[{"_1":2,"_96":-5,"_97":-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",[32,75,84],{"_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",6510939,"mediaKeyId","5345933-015103db2a999f6a0bdc21044b229e0b","parentId",5345933,"title","Council signs off on final subdivision for Linden Drive redevelopment; developer to deliver park improvements and stormwater controls","audioSeconds",1506,"startMs",2873000,"endMs",4379000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5345933-015103db2a999f6a0bdc21044b229e0b&start=2873&end=4379","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5345933-015103db2a999f6a0bdc21044b229e0b/thumbnail_2873000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6510939/Winchester-City/Frederick-County/Virginia/Council-signs-off-on-final-subdivision-for-Linden-Drive-redevelopment-developer-to-deliver-park-improvements-and-stormwater-controls","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510939-4c34108b4de414756274d91f79725f5c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155944&Signature=mT0NfRK1avJ0zogc9PpYZm8WhgAchX50wFhr7ELx3-TEa5Db1SqRF8Zhl78MgTtS~JvGV1VOa6dbxiE8XYC3ItZh7LexNzdfukpslSEsN8MOjJWhoPNcXKEGYpFxTVIKc2QS7ic7zXpYlUc1ZvXx7g5DaRZ2TMxjQrnVrUyg6Y~zvBRUqM~ZQ2v7oc~bw2KuET6c5f6o5gdARd-ztT-AsDOS593foeDMj8Lkn0CI~TtqCSffs3S1tONDD2d4C1n-MW8RQTc2JBa1rkI8C9rHXAhkRN4ZqvlhvT5rmb5s0vcCr7dXxg9Iunlmoa1RWBRT6dupfYKBoxCZUfmd8pepfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Winchester","date","2025-07-08T00:00:00Z","article","Winchester City Council approved final subdivision platting Tuesday for a redevelopment project at 441 Linden Drive that will convert the former middle school site into townhomes and single‑family units with a public park.

Staff described the request as a ministerial final‑subdivision approval for a roughly 13‑acre site. The plan presented calls for up to 136 dwelling units on the parcel (previous traffic analyses had modeled up to 160 units), a mix of public and private streets, and a park top lot with a pavilion, a playground and a turf field that staff said will ultimately be dedicated to the city.

The developer (Greenway Engineering, represented at the meeting) submitted HOA documents that will keep certain improvements — including the main parking lot adjacent to the park — under HOA ownership with a recorded declaration obligating the HOA to make the lot available for park users. Staff and the developer said the city will accept dedication of the park improvements and assume maintenance responsibility for the park itself; the parking lot will remain on HOA land but be shared for park access per the developer’s declaration.

Councilors raised questions about traffic and emergency access. Staff said the original PUD approvals and traffic‑impact analyses (completed during earlier approvals in 2021 and 2022) addressed site access; the traffic analysis had assumed a higher unit count and estimated that about 60% of trips would use Linden Drive. Council staff and the developer said the townhome developer is responsible for installing a roundabout at one intersection; a second roundabout tied to a separately owned active‑adult parcel will be built when that parcel proceeds and is the responsibility of that future developer. Council acknowledged the timing of the second roundabout is not yet scheduled and that construction phasing could produce temporary traffic impacts.

On stormwater, staff said the redevelopment must meet state code requirements for redevelopment sites — including a water‑quality improvement requirement and detention to ensure downstream channels do not flood in a 10‑year storm event. The developer presented plans calling for an on‑site pond for the active‑adult portion and underground detention for the townhome portion to meet stormwater controls.

A motion to approve final subdivision was made, seconded and carried on roll call. Councilors recorded affirmative roll‑call responses and declared the final subdivision approved. Staff will continue site‑plan review and require the developer to complete the public improvements and stormwater facilities as part of permit and construction sequencing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Winchester - City Council Regular Meeting - 6:00 PM - Jul 08 2025 - Jul 08, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved final major subdivision for a redevelopment of the Linden Drive site that will create townhomes and single‑family lots, require developer‑built park improvements and stormwater management, and defer some roadway elements to later phases of development.","taxTitle","Winchester City, Frederick County, Virginia","taxId",5107,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_47":79,"_49":50,"_51":80,"_53":81,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":82,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":83,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6510944,"Council approves vacation and conveyance of 0.22‑acre Hope Drive remnant; city to require payment based on prior formula",0,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5345933-015103db2a999f6a0bdc21044b229e0b&start=2873&end=2873","/articles/6510944/Winchester-City/Frederick-County/Virginia/Council-approves-vacation-and-conveyance-of-022acre-Hope-Drive-remnant-city-to-require-payment-based-on-prior-formula","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510944-31108b3ef67b0a483feac870fe525d5b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155944&Signature=idWoIklDJ3LpIiAICDWUgh1CNmhbmXOfoVENDovQSUpltwuw8SkLieDNtVAYwZ1zninkFPWUPz0-xIDyUWGFo1QPkjaU4gCHXJ8vF63NijkZI6H972IWPariTy82wSM2mwnFY3CoMQQQYAi9Fo8g0jf0S4M1Wq0aPe26YZE78svtrQQp1TXu-madyh5ykyd4V1MamLGJv01qRYGUf~JN5WOpuzzPZDPc-tJJzwpeevi1GZBupJynLokl0NrLyBO7N7hcANI~9awtO2p8IBCHJj-abJRYgga37GQVhungZgwQdBGkKjC35U82ootwFdVxAxPGelZRgko4j3rK3zgKJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Winchester City Council voted Tuesday to vacate and convey an approximately 0.22‑acre remnant of right‑of‑way along the north side of Hope Drive between Valor Drive and Valley Avenue.

