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
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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
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