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Home My Public Portal About2012_tcwsmin0924Council Work Session September 24, 2012 Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, 7:30 p.m. Mayor Kristen C. Umstattd presiding. Council Members Present: Thomas Dunn, David Butler, Kevin Wright and Mayor Umstattd. Council Members Absent: Council Member Dunn arrived at 7:42 p.m. Council Members Burk, Hammler and Martinez were absent. Staff Present: Town Manager John Wells, Deputy Town Attorney Barbara Notar, Director of Public Works Tom Mason, Director of Planning and Zoning Susan Berry Hill, Research and Communications Manager Betsy Fields, Transportation Engineer Calvin Grow and Clerk of Council Lee Ann Green AGENDA ITEMS 1. Work Session Items for Discussion a. SRTC Update Liz Whiting, Chair of the Standing Residential Traffic Committee (SRTC), gave a presentation on several items that had been referred to the SRTC. Committee members Sandy Grossman and Sandra Kane were also present. Add -on fee of $200 for speeding in residential neighborhoods: • Requisite study to show speeding problem of greater than 31 mph • Continues to have excessive speeds after institution of an enforcement regimen • Triggers automatic public hearing on proposal for higher fines Raised Crosswalk at 336 Deerpath Avenue (near Foxridge Pool) • Peak hourly foot traffic of 5 pedestrians, total of 14 during study period • Does not meet criteria for raised crosswalks • Follow -up with Homeowner's Association Truck Traffic on Catoctin Circle • Launch of formal studies • Possibility of enhancing lighting • Recommendation to start the process of banning truck traffic Yield to Pedestrian Signs at W &OD Trail • Test sites for signs at crossings at Dry Mill Road and Catoctin Circle • Recommendation to add to other crossings • Removal during winter season Policy for One -Way traffic requests • Working on the policy IIPage Council Work Session September 24, 2012 Traffic Management Plan • Working on this a piece at a time. • Working on a ranking process for traffic calming requests • Recommendation for Council to adopt a numerical ranking process Traffic Signal at Battlefield Parkway and Plaza Street • School system expects a sizeable drop in student numbers at Tuscarora High School • Council asked for a breakdown of the student numbers • Traffic is only a problem during rush hour and during school arrival/ dismissal times • Plaza is the right location for a light for a variety of community needs • Movement in the community to shift traffic light from Catoctin and Edwards Ferry to Battlefield and Plaza b. Bypass /Edwards Ferry Road Issues — Schedule /Funding /Pedestrian Issues/ Crosswalks Renee Lafollette introduced Farid Bigdeli from Virginia Department of Transportation to answer questions about the Edwards Ferry Road /Bypass intersecton. • Staff does not recommend a pedestrian crossing at this intersection • Staff recommends the addition of another Safe -T -Ride bus to cut the wait time down to 15 minutes • Mr. Bigdeli announced that the project has been added to the VDOT Six -Year Improvement Program • Design to approval estimated cost is $3.5 -7 million • Construction is estimated between $40 -50 million • Projects with completed designs are funded first when funding becomes available • This is the biggest transportation issue in town • Should not do anything that sends the false message that it is safe for pedestrians to cross C. Annexation Follow -up Betsy Fields introduced Julie Burns from Tischler -Bice, who reviewed the Fiscal Impact Analysis of annexation areas. • A full analysis was done in 2007 and this builds upon that model • Four scenarios were reviewed — no annexation, area A, area B, areas A and B • Triggers for new public facilities are based on assumptions of current growth patterns and growth patterns in annexation areas A and B • There will be sufficient revenues to cover both capital and operating costs if no annexation occurs 2 1 Ilan c Council Work Session September 24, 2012 • Capital costs reflect about 25 -30% of total cumulative costs of operating. • Road capital costs comprise about three quarters of the capital costs. • Other local taxes including BPOL, are significant revenue sources for Scenario A and B due to non - residential growth in the town and annexation area • In an effort to be conservative, assumptions include residential units at Tuscarora Crossing. • Not all properties in a specific area would be included, i.e. Bolen Park • Model can be updated if use changes on a specific parcel • Further calculations will need to be done as to affect on utility rates since out of town customers will technically become in town customers • Council will need to reaffirm areas to be considered for annexation before the next Annexation Area Development Policy committee meeting Council Comments/ Questions: • Current and proposed rezoning applications before the Board of Supervisors to convert commercial /industrial zoned properties to residential could potentially undermine the assumption of a commercial or business base • No current conditions exist that would preclude annexation by Boundary Line Adjustment (BLA) • Would River Creek residents be amenable to annexation? • Crosstrail would be more beneficial as commercial, if annexed, than residential • Resident costs would be determined by how town services affect HOA charges • Population growth of 25% does not translate into 25% greater costs for public safety • Some residents in the annexation area may already be utilizing town services such as Ida Lee recreation center • Keeping Crosstrail non - residential keeps pressure off the airport. d. County Courts Discussion John Wells updated the Council on the County Courts Complex. • Board of Supervisors is looking at expanding the Courts system • Consideration for moving the entire Courts system outside the town limits to their property off Sycolin Road • Finance Committee will be discussing on October 22 and asking for stakeholder input on options • Council has previously indicated they could not support the closing of Church Street 3 Pagc Council Work Session September 24, 2012 County staff will be at the October 9' Council meeting to answer questions e. Tuscarora Crossing Referral to Loudoun County Susan Berry Hill stated the town has received a referral request from the County to provide comments on a rezoning application. • Property known as "Hunter - Dowty" • Located within the Leesburg Joint Land Management Area (JLMA) • Comprises of 250 acres • Proposal for 797 residential units — 453 SFD, 344 SFA • Rezoning from PD -GI (Planned General Industrial District) to PD -H4 (Planned Residential District) to be administered under the R8 provisions. • Proposal extends Crosstrail Boulevard through the property across Tuscarora Creek • Statement of Justification is vague but does note that the applicant is willing to build the creek crossing • Review comments are due back to the County by October 16 — direction is requested • Draft referral will be brought back at October 9 Council meeting for further comments on the town's position • Response could be delayed until after annexation discussions have been started Council Comments/ Questions: • Important not to delay feedback — respect process that is in place 2. Additions to Future Council Meetings Mr. Wells noted that for the remainder of the calendar year, only one work session is scheduled per month due to Federal Holidays and the winter break. 3. Closed Session None. 4. Adjournment On a motion by Vice Mayor Wright, seconded by Council Member Butler, the meeting was a 'ourned 0: 02 p. m. Clerk of Cod c' 2012 tcwsmin00924 4 age