HomeMy Public PortalAbout2002_07_22
Council Work Session
July 22, 2002
Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, 7:30 p.m. Mayor Umstattd presiding.
Councilmembers Present: Frank Buttery, Mervin Jackson, Melinda Kramer, Marty
Martinez, David Schmidt, Robert Zoldos and Mayor Umstattd.
Councilmembers Absent: None
Staff Members Present: Town Manager Bob Noe, Town Attorney William Donnelly,
Deputy Town Manager Phil Rodenberg, Director of Engineering and Public Works Tom
Mason, Director of Planning, Zoning and Development Susan Swift, Director of
Human Resources Dona Wolf, Chief of Police Joe Price, Director of Parks and
Recreation Kaj Dentler, Deputy Director of Utilities Aref Etemadi, Acting Director of
Economic Development Marantha Edwards, Traffic Engineer Calvin Grow, Chief of
Plan Review Paul Gauthier, Assistant Zoning Administrator Kevin Lawlor, Chief of
Comprehensive Planning Randy Hodgson, Capitol Projects Administrator Nagi
Elsewaissi, Planner Nancy Kitchens, Capital Projects Engineer Renee Lafollette,
Capital Projects Engineer Mike Baumgardner, Assistant to the Town Manager Nicole
Ard, Management Intern Adam Brown, and Clerk of Council Judy Ahalt.
AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Zoldos commented that he would like to add an item at the
end of the agenda - Citizen Corp.
1. Agenda for Council Meeting of July 23, 2002.
a. TCA-02-01 - Considering the Zoning Administrator's interpretation
of the Neighborhood Retail Convenience Center for ZM-90 -
Greenway Farm Planned Residential Neighborhood
Bob Sevila, representing the applicant, outlined their appeal of the Zoning
Administrator's interpretation. Mr. Sevila stated that since the appeal has
been filed the applicant has removed the contingency on the purchase of the
site. He cited lack of available office space in the town. Further, he is
appealing the implication that the uses have to be phased, since the proffer is
silent on the issue of phasing.
He added the homeowner's association supports this application.
Mayor Umstattd suggested a convenience store in the bottom level of the
proposed office space and that the architectural details be compatible with the
barn and the Bredimus house.
Mr. Sevila stated the applicant would be willing to seek approval of the
Zoning Administrator for architectural details and would submit plans to the
Board of Architectural Review for approval.
Councilmember Martinez questioned when the second phase for
development would occur?
Mr. Sevila commented that it would be market driven.
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Council member Buttery verified that in the original rezoning there was no
delineation made about the amount of retail and the site plan was silent on
phasi ng.
Councilmember Schmidt stated he would endorse overturning the Zoning
Administrator's interpretation and submittal of drawings to the BAR.
Councilmember Zoldos asked how the applicant would justify the office
use in reducing traffic?
Mr. Sevila stated he didn't know whether there would be an appreciable
reduction in traffic.
Councilmember Zoldos stated no neighborhood centers in Planned
Residential Neighborhood's have been developed since their adoption in 1984.
Vice-Mayor Jackson suggested a decrease in the size of the building. Mr.
Sevila stated they need at least 8,000 square feet.
Mayor Umstattd suggested an amendment to say the applicant will agree
to ensure the building will be architecturally compatible with the existing
structures in the area or to submit the architectural plans to the Board of
Architectural Review for approval of architectural compatibility.
b. TCA-02-02 - Considering the Zoning Administrator's interpretation
of the sign detail plan for ZM-145 - Edwards Landing Planned
Residential Neighborhood.
Jim Baish, with Land Planning and Design Group, addressed Council
outlining the appeal of the signage for Edwards Landing Planned Residential
Neighborhood. He further discussed the signage for the historic Civil War site
at Edwards Landing. He stated Richmond has a protocol for certain signage
design standards that would have to be followed and they will determine the
appropriate location for the signage.
Mr. Baish briefly discussed the location of signage in the neighborhood
and identified the locations and sign renderings.
c. SE-2001-07 Tires Plus - deferral request
Bill Keefe, representing the applicant, discussed a request for a two-
month deferral on this application. This would allow the applicant to present
a consensus of all the traffic data to Council.
Council discussed this request for a deferral.
Vice-Mayor Jackson stated he was confused by the traffic data provided.
