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Home My Public Portal About2013_tcwsmin0624 Council Work Session June 24, 2013 Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street,7:30 p.m. Mayor Kristen C. Umstattd presiding. Council Members Present: Kelly Burk, David Butler, Thomas Dunn, Katie Sheldon Hammier, Kevin Wright and Mayor Umstattd. Council Members Absent: Council Member Martinez Staff Present: Town Manager John Wells, Town Attorney Jeanette Irby, Assistant Town Manager Scott Parker, Chief of Police Joseph Price, Director of Parks and Recreation Rich Williams, Parks and Public Space Planner Bill Ference, Director of Economic Development Marantha Edwards, Director of Planning and Zoning Susan Berry Hill, Zoning Administrator Chris Murphy, and Clerk of Council Lee Ann Green AGENDA ITEMS 1. Work Session Items for Discussion a. Downtown Improvements Update Mayor Umstattd noted that the owners of the Lightfoot Restaurant have requested a change to the Downtown Improvements CIP to allow them to retain a passenger loading zone in front of their establishment. Furthermore, there is a request to relocate a tree on Loudoun Street to move it away from a driveway. Key Points: • Plan A, Version 2 keeps a loading zone in front of Lightfoot • A loading zone cannot be exclusive to a particular business but may be used by anyone • Tree Commission unanimously supported the addition of street trees as part of the entire Downtown Improvement project • Property owner has concerns regarding proposed tree location within 10 feet of his building Council Questions/Comments: • Bumpouts could be beneficial, but would like to see more parking. • Passengers can be unloaded from the street • Loading and unloading of buses can take more than a few seconds • What happens if the spaces are filled when a bus comes to unload? Staff answer: Uncertain Audience answer: Buses double park • Doing this would set a precedent for other businesses on King Street • Should have been addressed previously • On street dining will create buzz and excitement downtown 1 II' age Council Work Session June 24, 2013 • Will be added to the agenda in two weeks • Why does Council need to review the design placement of the trees? Staff answer: There were specific tree counts in the design that Council approved • Is there a tree that will not cause the bricks to buckle? Staff answer: The tree species that are among those that may be planted are columnar in nature to avoid impact to vehicles or pedestrians. Proper watering will keep the roots growing downward, rather than along the surface under the bricks • Are planters an alternative? Staff answer: Council directed trees to be installed along Loudoun Street. The question tonight is whether one particular tree can be removed from the plan • Council asked to have this put on the agenda in two weeks to give staff time to formulate some alternatives b. Town Orientation Video Series Scott Parker presented a plan to inform new residents about town services. Key Points: • Original concept was to host public seminars on available town services • In an attempt to reach a larger audience, concept has evolved to public service videos that can be accessed through social media and/or the website • Partnership with Monroe Vo-Tech students and Capitol TV Productions could be used to produce the videos • Approximate cost of$3,000-5,000 for each 3-5 minute video • Planning Department has been working on a similar video for the Crescent Design District requirements Council Questions/Comments: • Will need to identify a funding source for the videos • How was the estimated price per video obtained? Staff answer: Capitol TV Productions estimated the cost given the amount of content each video should contain • Council agreed that they liked the video format for an orientation series c. Potomac Crossing Park—Use of Settlement Funds Bill Ference stated the town received a cash settlement for outstanding proffers related to the development of Potomac Crossing Park. Summary of Key Points: • Settlement funds are in the Capital Projects Program for 2015 • Funds are not sufficient for the originally approved master plan 21I' igc Council Work Session June 24, 2013 • Community feedback indicated support for a reduced footprint and more passive uses completed in a shorter time frame • Area will allow an interpretive trail network connecting to other regional parks Council Questions/Comments: • Input is skewed by people from other parts of town • Want to see funds stay within the community • Will parking area be paved? Staff answer: Parking lot be pervious surface • Would like Council to re-consider using the funds for a park at this location • Council consensus to hold a public input session regarding the disposition of the settlement funds d. Initiating Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance Regarding Microbreweries Chris Murphy stated this proposed amendment would allow microbreweries of a certain size by-right in B1, B2, B3, and B4 districts. Key Points: • Currently breweries are permitted by special exception in the B2, B3 and B4 districts • Currently permitted by right in the I-1 e. Vending Carts Chris Murphy stated this item was requested by Council Member Dunn. Council Member Comments/Questions: • Would like the EDC to discuss the possibility • Food carts would offer a nice alternative to families downtown • Council consensus was to ask the EDC to study this proposal f. Comprehensive Parking Program Council consensus was to defer this item pending information on replacing signage and meters/garage system with an automated system. g. North-South Corridor Mayor Umstattd suggested that the Council take a position on the revived North-South corridor issue. Council Comments/Questions: • Opposed to opining on issues outside the Town of Leesburg • Consistent with the town's previous position on this issue 31P , g Council Work Session June 24, 2013 • Traffic through the town is a matter of importance to the residents • Would like to see a traffic study for this particular alignment • Risk angering those government officials who have power to deny Leesburg's request for funding for other road projects • This is not the Western Bypass 2. Additions to Future Council Meetings Council Member Dunn asked for public movies at Ida Lee using inflatable screens. Would also like to investigate removing Paxton from the H-1. 3. Closed Session On a motion by Mayor Umstattd, seconded by Council Member Wright, the following was proposed: 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. Loudoun Water Easements b. Green Energy Partners The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Butler, Burk, Dunn, Hammier, Wright and Mayor Umstattd Nay: None Vote: 6-0-1 (Martinez absent) Council convened in Closed Session at 10:54 p.m. Council re-convened in Open Session at 11:21 p.m. On a motion by Mayor Umstattd, seconded by Vice Mayor Butler, the following was proposed: 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: Butler, Burk, Dunn, Hammler, Wright and Mayor Umstattd Nay: None Vote: 6-0-1 (Martinez absent) 4IPagc Council Work Session June 24, 2013 4. Adjournment On a motion by Council Member Wright, seconded by Vice Mayor Butler, the meeting was adjou •d at 11:21 p.m. vto Clerk of tir cil 2013 tcwsmin0624 5IPagc