Varicap diodes are run in reverse voltage condition. The voltage you apply 'opens' ('widens') the barrier across the PN junction to decrease it's capacitance so no DC current flows. As there is no current, except maybe a very, very small leakage, the resistor value doesn't matter within sensible range.
If you look at your schematic with the resistor linked out, you will see the problem when the potentiometer is at each end of it's track - you short out the signal at the crystal. Theoretically, you could replace it with a choke but introducing even more reactive components will probably have adverse effects.
Brian.