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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2002_06_10 Council Work Session June 24, 2002 Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, 7:00 p.m. Mayor Webb presiding. Councilmembers Present: Mervin Jackson, Leonard McDonald, David Schmidt, Kristen Umstattd, Robert Zoldos and Mayor Webb. Councilmembers Absent: George Atwell Staff Members Present: Town Manager Bob Noe, Town Attorney William Donnelly, Deputy Town Manager Phil Rodenberg, Director of Engineering and Public Works Tom Mason, Airport Director Doug McNeely, Director of Finance Paul York, Chief of Police Joe Price, Director of Utilities Randy Shoemaker, Chief of Comprehensive Planning Randy Hodgson, Zoning Administrator Brian Boucher, Capitol Improvements Manager Nagi Elsewaissi, Assistant to the Town Manager Nicole Ard, Management Intern Larry DiRe, Management Intern Adam Brown, and Assistant to the Clerk of Council Deborah Parry. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Agenda for Council Meeting of June 11, 2002 a. School Boundary Line Adjustment. Bill Donnelly advised the area designated for the boundary line adjustment is in the O'Connor tract, north of town. He further advised of the process that will follow if this is approved. Mayor Webb asked that a resolution be provided for tomorrow night's Council meeting. Councilmember Zoldos ensured that the Town and County agree on the meets and bounds description. b. ZM 2001-04 Hawkins Property - Public Hearing Randy Hodgson stated this rezoning is for a 5-acre tract from 1-1 to R-60 to allow for 26 townhouse units. He further stated the Planning Commission has recommended approval with a change to the proffer dealing with the acoustical treatment of the units. Mayor Webb asked that a resolution be provided for tomorrow night's Council meeting. Councilmember Zoldos asked if the Fox Chapel HOA had responded to Mr. Banzhaf's letter. Randy Hodgson stated that Mr. Banzhaf had not received a response from the HOA. c. ZOAM 02-02 - Initiating amendments to the Leesburg Zoning Ordinance to permit transmission antennas as party of a high-speed Internet access provider - home occupation Brian Boucher stated there have been a number of requests to change the Zoning Ordinance to allow transmission antenna. He further stated the petitioner has asked for a joint public hearing, but staff does not recommend that course of action. Town Council Work session minutes for June 24. 2002 Page 2 Councilmember Zoldos ensured there would be language to control the height of the antennas. Councilmember Schmidt asked that the Broadband Subcommittee of the Information Technology Commission be involved in these discussions. Vice-Mayor Umstattd stated that there are no provisions to put small antennas on town structures. Brian Boucher stated that there is some flexibility to do that and it would be handled as a by-right use. d. Amending the Capital Improvements Project Policies and procedures Manual and delegating authority for updates and revisions to the Town Manager Bob Noe stated he is proposing three primary changes; (1) involving the Capital Projects Administrator in more aspects of the Capital Projects, (2) appointing the Planning Director or designee to the Capital Projects Team, and (3) delegating authority to the Town Manager to revise and update the manual in the future. e. Authorizing the special counsel to request a continuance of the Commission on Local Government's hearing on annexation. Phil Rodenberg stated the COLG public hearing in Leesburg is scheduled for July 29-31, 2002. Staff is recommending a continuance of 4 months to allow for more time to inform new Council members about annexation issues and to discuss a possible settlement with the Loudoun County. Councilmembers Zoldos, Jackson, McDonald and Vice-Mayor Umstattd expressed this support for the continuance. Councilmember Zoldos added that the new County Zoning Ordinance would be available at that time. Councilmember McDonald stated that he plans to bring forward a resolution that would establish a group to look at the annexation area and create an inventory of historical structures and landmarks. He further stated that the group should inclupe downtown business owners as well as other Leesburg business owners, citizens who reside in the annexation area and elected members of the Town and County. f. Authorizing the Town Manager to sign the contract with Deitz Construction Group in the amount of $2,319,257.00 for a terminal building expansion and renovation project. Doug McNeeley stated the current airport facility does not meet their needs. The expansion will provide 52,000 square feet of leasable space, as well as many other amenities, which will keep the airport competitive. Stanley Caulkins, Chairman of the Airport Commission, stated this is a culmination of six years effort and the Commission hopes that Council agrees that this is a step in the right direction. Councilmember Zoldos, Mayor Webb and Councilmember McDonald stated they would be supporting this item. g. Ida Lee Park Recreation Center expansion - change order with Hughes Group Architects. Town Council Work session minutes for June 24. 