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Home My Public Portal About2012_tcwsmin0611Council Work Session June 11, 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, Marry Martinez, Kevin Wright and Mayor Umstattd. Council Members Absent: None. Staff Present: Town Manager John Wells, Town Attorney Jeanette Irby, Director of Public Works Tom Mason, Traffic Engineer Calvin Grow, Director of Planning and Zoning Susan Berry Hill, Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning Brian Boucher, Senior Planner Irish Grandfield, Economic Development Manager Marantha Edwards and Clerk of Council Lee Ann Green AGENDA ITEMS 1. Work Session Items for Discussion a. VDOT Updates on Rt. 7 Climbing Lane and Sycolin Bridge Projects James Zeller, VDOT, gave a presentation about the two proposed VDOT projects. Summary of Key points (Rt. 7 Climbing Lane): • Public Hearing held on May 9, 2012 at Loudoun County High School • Overall community input was positive • Project will construct a third lane on westbound Rt. 7 starting at West Market Street, ending at Rt. 9 • Designed as a truck climbing lane • Challenge was how to provide a safe level of access to neighborhoods in the corridor • Some movements of the existing intersections will be restricted, i.e. right in, right out only at White Gate and Roxbury Hall • Modifications will be made at West Market Street and Rt. 9 interchanges to facilitate additional traffic created by vehicles wishing to go west from those communities • Emergency access to neighborhoods has been maintained as much as possible • Project staff is assembling bid documents • Project is slated for design /build delivery • Possible ground breaking at end of 2013 with construction estimated at 18 months Council Comments/ Questions: • How many cars can stack on the West Market Street turn lane? VDOT answer: Not anticipating a lot of volume, so at least seven vehicles — bridge will not be widened, just reconfigured • Noise attenuation for Leland Orchard Road residents? l�Page Council Work Session June 11, 2012 VDOT answer: Only several sites on the south side of the project were identified as possibly needing noise barriers, but the cost benefit analysis did not warrant them. This will be part of a pilot project to use a special paving mix to reduce road noise. • What is the total cost for this project? VDOT answer: $39.5 million, part of the funding plan is to use surplus funds remaining from other projects. No town funds will be used. • What will be the traffic impacts during construction? VDOT answer: Short term lane closures, restricted to off -peak periods. Summary of Key points (Sycolin Bridge): • Public Hearing was held May 17 " in the lower level conference room at Town Hall • Majority of public input was positive • Interaction with Greenway and South King Street interchanges made full interchange impossible • Estimated cost is $19.6 million, being bid as a single phase advertisement in July • Construction planned to begin in the spring of 2013 with completion before school starts in 2014. • Construction challenges require the road to be closed during construction • Detour route utilizes free ramp on the Greenway Council Comments/ Questions • Will there be any noise mitigation? VDOT answer: Yes, this project qualifies for two noise barriers that are being considered along the bypass — removal of traffic signal will cause an increase in operating speeds. • Signage notifying of impending detour posted as soon as possible to help effect behavior change in drivers • Why doesn't the detour utilize Battlefield Parkway? VDOT answer: They are trying to make the detour as short as possible, and many of the users of Sycolin Road are going to or coming from points west. • Importance of tree save areas. VDOT answer: Retaining walls to support embankments are going to be heavily used, but areas will be replanted. • Trail follows east side of Sycolin. Is there a crosswalk on Plaza? VDOT answer: That would be shown on the final pavement marking plans. Trail will link with the existing sidewalk on Plaza. • Is there flexibility with regard to the placement of the sound walls? VDOT answer: Yes, as long as it meets the needs for noise reduction and cost. • Is there room to add a right -in ramp off the westbound bypass? 2 1 t1"re Council Work Session June 11, 2012 VDOT answer: No, and the grade separation would make it more difficult. • Utilizing space under Dominion's power lines for trails could be a way to interconnect the trails in Leesburg. • When will detour come into effect? VDOT answer: When construction starts and when Sycolin is closed • Detour will further congest the area around Heritage High School • Multiple detour routes should be advertised • What is the cost of the sound walls? Can they be extended to Max Court? VDOT answer: The two sound walls for this project are about $3 million. The area next to Mindy Court does not meet the analysis guidelines for a sound barrier. b. Town Plan Susan Berry Hill stated there is a matrix in the packet and discussion will center around the matrix. Summary of key points: • Official Public Hearing will be held at Tuesday night's Council meeting and additional public comment is anticipated. • Matrix will be updated for those comments and Council questions and brought back on June 25 for further discussion. Council Comments: • Need clarification of what happens before small area plans are completed • Why is community commercial so specific with regards to size? Staff answer: Other commercial areas are specific with regards to size, but capped using an F.A.R. • Encourage looking at ways to maximize commercial along Sycolin • Changes in way work is accomplished have changed the need for office space. • Concern about adding more square footage of commercial to the southwest quadrant • How can all the town's historic resources be shown on the map? • Can the light industrial category be more inclusive? Staff answer: Some of the retail uses have been removed because they generate more traffic. C. Dulles Rail John Wells stated the resolution was drafted at the request of Council Members. Council Comments: 31Pa,,c Council Work Session June 11, 2012 • Many Leesburg residents want the extension of Metrorail into Loudoun • There are many options for funding including public /private partnerships • County will lose gas tax dollars if metro is brought to Loudoun. • There is no plan to discontinue the commuter bus service • Should be no recommendation for funding sources • Some VRT routes will be eliminated due to funding cuts • Property owners near the stations are the ones who benefit • $270 million for two miles does not make sense • Commuting costs are rising • Is the town planning for the eventual loss of gas tax funds? • Concern that pulling out of this agreement will damage Loudoun's standing with respect to future transportation projects 2. Additions to Future Council Meetings a. Vice Mayor Wright: Update on the Courthouse Expansion /Move b. Council Member Hammler: Update on the proposal for the Hunter - Dowdy property. C. Council Member Martinez: Update on Izaac Walton Park. d. Mayor Umstattd: Honoring Special Olympics participants. e. Council Member Dunn: Update on flags on poles. 3. Closed Session a. Mayor Umstattd made the following motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Wright: Pursuant to Section 2.2- 3711(A) (3) and (7) 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. Arcadia b. Airport Lease /Real Estate The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Burk, Butler, Dunn, Hammler, Martinez, Wright, and Mayor Umstattd Nay: None Vote: 7 -0 The Council convened in Closed Session at 10:13 p.m. The Council reconvened in Open Session at 10:20 p.m. 41Page Council Work Session June 11, 2012 Mayor Umstattd made the following motion, seconded by Council Member Martinez: In accordance with Section 2.2 -3712 of the Code of Virginia, I move that Council certify that 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 as 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 4. Adjournment On a motion by Council Member Martinez, seconded by Council Member Butler, the meeting w adjourned at 10:20 p.m. Clerk f o ncil 2012 tcwsmin 1 5 1Pagc