Councilmember Schmidt stated there were some confusing aspects of the
presentation and the applicant should be allowed to make its best case.
Councilmember Martinez stated he understood the presentation.
Councilmember Zoldos stated he could only grant a two-week extension.
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Council member Buttery stated he could support a deferral.
Councilmember Kramer stated she is prepared to go forward.
Mayor Umstattd stated she supports going forward with this application
and that there is no legal requirement by Council to defer this vote.
Bill Donnelly stated it is Council's decision whether or not to defer.
Bob Noe stated it would be the strong preference to vote tomorrow night
whether to grant the deferral or denial.
Vice-Mayor Jackson asked for clarification on how many hours the full
time employees would work.
Councilmember Zoldos asked staff to clear up any other outstanding
issues in this application.
Ms. Kitchens stated that clarification needs to be made with reference to
the level of service.
Calvin Grow stated that information has been received from Kellerco and
Associates with relation to traffic circulation within the site. He stated there
are outstanding questions regarding the trip generation numbers. Further,
he stated that the level of service would probably improve with the proposed
improvements.
2. Residential Traffic Committee Report - Traffic and transit issues
Liz Whiting and Rick Knight, with the Residential Traffic Committee provided a
recommendation from their committee on the following issues: (1) all way stops at
Meade Drive, (2) Saturday service for Loudoun Transit, (3) Kincaid Boulevard Speed
limit increase and (4) cut-thru traffic in Silver Oaks.
The committee also provided recommendations that can be constructed and
are fully funded for this fiscal year. They were as follows: (1) dedicated bike parking
area along South King Street, (2) improvement to the stop sign at Catoctin Circle
and Edwards Ferry Road intersection, and (3) landscaped island north of the
intersection of Fairfax and S. King Streets.
3. Southeast Leesburg Transportation Alternatives
Terry Laycock, John Clark and Supervisor Mark Herring were present from
Loudoun County.
Mayor Umstattd discussed why we are looking at Southeast Leesburg traffic
alternatives: the cuts in state funding to transportation and the frequent gridlock in
the Southeast quadrant and Sycolin Road.
Paul Gauthier discussed interim solutions that may get us through the next
five years.
The solutions discussed were: (1) improving Sycolin Road by paving; (2)
building Battlefield Parkway/Greenway interchange: (3) widening Route 7/15
Bypass; (4) building Battlefield Parkway from Kincaid Forest to Route 7; (5) building
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Sycolin Road flyover at Route 7/15 Bypass; (6) converting Lawson Road Creek
crossing to pedestrian/bike trail.
Mr. Gauthier verified that the alignment of Battlefield Parkway intersects
Evergreen Mill Road at the intersection of Masons Lane.
Terry Laycock, Assistant County Administrator for Loudoun County, advised
Council that the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors have accelerated funding for
the Sycolin Road project. The County plans to have two paved lanes of Sycolin Road
from Ashburn to Leesburg. This project will start construction in four years.
Councilmember Zoldos asked what funds are provided to the Town of
Leesburg. Ms. Laycock said the County has provided a significant amount of gasoline
tax funds for the Leesburg portion of Sycolin Road.
John Clark, with Loudoun County, discussed the need for a new park and ride
lot to accommodate approximately 300 spaces.
4. Shellhorn Property and Town Policy on Utility Extensions
Aref Etemadi, Deputy Director of Utilities, addressed Council on this issue. He
advised Council that it would cost approximately $10,000,000 to extend the Lower
Sycolin Sewer Shed to the serve the entire lower Sycolin area. Further it is unclear
whether the current sanitary sewer system will have the capacity to serve the 92-
acre site and the Shellhorn property.
Bob Noe stated the current policy is to not extend utilities outside the Town
without a boundary line adjustment. He recommended against amending this policy.
Mayor Umstattd suggested measures to get the burn center what it needs to
operate without setting a precedent.
Mr. Etemadi stated the Shellhorn Property is located south of the 92-acre site.
Also there is a parcel of land within Tavistock that may have to be included in a
boundary line adjustment.
Following a discussion by Council, it was the consensus to require a boundary
line adjustment before extending any water and sewer to these properties.
Councilmember Zoldos suggested engineering studies to see if the current
force main will handle additional flows.
