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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2012_tcwsmin0521Council Work Session May 21, 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, Kevin Wright and Mayor Umstattd. Council Members Absent: Council Member Marty Martinez. Staff Present: Deputy Town Manager Kaj Derider, Town Attorney Jeanette Irby, Director of Parks and Recreation Rich Williams, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Kate Trask, Director of Planning and Zoning Susan Berry Hill, Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning Brian Boucher, Recreation Programs Manager Jeremy Payne, Research and Communication Manager Betsy Fields, Director of Public Works Tom Mason, Transportation Engineer Calvin Grow and Clerk of Council Lee Ann Green AGENDA ITEMS 1. Work Session Items for Discussion a. Special Events — Fee Waiver Kate Trask presented a summary of the Special Events Fee Waiver process currently in place. Summary of Key points: • Current process has been in place for 16 years. • 15 annual events were named. • 12 events have been added since that time, of which two have had their fees waived during the first year. • Majority of events pay the town for the fees associated with their events. • Fiscal impact of the fee waivers was $9,081 in 1996, but has grown to $29,527 currently. • Review of the process is requested. Council Comments: • Clean up of list of waived fee events can be completed. • Criteria for fee waiver can be reviewed and restated. • Policy should address the issue of fairness b. Legislative Wrap Up Betsy Fields summarized how the final actions of the 2012 Virginia General Assembly affect the town. • Winners • Charter amendment to change the election date was approved • Conditional zoning issue related to Cornerstone Chapel Page Council Work Session May 21, 2012 • County created stormwater service districts — town can retain revenue generated within the town • Utility relocation — more leverage in requiring utility companies to move their lines for town capital projects • Additional flexibility in using cash proffers • Optional to designate an urban development area in the town plan • Business licenses or land development permits can be conditioned on the payment of delinquent taxes and fees • Losers • Town can no longer pay the employee's contribution to VRS and a five percent pay adjustment is required to cover the contribution. • Eminent domain issue will go to referendum in November • Zoning Administrator has a reduced authority to amend errors in zoning determinations. • Tie votes on the BZA get carried over to the next meeting. • Employees can now bring firearms to work and keep them in their vehicle. o Local fines — state will collect all the fines and hold them until they determine which localities are above or below the threshold. • Undetermined o Stormwater legislation/ consolidation of programs Near misses • Elimination of BPOL or reduction in authority to set rates • Historic districts, cemeteries, and local regulation of helicopter use • Airport easements • Award of attorney fees in successful challenges of zoning decisions • Planning Commission appointments • Party identification on ballots Council Comments: • Would not recommend labeling the lists winners, losers and near misses • Would like to schedule a work session with the state delegation on eminent domain as soon as possible. • Outreach to the public on the eminent domain issue will be difficult unless all localities participate. • Eminent domain referendum will pass because citizens do not want government to have domain over their property. • Eminent domain referendum will affect local tax dollars and will not put money into the pockets of individual citizens. 2 a c Council Work Session May 21, 2012 C. Battlefield Parkway Traffic Light Calvin Grow reviewed the issue of traffic signals on Battlefield Parkway at the intersections with Plaza and Catoctin Circle. Summary of Key points: • Signal is warranted at Plaza Street but not at Catoctin Circle. • Place on the agenda for August 28 to review the funding options. • Installation can occur within 13 -15 months after funding is identified. • Signal will be adjusted for school traffic Council Comments/ Questions: • Number of accidents at this intersection? Staff answer: One — right angle accident. • Current stacking on Plaza? Staff answer: Meets the warrants. Stacking is not one of the warrants. • How many warrants does an intersection need to meet to qualify for a traffic signal and did this intersection exceed the warrants by a large degree? Staff answer: Met all eight warrants, but barely. Will also allow some distance for other streets to enter Battlefield. • Will light have sensors to accommodate non -peak hour trips? Staff answer: Yes. • Would like to hear from citizens at the meeting in August. • If warrants are barely being met, this discussion is premature. • Emergency exit road at Tuscarora could be used as another option to alleviate traffic at the main entrance. • Notify Exeter and Potomac Crossing Homeowner's Associations of meeting in August d. Form Based Code Brian Boucher presented a summary of the following key points: • Council agrees on seven out of nine parts of Form Based Code. • Council does not agree on the regulating map or how uses are determined • By -right nature of Form Based Code concerns Council members • Can include a public input process for special density • District map can be used to keep uses grouped and take the place of a regulating map Council Questions/ Comments • How will the town address grandfathering? Staff answer: There is a grandfathering provision in the form based code that allows existing buildings to expand up to 10 %. Any enlargement over 10% must meet the requirements of form based code. • Will this necessitate additional staff or training? 3 113agc Council Work Session May 21, 2012 Staff answer: Procedure would be developed to move these applications quickly through the process. There may be some additional involvement of the Planning Commission in the case of requests for modifications, but current staff should be able to handle administration of form based code. • How would community input /notification be handled? Staff answer: Once Council sets the boundaries, individual property owners would be notified. Extensive outreach would be performed to help the landowners understand their rights. • How will the town get the money for off -site transportation improvements or school capital facilities that will become necessary because of the increased density? Staff answer: The only way the town could do this is through the rezoning process and voluntary proffers. It depends on how much is made by- right. • How does this differ from other mixed use developments, such as Village at Leesburg? Staff answer: Village at Leesburg is a proffered rezoning. • Opportunity for the right mix of business and residential. • Rezonings are necessary to get the transportation and school proffers • Need a legislative process for height. • Start at design and then look at uses • Additional density will cause more traffic but reductions in gas tax funds may reduce funding available for mass transit 2. Additions to Future Council Meetings a. Council Member Burk: Chamber of Commerce initiative to create a database of nonprofits and a mural on the Loudoun Street side of the parking garage. b. Vice Mayor Wright: Will red light cameras be feasible C. Council Member Hammler: Follow -up on safety improvements on the S. King Street Trail. d. Council Member Butler: Resolution of support for Metro to Loudoun County. Raspberry Falls. e. Mayor Umstattd: Sending a letter to the Board of Supervisors encouraging them to look for county, state or federal funding for the extension of Miller Drive to Tolbert Lane. 3. Closed Session a. None. 4 Panc Council Work Session May 21, 2012 4. Adjournment On a motion by Vice Mayor Wright, seconded by Council Member Butler, the meeting was adjourned at 10 :14 p.m. Clerk of-lNu3cil 2012 tcwsmin0521 5 1 P a g c