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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. Town Council Work session Minutes for Mav 21. 2001 Paqe 2 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. Town Council Work session Minutes for Mav 21. 2001 Paqe 3 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. Town Council Work session Minutes for Mav 21. 2001 Paqe 4 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. Town Council Work session Minutes for Mav 21. 2001 Paqe 5 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. Town Council Work session Minutes for Mav 21. 2001 Paqe 6 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.