcdujaH2HG3evqDTocFXIBbTNMcXxqG1dNwjuEeoc3A8qQe2V-YgMRg69A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Winchester","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Winchester Planning Commission voted to initiate an ordinance to amend sections of the City of Winchester zoning ordinance to define \"humanitarian services facilities,\" establish zoning districts where those facilities would be permitted, set performance standards for such facilities and repeal \"philanthropic and charitable institutions\" as a permitted land use.

City planning staff said the initiation moves the proposal into a March work session for detailed drafting, followed by a public hearing at the commission's second March meeting and then a potential referral to City Council. \"If you continue move through initiation, you move through the process,\" staff said.

The proposed text removes the Health Services (HS) district from the list of districts where these facilities could be allowed and adds the city's educational/institutional/public land-use district (referred to during discussion as EIB/EIP) to the proposed list of permitted districts. \"We removed the HS, which is your health services,\" staff said, and explained that the EIB/EIP inclusion reflected an earlier 2021 text amendment that staff determined should apply in this draft.

Staff also summarized how the ordinance would treat existing providers as nonconforming uses: they may continue operating at their current location unless they move, cease operations for more than two years, or request an expansion of the use. \"Basically, for existing service providers that fall under nonconformities, it means that they can continue,\" staff said. Staff distinguished those long-term nonconforming uses from temporary shelters, which staff said are governed by a different body of land‑use law.

Commissioners asked for clarification about why the proposed permission would apply only in certain districts. Staff responded that the city must choose which districts will allow a new land use and that many strictly residential areas lack the space or buffering appropriate for such facilities. Staff cited the Winchester Rescue Mission as an example of a provider that sought to relocate away from downtown to a more controlled, campus-like setting.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to adopt the meeting agenda: approved (voice vote).
- Motion to approve the commission regular meeting minutes for January 2025: approved (voice vote).
- Motion to initiate the zoning ordinance amendment defining humanitarian services facilities: moved and seconded and carried by voice vote; the commission formally initiated the ordinance and scheduled the next steps in the review process.

Next steps and context
City planning staff said the commission will discuss a detailed draft at a March work session and hold a public hearing at the commission's second meeting in March before issuing a recommendation to City Council. No final ordinance or council action took place at this meeting.

Clarifying details from the meeting include that existing nonconforming service providers may continue operating unless they relocate, cease operations for more than two years, or seek an expansion; temporary shelters are treated under different land-use rules; and staff will bring a detailed draft back at the work session for more substantive review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Winchester - Planning Commission - 3:00 PM - Feb 18 2025 - Feb 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Winchester Planning Commission voted to initiate an ordinance to amend the City of Winchester zoning ordinance to define “humanitarian services facilities,” set performance standards and remove “philanthropic and charitable institutions” as a permitted land use.","taxTitle","Winchester City, Frederick County, Virginia","taxId",5107,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6685903,"County liaison reports Frederick County will consider ordinance to regulate data centers and power-generating facilities",43,243000,286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333239-cee1d95082a41018d224eee2964c376b&start=243&end=286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333239-cee1d95082a41018d224eee2964c376b/thumbnail_243000.jpg","/articles/6685903/Winchester-City/Frederick-County/Virginia/County-liaison-reports-Frederick-County-will-consider-ordinance-to-regulate-data-centers-and-power-generating-facilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6685903-1558fcb382f10d5f8329ff4e8be26211/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201707&Signature=PBNvBwzvmOgZk5xsLcRVQD46llZa~iz~WRx8kO5A5Y5Sy~UAT5aF3Hsw~w6H6LYhM8D4W1CMQhQ7MJM8s26JXQ-9f7W5CqBcAlFjlqOp40r38ENY7zukQy0IzVYiulNvYbVPdrEk-c2zTuMGYNfXzQOmN7-k88kaxysmNp0N71O6jT-FucyWqs6enIXGDtcbStz~XLQ0X3nqVoOJMAaZxhHucMTWZ5Atdp6dCnB7vBZDJSfpCbdmEgeZi8t8bUFjvEgym~OL4n7znmAVYsHoesOgB1vb~6JQebIJIrQNDGtY~8vbZ2pPc62OvaMUPfpAWvtqg~oEpwsjbbtwulvXdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The commission heard a brief report from a Frederick County liaison that Frederick County officials will consider an amendment to the Frederick County code to define and regulate data centers, including additional rules on height, nuisances and definitions for power-generating facilities.