A viewers report presented to council said city staff, police and fire officials met on site and determined no inconvenience would result from the vacation. The remnant resulted from a prior realignment of Hope Drive and is described in staff materials as a moon‑shaped sliver of land roughly a quarter of an acre.

Staff recommended a valuation for conveyance using the same methodology applied to a prior right‑of‑way vacation on Weems Lane: the comparable per‑square‑foot value used elsewhere ($10 per square foot) reduced by 75% to 25% of that value for conveyance. Using an approximate area of 10,000 square feet, staff said that formula yields an estimated conveyance amount of about $24,000.

Council members asked how the 25% reduction was determined; staff said the percentage was applied in a 2023 vacation for an unbuilt stub of Wilson Boulevard and that council has discretion to choose a different percentage. Councilors also discussed that transferring the parcel to the adjacent developer would give that developer direct access for a planned public street and relieve the city of maintenance responsibility for that small parcel.

A motion to approve the viewers report and conveyance was made, seconded and carried on roll call. The council recorded affirmative roll‑call responses and declared the vacation approved.

Staff noted the viewers report was signed by members of the viewers committee and that the conveyance price is calculated from the adopted formula; the final conveyance amount and legal document details will be completed as part of the closing process.","Council approved the vacation and conveyance of an approximately 0.22‑acre remnant of Hope Drive and endorsed a valuation method that used $10 per square foot reduced to 25% to arrive at an estimated conveyance price of about $24,000.",{"_33":85,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":86,"_41":87,"_43":88,"_45":89,"_47":90,"_49":91,"_51":92,"_53":93,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":94,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":95,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6510949,"Winchester council approves zoning amendment defining humanitarian service facilities after constitutional concerns raised",813,343000,1156000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5345933-015103db2a999f6a0bdc21044b229e0b&start=343&end=1156","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5345933-015103db2a999f6a0bdc21044b229e0b/thumbnail_343000.jpg","/articles/6510949/Winchester-City/Frederick-County/Virginia/Winchester-council-approves-zoning-amendment-defining-humanitarian-service-facilities-after-constitutional-concerns-raised","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510949-37af6cda7973599763d266779a667103/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155944&Signature=aSzLsdLs-pIFEXOQNkJyxbzlQAn3goxkrm1nScD9RISf-OUryH9BbpqpspGHFVb6sfPuC4FRv9xU~OPEVhDWjyVI9cod1NoWeI5mrEAGx6KvdeNmynee3MhR-a8Bcp1wYfLf1HNPEiR3YGQB6~Whg5UBCemz-oEkATECuCR6ukREwCHH1H1wWOs4y1flttiXKkZSsEQUvLQXWMTDN4L7aG4hXUL2Ms3bC~GPA2PEomqcDi0ztDRR~wzmTvfWEYegJ4QVkJXHbkDG6bOBKhTOk8GIadLyOxS6AqDnVrXOXOXJizhybWGVX9y5-81VdhkqelTIeUay3TYaE4nzExmhpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Winchester City Council approved a zoning text amendment on second reading Tuesday that adds definitions and performance standards for “humanitarian service facilities” and establishes where charitable provision centers are permitted.

The measure, O.2025‑4 (TA‑25‑7), was the subject of a public hearing during which Diana Simpson, senior attorney at the Institute for Justice in Arlington, Virginia, told the council she believes parts of the draft ordinance raise constitutional concerns under the Equal Protection Clause and cited the U.S. Supreme Court precedent City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Center.

Simpson said the ordinance’s conditional‑use‑permit requirement for some humanitarian service facilities and charitable provision centers could treat similar land uses differently based on who they serve. “The equal protection clause requires government to treat similar uses in a similar manner,” Simpson said. She urged council to reject the amendment or revise it to avoid singling out unpopular groups.

City staff and the zoning administrator told council the draft text was revised following meetings with nonprofit providers in May and that no changes had been made since the first reading. The city attorney said he had reviewed the proposed amendments and discussed potential federal‑law impacts with staff but did not offer a definitive legal opinion. “I can’t say that [there is] zero risk,” the city attorney said, describing the question of whether the new rules treat like facilities differently as a matter that could be decided by courts.

Council members asked whether nonprofits that would be affected had expressed remaining concerns; staff reported follow‑up with the Highland Food Pantry and said it had received no new correspondence since the last meeting. Councilors also discussed whether the conditional‑use‑permit (CUP) process could be applied in a way that effectively prevents facilities from opening; staff acknowledged the CUP is a discretionary process that could be used to deny applications, and that such use would carry legal risk.

After discussion, a councilor moved to approve the text amendment “as presented.” The motion was seconded and carried on a roll‑call vote. The meeting record shows affirmative roll‑call responses; the council declared the ordinance approved.

The amendment also repeals the prior category for “philanthropic and charitable institutions” and replaces it with more specific definitions and performance standards aimed at clarifying where and how humanitarian service facilities and charitable provision centers may operate in the city.

Council materials indicate the item was re‑advertised because substantial changes were made after the first reading and that staff sought final action at this meeting. The city attorney and zoning administrator both told council that the draft is similar in approach to prior text considered in 2021 but that differences in interpretation could create legal risk if applied unevenly.

The council proceeded to other business after approving the item; no additional amendments to TA‑25‑7 were adopted at the meeting.","The council approved O.2025-4 (TA‑25‑7), a zoning text amendment to define “humanitarian service facilities” and create rules for charitable provision centers after a public hearing and council discussion that included constitutional concerns raised by the Institute for Justice.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council signs off on final subdivision for Linden Drive redevelopment; developer to deliver park improvements and stormwater controls

Council approves vacation and conveyance of 0.22‑acre Hope Drive remnant; city to require payment based on prior formula

Winchester council approves zoning amendment defining humanitarian service facilities after constitutional concerns raised