5. Audiovisual Upgrade of Council Chamber - Nelson Hoyt, Onyx
Engineering
Phil Rodenberg stated staff is recommending Onyx Engineering, Inc. as the
vendor to upgrade the Council Chamber audiovisual system. He added the cost is
100 percent funded by Adelphia Cable. The Cable and Information Technology
Commissions endorse this recommendation.
Michel Agujia, Information Technology Director, addressed Council stating
that the proposed upgrades are more than adequate for the Council Chamber.
Nelson Hoyt, Onyx Engineering, explained the proposed upgrades and
outlined the details of their proposal.
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Councilmember Martinez discussed the possibility of hooking up to the town's
website and conferencing capabilities.
Councilmember Kramer asked if the sound issues would be resolved?
Mr. Hoyt said the increased number of speakers would resolve the sound
issues as well as a direct broadcast feed to Adelphia.
Further, Mr. Hoyt addressed concerns with maintenance, partner information,
and software upgrades
This item will return to Council for action on August 13th.
6. Downtown Business Development Strategy
Marantha Edwards advised Council that the MCA Urban Planning Group is in
Leesburg conducting stakeholder interviews as the first element in developing a
Downtown Business Development Strategy. They were present to answer any
questions.
Council member Schmidt asked that the consultants be briefed on the
downtown work plan.
Ms. Edwards added interviews are planned with the Chairman of the Board of
Architectural Review and the Downtown Committee.
Mayor Umstattd asked that the South Street area be looked at. She stated
the River Walk area of downtown Frederick, Maryland would be a good example to
look at. Also, a possible solution for stopping the flooding in two yards adjoining
Town Branch is to put a concrete channel in from King Street to Raflo Park. If we
fund that kind of project, we should use textured concrete panels similar to those
used in Frederick.
7. Downtown Charrette
Bob Noe commented that if Council wishes to proceed with the charrette
simultaneously with the Downtown Consultant Study; it would be difficult for staff to
support both at the same time.
Karen Jones on behalf of the Economic Development Commission stated they
are excited with the overall process. However, the EDC believes the downtown study
will provide goals for the charrette. Therefore, it would be more helpful to have a
charrette in the spring.
It was the consensus of Council to postpone the charrette until Spring.
Mayor Umstattd suggested "the gateways to Leesburg" as a good focal point
to pursue for the charrette.
8. Fairview Street Bike Trail
Nagi Elsewaissi gave a brief overview of the status of the Fairview Street Bike
Trail. He recommended that the trail be constructed according to the current
design.
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He discussed a proposal by residents to reroute the trail behind Normandy
Village and a reduction in the trail width from eight feet to six feet.
Kaj Dentler, Director of Parks and Recreation, recommended against a new
alignment of the trail. Further, a six-foot trail would not accommodate two-way
traffic.
Councilmember Jackson stated that a narrow trail could cause some liability
issues.
Mr. Elsewaissi commented that a reduction in the trail width would increase
the cost of the project.
Mayor Umstattd commented that an eight-foot wide trail is a shock to an
older neighborhood.
Councilmember Zoldos commended Tom Mason and Nagi Elsewaissi for their
excellent job in explaining all of the issues to the residents of Fairview Street at a
recent site visit.
Councilmember Buttery stated he would abstain from comment on this issue,
as he owns property on Fairview Street.
It was the consensus of Council to continue with the approved alignment and
the eight-foot width of the Fairview Street Trail.
9. Discussion of Council Retreat
Mayor Umstattd suggested postponing a Council retreat until the Downtown
Business Development Plan and charrette have been completed.
Council members Zoldos and Schmidt commented that a retreat could be very
helpful if all members attend.
It was decided to revisit this issue after the charrette and downtown business
development plan have taken place.
10. Preview items for August 12, 2002 Town Council Worksession
a. Town Zoning Ordinance revisions - schedule
Planning Director, Susan Swift, advised Council a schedule will be
provided in August.
11. New Business
Citizen Corps
Councilmember Zoldos discussed a Citizen Corp that has been
established by President Bush. He will be providing information to Council and
would ask that it be discussed at a future worksession.
Councilmember Zoldos asked for an update on the Old Waterford Road
water tank site and whether the special exception has expired.
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He asked for the proposed date of the Catoctin Circle completion and the
northeast street openings are scheduled?
The meeting adjourned at 10: 10 p.m.
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