2002 Page 3 Kaj Dentler stated there is a need to extend the contract with Hughes Group Architects for an additional five months at an amount not to exceed $29,496.00 in order to complete the expansion by mid-September. He further stated the project is well within budget and this is not a request for new funds. Councilmember Zoldos asked that legislation be prepared for tomorrow night. h. Naming the fields at Freedom Park Councilmember Schmidt asked that this item not be voted on until further information is provided regarding the individuals whom the fields will be named in honor of. Mayor Webb suggested that biographies on the honorees be provided. Councilmember McDonald stated that he had no problem with Councilmember Schmidt's recommendation, but suggested that Council proceed with the naming of Balls Bluff Park. John Elgin, Chairman of the Parks & Recreation Commission stated that the commission simply made the recommendations as per the request from Council. Councilmember Jackson reminded Council of Councilmember Atwell's recommendation to name a field in honor of Toby Atwell. It was the consensus of Council to defer the naming of the fields at Freedom Park until the July 9th Council Meeting. i. Traffic Calming in the Southwest area of Leesburg Councilmember Schmidt stated Southwest residents are concerned about the timing of the new lights on Rt. 15 at Meade Drive and Rt. 15 at Country Club Drive. Also, there are concerns with high speed at Harle Place and Hague Drive at Meade Drive. Calvin Grow stated the Traffic Task Force has looked at complaints regarding the running of stop signs at Meade Drive. He stated traffic studies would be done inside the Woodlea development. Councilmember Zoldos stated that at 5:30 a.m. he waits 2-3 minutes for a green light to turn from Country Club Drive onto Rt. 15. He further stated that it does not appear there is a long enough yellow light for vehicles traveling north or south on Rt. 15. Calvin Grow stated that he would look into the issue. 2. Southeast Leesburg Transportation Questions This item was deferred until the July 8th worksession. 3. Receiving the Draft Zoning Ordinance Mayor Webb stated that the Zoning Ordinance has not been distributed to Council. Cliff Vaughan, Chairman of the Planning Commission, stated the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the draft Zoning Ordinance on June 6th. He further outlined a few of the changes to the document. Town Council Work session minutes for June 24. 2002 Paqe 4 Councilmembers McDonald and Zoldos congratulated the staff and Planning Commission for their hard work. 4. Horrocks appropriate land use Randy Hodgson stated Ms. Horrocks has been to the Planning Department to discuss what she would like to do with her property. Councilmember Zoldos stated that he met with Ms. Horrocks and informed her that Council is in no position to approve a rezoning of her property. He further stated that an invitation was extended to Ms. Horrocks and her contract purchaser to make application for a rezoning. Vice-Mayor Umstattd stated that she appreciated the time Councilmember Zoldos and staff took to meet with Ms. Horrocks and clarify the process for her. 5. Opening of street connections in Exeter Hills Tom Mason stated Council has been provided an updated traffic study and written comments from the public hearing held on June 11th with reference to removing barricades at Marshall Drive, Woodberry Road, and Catoctin Circle at Marshall Drive and North Street. He briefly outlined the study and stated that the real change in traffic volume will occur once Catoctin Circle is opened all the way to Edwards Ferry Road, which is not proposed until all the road improvements have been completed. He recommended that Council set a date for removal of the barricades. Mayor Webb discussed her concern with Old Woodberry Road citing the lack of sidewalks and speeding by residents. She further recommended stepped-up patrol of the area by the police department. Councilmember Zoldos stated he concurs with Mr. Mason's recommendation and suggested language stating North Street from Catoctin Circle to Marshall Drive will open at the same time. He further suggested all way stop signs at Marshall and Wildman and the installation of additional stop signs, children playing signs, and the painting of crosswalks at those intersections. Councilmember Jackson informed Council of a recent problem with a fire unit from Ashburn encountering a barricade on their way to a fire in the northeast section. Councilmember McDonald recommended a resolution be brought forward tomorrow night with a date of August 1st for opening the streets. Vice-Mayor Umstattd stated her concern with making this dependent on the developer having the streets ready by a certain date as this is what has held the project up before. 6. Capital Projects status report Nagi Elsewaissi outlined the project data sheets for the Department of Public Works and Parks & Recreation Departments. Councilmembers Zoldos, McDonald and Mayor Webb complimented Mr. Elsewaissi and the staff on their hard work. Bob Noe thanked Tom Mason, Nagi Elsewaissi, Renee LaFollette, Nicole Ard and Phil Rodenberg for their efforts. Town Council Work session minutes for June 24. 2002 Paqe 5 7. Preview items for the July 8, 2002 Town Council Work Session a. Proffer Appeal #TCA-02-01 - Greenway Farm Staff Report Councilmember Schmidt asked that formal notification of this appeal be sent to the Greenway Farm HOA. b. Proffer Appeal #TCA-02-02 - Edwards Landing staff report There was no discussion of this item c. ZM-ll0 - Kincaid Forest, Proffer #1 - cash payment in lieu of required public improvements There was no discussion of this item d. Appeal of case BAR 02-35 - Request for a revised comprehensive sign plan Councilmember McDonald asked the next Council to take into consideration the fact that the space is sitting empty and there are already many different signs in the shopping center. Councilmember Zoldos stated that he would support this request. Brian Boucher stated the Battlefield Shopping Center is not in the H-2 Corridor, however this appeal is on Board of Architectural Review's interpretation of the Comprehensive Sign Plan. Vice-Mayor Umstattd asked staff to find out if Staples is requesting two signs. New Business Mayor Webb stated that there would be an amended agenda for tomorrow night's meeting. Bob Noe informed Council of the County's discovery that the Town is almost one million dollars in arrears on the health care benefits premium. He further stated the Town has not been given evidence of this debt and the staff will keep the Council informed as more information is provided. Councilmember Zoldos asked when the County discovered this debt. Mr. Noe stated that the County made the discovery 2-3 weeks ago. Councilmember McDonald suggested that this item be looked at very closely. The meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m. J: minutesjtcws062402