HomeMy Public PortalAbout2001_05_21
Council Work Session
May 21, 2001
Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, 7:00 p.m. Mayor Webb presiding.
Councilmembers Present: George Atwell, Mervin Jackson, Leonard McDonald,
David Schmidt, Kristen Umstattd, Robert Zoldos and Mayor Webb.
Council members Absent:
Staff Members Present: Bob Noe Town Manager, William Donnelly Town Attorney,
Deputy Town Manager Phil Rodenberg, Director of Engineering and Public Works Tom
Mason, Director of Planning, Zoning and Development Michael Tompkins, Director of
Finance Paul York, Director of Utilities Randy Shoemaker, Deputy Chief of Police
Michael McVeigh, Zoning Administrator Brian Boucher, Planner Nancy Costa, Traffic
Engineer Calvin Grow, Assistant to the Town Manager Nicole Ard, Tourism
Coordinator Marantha Edwards, and Clerk of Council Judy Ahalt.
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Loudoun Hospital Center Update
Rodney Heubbers and Woodrow Turner were present from Loudoun Hospital
Center.
Rodney Heubbers gave an update on the hospital's strategic plan and goals.
He stated a letter of intent has been filed with the State to reopen OR facilities on
Cornwall Street. He also discussed their exploration of a partnering relationship with
Inova Hospital.
Mr. Huebbers thanked Council for their support of their 19-bed Certificate of
Need.
He also discussed the hospital's major expansion initiatives for the next 5-7
years.
Mayor Webb verified the 19 additional beds should be on-line within 14 to 18
months.
Councilmember Zoldos verified a certificate of need at the Cornwall Street
facility would be requested from the State in July.
2. Agenda for Council Meeting of May 22, 2001
a. SE-2001-02 - Loudoun Country Day School
Nancy Costa outlined this application discussing the major issues of noise
attenuation, screening and traffic generation.
With reference to noise, staff is recommending that a noise decibel of 55
dBA be set, that prior to occupancy of these modular buildings an acoustical
engineer will determine the decibel levels do not exceed 55 dBA at the
property line, and that a parapet will be constructed on the modular buildings
to deflect noise.
She outlined the 12 conditions of approval.
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Brian Boucher clarified that the existing modular units on site will also
have to meet the 55-dBA levels when the testing is done for the new units.
Councilmember Schmidt asked why staff had reached the 55 dBA?
Brian Boucher stated this level was determined after comparison with
similar size communities.
Randv Hollister, with Loudoun Country Day School, addressed Council.
Mr. Hollister expressed concern with condition #9. It needs clarification
on the extension of the special exception after five years.
Mr. Hollister stated he is uncomfortable with the addition of condition #10,
which references a pedestrian crosswalk, and flashing school zone sign for
Fairview Street and asked that it be removed.
Councilmember Jackson suggested this issue be referred to the Traffic
Task Force.
Councilmembers McDonald and Jackson stated they could not support
condition #9 as proposed.
Councilmember Zoldos recommended amending condition #9 to have the
applicant return after five (5) years for an extension of the special exception
if needed.
Brian Boucher stated that the one-way in/out drop off on the school site
would eliminate the need for condition #10. There was further discussion on
the crosswalk and school zone sign.
Bill Donnelly verified that the special exception conditions run with the
land not with the applicant.
John French, representing the Old Waterford Knoll homeowners,
addressed Council.
Mr. French stated the major concerns for the residents are the air
conditioning noise from the existing buildings, the Fairview Street widening,
and traffic enforcement on Fairview Street.
b. SE-2001-03 - Leesburg Baptist Church Public Hearing
Nancy Costa outlined this application for three modular buildings at
Leesburg Baptist Church on Davis Avenue. She stated the two issues are
noise and screening.
Further plantings will be used to address screening and the same noise
conditions imposed on Loudoun Country Day School will be applied to this
application.
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c. Initiating amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to require a
Planning Commission public hearing for special exception
applications
Brian Boucher stated this amendment would require a Planning
Commission public hearing for special exception applications. At the present
time there is only one public hearing at the Council level.
d. Resolution of Hawkins Property issue located adjacent to Fox
Chapel
Michael Tompkins outlined a preliminary development plan filed in 2000
for construction of offices adjacent to the Fox Chapel condominiums. He
suggested Council initiate a resolution to sponsor a rezoning of the Hawkins
property to R-16, which would all 36 townhouse units on the property.
e. Making appointments to the Residential Traffic Committee
Calvin Grow stated that candidates have been interviewed for
appointment to the Standing Residential Traffic Committee and
recommendations will be forthcoming in a resolution tomorrow night.
Further an appointee is still needed from the Southeast quadrant of Town.
f. Supporting Virginia Byway designation for a section of Edwards
Ferry Road
Phil Rodenberg stated that residents on Edwards Ferry Road have asked
Loudoun County to designate a portion of the road as a Virginia Byway. The
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors endorsed the request on May 7th.
Mr. Rodenberg suggested a caveat asking the County to keep their portion
of Edwards Ferry Road as four-lanes as shown on the Countywide
Transportation Plan. This would maintain Leesburg's level of service for
traffic.
Bob Noe stated that the citizens on Edwards Ferry Road have not been
contacted with reference to the caveat of a four-lane road.
It was verified that Virginia Byways could be either two- or four-lanes.
It was the consensus of Council to endorse this byway designation with
the caveat that Loudoun County will keep their portion of Edwards Ferry Road
a four-lane road.
g. Alternative Transportation and Land Use Activities Strategies
Study from the Transportation Coordinating Council of Northern
Virginia
Randy Hodgson explained this study is a result of the 2020 Northern
Virginia Transportation Plan subcommittee. The plan asked for the top
priorities for the 2020 Plan from members of the TCC.