The liaison said the county had a full agenda at its next meeting and described the data-center and power-generation items as among the most notable. \"Most interestingly I think I'll mention that we do have an ordinance. Amendment to the Frederick County code tomorrow night for- to help define and regulate data centers- including additional regulations height and nuisances and define and regulate power generating facilities regarding those so that'll be. A very interesting see that process,\" the liaison said.

The liaison added that the Winchester-area commission had not met since last year and encouraged commissioners to note the county's upcoming docket. The liaison did not report any Winchester-specific applications or proposals for data centers.

No commission action was taken on the county item; the report was informational.","A liaison told the Winchester Planning Commission that Frederick County will consider a Frederick County code amendment to define and regulate data centers, including height, nuisance, and power‑generation rules at an upcoming meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6685907,"Commissioner seeks staff follow-up on Shenandoah University armory rooftop screening",61,773000,834000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333239-cee1d95082a41018d224eee2964c376b&start=773&end=834","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333239-cee1d95082a41018d224eee2964c376b/thumbnail_773000.jpg","/articles/6685907/Winchester-City/Frederick-County/Virginia/Commissioner-seeks-staff-follow-up-on-Shenandoah-University-armory-rooftop-screening","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6685907-15d8bbea22451fd30cc09fa7ff927821/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201707&Signature=gilzH-TD4JZaUZXchHZFCPuEzt7gfuHGEd-iCKv72Im32ZPb4NPGX9e2jdd-9Yq0NTd8QE2lRmGXvY~Kq0TNEGnyXZAAun7FyMCZFVghCAeMNyIyBb1jGcMpDlfsh-Hc7NDU7BXHzCI7WyNGJK8BpolnoThLi8CSd9LhUey66wFDdOfQyYaOB7efEIULYhUDGjuGNY0Jb-r5TkkCqM38RUpniQZnVngEIcHhEsvsk-Gi~ntDu~D4oSdLIXVvI37g~LVt2vlsngqnLfxbMFK5-Ue-zlryJyFPwm89WxPzggwbZPk8qDphu3OmFYBZZcQvVg7rEtkg9BytR5DAeOw2yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Winchester commissioner asked planning staff to investigate whether rooftop screening required under a prior approval for the armory building purchased by Shenandoah University has been installed as originally required.

The commissioner said the rooftop screening \"was supposed to kind of do a little dimensional setback\" and that the shielding \"goes straight across\" rather than following the approved modification. \"It has never been done,\" the commissioner said.

Planning staff said they would look into the matter and provide an answer at the next meeting. \"I don't have an answer for you, but I'll look into it, clearly,\" staff said.

The discussion did not include a formal motion or vote; the request was recorded as a direction to staff to investigate compliance with previously approved design conditions for the armory property.

Clarifying details
- Property: armory building purchased by Shenandoah University; the commissioner said required parapet setback/modification had not been completed as approved.
- Action requested: staff to research prior approval vs. current rooftop screening and report back at the next meeting.

No additional timeline or enforcement action was specified in the discussion recorded in the transcript.","A commissioner asked staff to follow up after noting that rooftop screening at the former armory purchased by Shenandoah University was not installed as previously approved; staff agreed to investigate and report back.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Winchester Planning Commission initiates zoning amendment to define humanitarian services facilities

County liaison reports Frederick County will consider ordinance to regulate data centers and power-generating facilities

Commissioner seeks staff follow-up on Shenandoah University armory rooftop screening