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HomeMy Public PortalAbout11 07 2019 PC MinutesThe Town of Leesburg in Virginia Leesburg Planning Commission Meeting Minutes November 7, 2019 The Leesburg Planning Commission met on Thursday, November 7, 2019 in Town Hall Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176. Staff members present included Susan Berry Hill, Rich Klusek, Tyler Wright, Renee LaFollette, Tina Newton, and Karen Cicalese. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Vice Chair Nacy. Members Present: Vice Chair Nacy, Commissioners Barnes, Barney, Faliskie, Lanham, Walker ADOPTION OF AGENDA Vice Chair Nacy noted that the Zoning Ordinance Batch work session item was deferred to a future agenda and that she wished to amend the agenda to move the Legacy Leesburg Charrette Update and the Tree Canopy Briefing and Sewage Treatment Plant Screening Discussion to the beginning of the meeting. Motion to adopt the agenda as amended: Commissioner Barney Second: Commissioner Lanham Vote: 6-0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES October 3, 2019 Draft Minutes Amended Motion: Commissioner Walker Second: Commissioner Barnes Vote: 6-0 October 17, 2019 Draft Minutes Motion Commissioner Walker Second: Commissioner Barney Vote: 6-0-1 (Lanham abstained as he was absent) DISCLOSURE OF MEETINGS None CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT Vice Chair Nacy wished to thank Chairman Doris Kidder, who recently resigned, for her service to the Planning Commission for over 10 years. She noted that she had been an invaluable part of the Commission and a true voice for the citizens of Leesburg. 1 Leesburg Planning Commission Minutes November 7, 2019 PETITIONERS None PUBLIC HEARING None SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT None TLOA-2017-0006 Zoning Ordinance Batch Amendments Work Session 2 — Mike Watkins, Zoning Administrator This was stricken from the agenda. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING Legacy Leesburg: Update on Charrette Noonkester, Consultant Mr. Noonkester explained that this was the kick off of their five day Design Charrette and he wanted to give an overview of the project and what was planned for this week. They are looking at the following four categories to organize their efforts for this planning process: • Areas to Preserve • Areas to Enhance • Areas to Transform • Areas to Strengthen Mr. Noonkester gave an overview of the Design Charrette noting the public was welcome to come anytime between the hours of 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. each day. He gave an overview of the calendar of events highlighting the Charrette Kick Off on November 7th, The Pop -Up Events on Friday, November 8th, and the Closing Presentation on Tuesday, November 12th. Target deliverables for the event included the following: • Identify Character Area Typology • Alternative Growth Scenarios • Draft Future Land Use Map • Supporting Infrastructure Assessment • Economic Realities • Focus Area Studies • Vision, Key Themes and Guiding Principles Mr. Noonkester also discussed post charrette activities which will focus on the latter part of their planning process and included the following deliverables: • Legacy Leesburg Town Plan Charrette Workbook 2 Leesburg Planning Commission Minutes November 7, 2019 • Legacy Leesburg Town Plan Policy Concepts • Legacy Leesburg Town Plan Draft Document • Legacy Leesburg Partner Activities • Legacy Leesburg Adoption Hearings TLTA-2018-0002 Eastern Gateway District Small Area Plan, Work Session 2 — Rich Klusek, Sr. Planner Mr. Klusek explained that staff would like to revisit the phasing discussion that was started in September. The phasing language currently in the draft plan (Page 1239) contains three policies. Town Council had some concerns about this language and staff began to draft additional phasing language which was presented to the Commission in September and October. This phasing language was discussed in detail at the October 3rd meeting. Staff is proposing some changes to the phasing policy language, specifically policy number three, in response to concerns raised during the October 3rd discussion. Mr. Klusek asked the Planning Commission if they were satisfied with the phasing language proposed. The Commission did not raise any objections to the proposed language. Mr. Klusek moved on to architectural character, and explained that this request came from Council came after the Plan was referred back to the Commission. Council has asked that the Commission decide if further discussion and changes are needed. Susan Berry Hill, Director, Planning and Zoning, gave an overview of the Town Council discussion pertaining to the architectural policy. She explained that concerns were expressed by some Council members that the policies in the Plan are very general and that more specificity could be added to the policies to guarantee that new construction is compatible with the character of Leesburg. Mr. Klusek explained that staff recommended that the Commission include the recommended phasing language in the Small Area Plan, address the questions regarding architectural design and decide if further discussion and changes are needed and conduct this discussion at a subsequent work session before