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Home My Public Portal About2012_tcwsmin0507 Council Work Session May 7, 2012 Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street,7:30 p.m. Mayor Kristen C. Umstattd presiding. Council Members Present: David S. Butler, Thomas Dunn, Katie Sheldon Hammler, Kelly Burk, Marty Martinez, Kevin Wright and Mayor Umstattd. Council Members Absent: None. Staff Present: Town Manager John Wells, Town Attorney Jeanette Irby, Deputy Town Manager Kaj Dentler, Director of Planning and Zoning Susan Berry Hill, Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning Brian Boucher, Assistant to the Town Manager Scott Parker, Zoning Administrator Chris Murphy, Senior Planner Mike Watkins, Director of Plan Review Bill Ackman, Director of Parks and Recreation, Parks Public Space Planner Bill Ference and Clerk of Council Lee Ann Green AGENDA ITEMS 1. Work Session Items for Discussion a. Park Master Plans Bill Ference presented a summary of the effort to create and update the individual park's master plans. Summary of key points: • Town has 16 parks located throughout town • Only three parks currently have master plans • Parks and Recreation Commission has had input • Surveys were collected from residents • Ida Lee Park o Master plan adjustment was made in 2006 for the tennis and Symington Aquatics Center o Goal is to keep Ida Lee as rural as possible. o Addition of an Events Garden space near the farmhouse o Addition of picnic shelters near the tennis courts/playground area and aquatics center o Reintroduce restrooms at the soccer/lacrosse complex o Additional unpaved parking between the soccer fields/outdoor pool • Prioritizing can be accomplished through the CIP • Addition of a small playground at Freedom Park • Veteran's Park o Original Master Plan was created in 2002 o Passive park o Formal addition of Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail which runs from Quantico and will run to Harper's Ferry and beyond o Addition of nine holes for Disc Golf o Ideally suited for a mountain bike trail o Addition of a dog park 1 Page Council Work Session May 7, 2012 o Currently no proposed amenities are listed in the five year CIP but creative partnerships and use of existing town resources can create a passive entrance/ driveway • Potomac Crossing Park — currently pending a lawsuit. The town holds bonds • Scheduled for action before Council in two weeks • Will keep Council up -to -date on Rescue Squad plans Council Comments/ Questions: • Addition of a concessions stand for the soccer /lacrosse fields area at Ida Lee • In favor of keeping the rural character of Ida Lee Park • Tie in of proposed Event Garden with Master Gardener's Demonstration Garden • What is field #4? Staff response: Used primarily for flag football. Site work was performed by the contractor who completed the maintenance building free of charge • Any plans for developing the area near the mulch pile? Staff response: Restrained by the mandate for keeping the park primarily rural • Feasibility of installing artificial turf fields? Staff response: Artificial turf would extend the number of hours a field could be used, but installation of lighting for night use would be required to achieve full benefit. Installation of lighting would detract from the rural nature of the park. This option is being considered for Freedom Park since there are existing lights. • Joining with Tuscarora High School to leverage the athletic fields on that property? Staff response: County Parks and Recreation control the sites at the schools. There is vacant land at the entrance to Tuscarora that could be discussed for development as possible field space. • Look at privatization of services at Ida Lee • Proceed with caution with respect to artificial turf • Is there a master plan for the Aquatics Center? Staff response: There is no separate master plan for the outdoor pool. Area could be configured differently, if further amenities are envisioned • Reach out to teen groups to see if they have specific recommendations • Addition of parking areas on Tolbert Lane or conversion of Tolbert Lane to a parking area • North area of the park, to the right of the road, is possible battlefield area and should be marked • Possible preservation issues at the old Smart's Mill Staff response: Archeological report makes no mention of this on town property — could be on regional park authority property 21Pagc Council Work Session May 7, 2012 • Look at possible ways to leverage waterfront for recreational uses Staff response: To utilize waterfront, dollars are needed to develop access road • Important to be respectful of the historic nature of the Balls Bluff area. • Include trail exercise stations along trails • Consider senior - oriented exercise options • There is support for delay of Potomac Crossing Park in order to save the old- growth trees • Speed up installation of bike racks at Georgetown Park • Possible inclusion of parks not owned by the Town in some way • Update on Olde Izaak Walton Park • Involvement of Parks and Recreation in the creation of bike lanes throughout town • Catoctin Skate Park — convert the lot next to the skate park into an extension of the park using existing town resources • Trails and bike paths to connect the various parks • Use