He added that in July the TCC will be eliminated and towns will only have
advisory authority.
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Mayor Webb expressed concern with the Town not having a seat on the
new Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and the allocation of
transportation funds to towns.
Calvin Grow suggested a resolution be forwarded to the TCC from Council
outlining their top priorities.
Also, in the future a resolution will be sent to the Barry Commission
Committee, which will be studying the new Northern Virginia Transportation
Authority to express the Town's concerns.
Council member Zoldos suggested sending a letter from the Mayor to
Delegates McClure and Black to state our disappointment with not having the
Town represented on the transportation authority.
Vice-Mayor Umstattd suggested a request to the full delegation that they
amend legislation next year to put the towns back on the transportation
authority.
3. Lawson Road Traffic Concerns
Tom Mason referenced a petition from the citizens of Lawson Road. He stated
programs are underway for a no-thru truck analysis and stop signs are on the list for
evaluation by the traffic committee. He reported the Residential Traffic Committee
would meet on June 4th.
4. Dominion Telecom Negotiations
Bill Donnelly updated Council on the status of Dominion Telecom negotiations.
The issues are placing their lines underground at their expense when other utilities
go underground and compensation for use of right-of-way.
Mr. Donnelly stated his interpretation of the statutory fee is that it only
applies when Telecom provides local service. Therefore, the Town can negotiate any
reasonable fee.
Dominion has suggested a one-time fee of $3,000 for use of our right-of-way.
The Town has countered with $50,000.
Tom Hogg with Dominion Telecom addressed Council.
Mr. Hogg stated they are in agreement with the undergrounding language
provided they can reach an agreement on the business terms.
Councilmember McDonald stated he would like to see incentives to attract
businesses.
Mike Rodgers, Chairman of the Information Technology Commission,
addressed Council. He stated they recommend providing discounts to attract
businesses to Leesburg.
Councilmember Atwell stated the $3,000 is not acceptable and he is
displeased with Dominion Telecom encroaching on town right-of-way without
permission.
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Councilmember Zoldos echoed Councilmember Atwell's comments and
suggested negotiations continue.
Vice-Mayor Umstattd agreed with the IT Commission's recommendation.
She suggested researching what other localities have been offered by
Dominion Telecom's competitors.
Dominion Telecom's attorney acknowledged they had made a mistake in
installing lines without prior permission.
5. Decal Fines
Bill Donnelly discussed the issue of amending the Town Code to raise fees for
not displaying a decal, to require a decal to be presented in order for the violation to
be discharged, and to provide reciprocal or cross-jurisdictional enforcement.
It was the consensus of Council to return legislation to amend the Town code
to increase the decal fine from $25 to $100 and to require that a decal be presented
before the violation would be discharged.
6. Noise Ordinance
Bill Donnelly gave a status report on the proposed decibel-based noise
ordinance. He stated that research of noise ordinances is provided in the Loudoun
Country Day School report and an acoustical engineer will be consulted in drafting an
ordinance.
Councilmember McDonald asked the cost of enforcement?
Mr. Donnelly stated that in some cases a consultant might have to be
contacted for testing noise levels at the site of the complaint. He added the police
department would handle routine complaints.
7. Water Storage Tank Options
Randy Shoemaker outlined a recommendation for hiring a professional
engineer to evaluate the location of storage tanks.
Mr. Shoemaker stated that due to the increased growth in Leesburg,
construction of additional storage capacity in all pressures zones is required. He
stated that $80,000 has been budgeted for their master plan update.
Mayor Webb recommended moving forward with a consultant engineer.
Councilmember Zoldos asked that the UGA areas be included in the
evaluation.
Vice-Mayor Umstattd asked for a comparison of expenses of a ground level
tank as well.
Mr. Shoemaker advised that a contract should be awarded for this study in
July.
8. Black &. Veach Contract Amendment #5 for services during
constructing of the Water Treatment Plant.
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Randy Shoemaker advised Council that the contractor is behind schedule on
the water treatment plant. The recommended contract amendment is for $350,000,
which will provide for engineering services for a 10-month period. He added that
some of the costs would be recovered by liquidated damages.
Bill Donnelly stated they might not be entitled to enough of an extension of
time to excuse them from liquidated damages.
Councilmember Zoldos verified we are extending the engineer's contract. The
Town will attempt to recover damages from the contractor for the extension of the
engineering services.
9. Bike Trail Meeting
It was determined the Bike Trail meeting will take place on June 6th, 2001 at
the Leesburg Fire Hall on Loudoun Street.
10. Main Street/Downtown Leesburg meeting with the Economic
Development Commission - selection of date.
It was determined this meeting would take place on June 13th, 2001 at 6:00
p.m. in the lower level of Town Hall.
11. Preview Items for the town Council Meeting of June 12, 2001
a. Potomac Crossing rezoning and concept plan amendment.
Randy Hodgson gave a brief overview of the proposed changes to the
Potomac Crossing rezoning and concept plan amendment.
b. Town Office space options
Phil Rodenberg outlined a proposal to reject the bids to renovate the
Inglenook Bookstore, and to reject the proposals to lease finished space in
favor of pursuing construction of a Loudoun Street addition.
Councilmember Schmidt commented the Economic Development
Commission has recommended a similar buildout on Loudoun Street.
12. Other Business
Mayor Webb advised there would be a closed session tomorrow night to
discuss a personnel matter.
Mayor Webb also advised Council would need to appoint a representative to
the Western Transportation Advisory Committee at tomorrow night's meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 10:35 p.m.