referring the draft back to Town Council, and if no further discussion is needed on phasing or architectural design to refer the draft back to Town Council for adoption by adopting the recertification resolution. Mr. Klusek asked the Commission if the Architectural Policy section should be revised to provide more policy direction on architectural design, and if so, which were the particular polices that should be edited or revised. Some members of the Planning Commission expressed concerns regarding the lack of specificity in the Small Area Plan and felt further discussion was needed. Ms. Berry Hill explained that there is not always going to be agreement on what the Town should look like. She did agree that there were basic architectural elements that define what Leesburg Planning Commission Minutes November 7, 2019 Leesburg character is and we can strive to put those in our zoning ordinance so that those basic elements are communicated to all developers. It was her opinion that it would be a very difficult task to come up with very prescriptive architectural requirements that all can agree on, will not hamper future economic development in the Town and/or people's desire to work with their properties as they want to. She cautioned that being too prescriptive could lead to the development of buildings that all look the same. It is important to find a balance between having a process that is streamlined and easier to work through with one that recognizes that we are an authentic community. We have our own character and want to try to work with people to get new construction that is respectful of that character. Commissioner Lanham moved that the Planning Commission forward TLTA-2018-0002, Eastern Gateway District Small Area Plan to the Town Council with a recommendation of approval subject to: Inclusion of the phasing language contained in the November 7, 2019 Planning Commission Staff Report AND No changes to the architectural design policies. Commissioner Faliskie seconded the motion and the motion failed by a vote of 3-3 (Aye: Lanham, Faliskie, and Barney; Nay; Barnes, Nacy, and Walker) After further discussion, it was determined to continue discussion on architectural design to a future work session. Commissioner Lanham moved that TLTA-2018-0002 be deferred to a January 16th work session for further discussion of, and solely limited to, the architectural design policy language. Commissioner Barnes seconded the motion and the motion carried by a vote of 5-1 (Nay: Faliskie) STAFF AND COMMITTEE REPORTS Tree Canopy Briefing and Sewage Plant Screening Discussion — Tyler Wright, Urban Forester and Renee LaFollette, Director, Public Works and Capital Projects Renee LaFollete, Director of Public Works and Capital Projects, introduced Tyler Wright, the Town's new Urban Forester and Landscape Specialist and discussed his role as Urban Forester noting that his scope of work includes administrative, urban forestry, arborist, landscape design, and education and awareness responsibilities. Mr. Wright gave an overview of the tree canopy program as well as some of the projects he is currently involved in which include the Tuscarora Creek Mitigation Project, tree installation at the Battlefield Parkway interchange site, and some projects in Greenway Farms. The following items will be a focus moving forward: • Public Tree Inventory 4 Leesburg Planning Commission Minutes November 7, 2019 • Education for homeowners and developers of species diversity • Use of structural soil cells in areas of limited space • Promoting the "Right Tree, Right Place, Planted Right" motto • Trees are our Green Civil Servants and can alleviate issues faced • Tree Bank Mitigation Fund for private HOA, homeowners, and groups • Land Classification Study — Urban Tree Canopy Analysis with Loudoun County Public Schools Mr. Wright moved on to the second request made by the Planning Commission regarding additional screening for the waste water treatment facility. He explained that staff has worked with the Utility Department to review the area between the shared use path along Russell Branch Parkway and the security fencing and also behind the security fencing to see what area is available for additional screening. It was staff's findings that based on the space available, the underground infrastructure, and the room needed to safely and efficiently maintain the portions of the facility closest to the fence line, there is minimal room to plant additional screening materials Staff is not recommending the additional screening for sight distance, sight line and proximity to a major intersection issues. SRTC REPORT None BAR REPORT Commissioner Lanham informed the Commission that the last BAR meeting was focused on the Shops at Russell Branch however, he had nothing to report. TOWN COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT None OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS Ms. Berry Hill informed the Commission that should Council appoint someone to fill the vacant Planning Commission position, they will be having elections at the next meeting for the interim period to finish out the year and then again in January. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:16 PM Approved by: { Karan Cicalese, Commission Clerk Kari Nacy, Vice Chair 5