power line easements to locate bike trails b. Initiation of Amendments to the Town Code Jeanette Irby gave a brief presentation on the proposed amendments to the Town Code that will be necessary as a result of the 2012 General Assembly actions. Summary of Key points: Summarized bills that will require amendment of the town code: • HB 41 — Vehicle is registered in locality that pays tax bill, not college town where student may garage vehicle • HB 567 — Remedies with respect to collection of unpaid utility bills. • HB 842 — Allows the town to deny land use applications if the applicant owes BPOL, personal property tax, and /or real estate tax. • HB 848 — Liens can be placed on property for costs involved in clean up of methamphetamine labs • HB 860 — Cannot tow a vehicle more than 10 miles • HB 861 — Allows the town to go onto private property (unless single family residence) to tow a vehicle if it has unpaid parking tickets. Also allows towing of immobilized trailers or vehicles • SB 364 — Allows towing of vehicles left adjacent to right of way that present a hazard immediately and within 24 hours for those that do not pose an immediate hazard • SB 551 — Not recommending enactment — early payment discount for paying taxes on time With respect to the personnel manual, employees are now allowed to bring weapons to the parking structure /parking lots and leave them secured in their vehicle. Citizens can, as always, bring weapons into town facilities 3 Pa;c Council Work Session May 7, 2012 • HB 34 — no changes recommended because this is not a problem in Leesburg • HB 498 — no changes recommended as staff does not recommend discontinuing free police funeral service • Sharing of forfeited drug assets — recommend not doing this • HB 166 — town opposed this bill because it eliminates nondiscretionary errors (zoning by mistake). Zoning Ordinance will need to be amended. • HB 170 — Zoning Ordinance will be amended. • HB 315 — Regarding cemeteries — will require a definition update in the zoning ordinance • HB 326 — Long Lane /Cornerstone legislation. Zoning Ordinance will need to be amended. • HB 1253 — process for collection of proffers more favorable to the developer — needs more analysis • HB 1269 — Tie vote on the BZA holds over to the next meeting • New regulations with respect to stormwater management, nutrient credit exchange program and utility fees will come before Council separately Council Comments /Questions: • Code amendment regarding carrying of weapons into places of worship? Staff response: Clean up of existing language. Further another clean up involves moving the BPOL tax date from March 1 to May 1 to give the Town time to get the bills out and payment to occur • HB 1137 — additional criteria required to expand historic districts? Staff response: will check, but do not recall anything specific that needs to be done. • SB 594 — acquisition of land by counties? Staff response: Part of effort to make language similar throughout 3. Form Based Code Brian Boucher moved through the various elements of form based code while asking the Council to take a straw vote on each element. • Architectural control: Unanimous • Building materials and colors: Unanimous • Height: 5 -2 (KB /KU dissenting) • Dimensions: Unanimous • Streetscape: 6 -1 (TD dissenting) • Landscaping: 6 -1 (TD dissenting) • Parking: 5 -2 (TD /KU dissenting) • Uses: no decision This item will be brought back to the work session on May 21, 2012. 4 1Page Council Work Session May 7, 2012 2. Additions to Future Council Meetings Council Member Hammler: a. Noted that the planned meetings for September 24 -25 coincide with the Virginia Municipal League annual conference. Council Member Butler: a. Noted he would be absent for the June 25 work session. b. No turn on right at the off ramp from East Bound Rt. 7 Council Member Burk: a. Online water account visibility 3. Closed Session On a motion by Mayor Umstattd, seconded by Council Member Martinez, the following was proposed.• Pursuant to Section 2.2- 3711(A) (3) of the Code of Virginia, I move that the Leesburg Town Council convene in a closed meeting for the purpose of receiving information and discussion regarding: a. Loudoun Street property b. Leesburg Executive Airport Land Acquisition The motion was approved unanimously by the following vote: Aye: Burk, Butler, Dunn, Hammler, Martinez, Wright, and Mayor Umstattd Nay: None Vote: 7 -0 The meeting convened in closed session at 10:04 p.m. The meeting reconvened in open session at 10:28 p.m. On a motion by Mayor Umstattd, seconded by Council Member Butler, the following motion was made: In accordance with Section 2.2 -3712 of the Code of Virginia, I move that Council certify to the best of each member's knowledge, only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and such public business matters were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed or considered in the meeting by Council The motion was approved by the following roll call vote: Aye: Burk, Butler, Dunn, Hammler, Martinez, Wright, and Mayor Umstattd Nay: None Vote: 7 -0 5 1Page Council Work Session May 7, 2012 4. Adjournment On a motion by Council Member Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Wright, the meeting was adjourned at 10 :28p. m. Clerk of Cod 2012 tcwsmin050 6 1Page