Over the past several months, we have enjoyed getting to know the community and sincerely appreciated hearing feedback and incorporating different ideas into our design.
We’ve held several community meetings including door-to-door meetings, a neighborhood get-together, a site walking tour, and an educational session as part of the Strasburg Wellness Series during Mayfest. Some of the questions have pushed our thinking on how to co-exist most effectively with the natural rural environment that defines the Star Tannery region.
For example, we were challenged to think about how we could best handle the threat of fire that is a key risk for everyone in the region. We recently hired a world-renowned authority on regenerative development, Tim Murphy, who just finished a week onsite and studied the contours, wind patterns, and residual stumps from fires that occurred many decades ago. As one mitigating strategy, he is analyzing how we can use constructed wetlands and drainage ponds as part of our septic design that will also provide fire breaks going up valleys where fires gain momentum.
We have also been asked questions about traffic, and are focused on creating a low impact environment through both passive and active policies for commercial, guest, and staff vehicles. Our most recently completed analysis shows an impact on Route 55 as less than 3% of the total traffic. Additionally, the nature retreat will have significantly less traffic than the alternative option of a 35-unit housing development, which would put 350 trips on Turkey Run per day (according to VDOT estimates).
We look forward to meeting more people in the community and working together on mutually beneficial relationships. The site at 1815 Turkey Run Road is zoned to enable “rural resorts” if a special use permit is granted. On Thursday, June 6th, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors regarding such a permit.
Thursday, June 6th 7:00-8:30pm
Planning Commission Meeting
Shenandoah County Board Room
600 North Main Street Woodstock, VA 22664
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Heather Mack at heatherm@wellmorepartners.com or 443-905-7077.
