Introduction of Study 

The Southern Frederick Area Plan provides an exciting opportunity for the community to participate in and guide the future growth, development, and redevelopment of this urbanizing area of the county.  Residents can craft a plan that is proactive and creative, meet anticipated growth demands, and maintain a high quality of life for the future.

The Southern Frederick area is home to many families and successful businesses, and contains some of the area’s most accessible recreational resources, environmental features, and public facilities. Help improve upon the livability of this area by participating in a Working Group.

Public Hearing Draft presented to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors

The Board of Supervisors, at their September 10, 2014 meeting, directed the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing on the Southern Frederick Area Plan - An amendment to the 2030 Comprehensive Plan; Appendix I – Area Plans.

• The Planning Commission recommended approval to the Board of Supervisors of this amendment on October 1, 2014.
• The Comprehensive Plans and Programs Committee (CPPC) formally reviewed and endorsed the Southern Frederick Area Plan at their September 8, 2014 meeting.

The Board of Supervisors Public Hearing is scheduled for November 12, 2014 at 7 p.m.

When the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission discussed the Southern Frederick Area Plan at a work session on August 12, 2014, the Board wanted additional clarification regarding the changes and improvements to the mapping to highlight those changes. Staff has prepared such a clarification in the form of a brief presentation which was provided to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors under a separate attachment. It is hoped that this is helpful to those interested in this Area Plan.

• Southern Frederick presentation (for illustration purposes)

Efforts to date in the Study...

A Public Review and Input Meeting for the Southern Frederick Area Plan was held on Tuesday July 1, 2014. 

• The meeting was held at the Robert E. Aylor Middle School Cafeteria, 901 Aylor Road, Stephens City, VA.
• At the meeting, the draft Southern Frederick Area Plan was presented. This draft Plan represented the work of a number of citizen volunteers who had been working over the past several months in collaboration with each other to combine the four sections into a cohesive draft version of the Southern Frederick Area Plan.

• Following the Public Review and Input Meeting, the draft Southern Frederick Area Plan, and input received from the meeting, was then presented to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors for discussion and further input.
• For more information visit the Sofred Working Group page here.

The facilitators of each of the working groups met March 10, 2014 following the Comprehensive Plans & Programs Committee (CPPC) meeting.

• We would like to thank all of those members of the public who participated in the Working Groups for the Southern Frederick Area Plan effort. The four working groups; Urban Areas and Residential Development, Business Development, Transportation, and Natural Resources, Historic Resources, and Public Facilities thoroughly evaluated the issues and drafted their respective sections of the Southern Frederick Area Plan. The input received and discussion of the various topics is invaluable to the Plan.
• Over the weeks that followed, the Facilitator Groups compiled the four sections into a cohesive draft version of the Southern Frederick Area Plan in preparation to be presented  to the Public, Planning Commission, and Board of Supervisors for discussion and further input.

Public Introduction Meeting

• A Public Introduction meeting was held on September 25, at Robert E. Aylor Middle School to introduce the study, seek early input, and to encourage participation in the study and working groups among the public in attendance.
• Input was sought for the study by completing the brief Public Input Survey listed below. The Frederick County Planning Department encouraged all survey responses to be submitted by October 18th, 2013.

Working Group Kick Off Meeting

• Citizens were also encouraged to participate further by volunteering for one of the four working groups;  1. Urban Areas and Residential Development, 2. Business Development, 3. Transportation, and 4. Natural Resources, Historic Resources, and Public Facilities. These groups were finalized by October 18, 2013.

Study Area

This effort will encompass the area generally east of Interstate 81 to the Clarke County line and from the Opequon Creek in the north to Lake Frederick in the south. This study area includes the Route 277 Triangle Study, Tasker Woods, and many of the existing residential communities of the Stephens City area from Lakeside to Shenandoah and everything in between. The study area includes both the Opequon and Shawnee Magisterial Districts.