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Home My Public Portal About2013_tcwsmin0923 Council Work Session September 23, 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, Kevin Wright, Marty Martinez and Mayor Umstattd. Council Members Absent: Council Member Hammler. Council Member Dunn arrived at 7:40 p.m. Council Member Wright arrived at 8:36 p.m. Staff Present: Deputy Town Manager Kaj Dentler, Deputy Town Attorney Barbara Notar, Director of Planning and Zoning Susan Berry Hill, Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning Brian Boucher and Clerk of Council Lee Ann Green AGENDA ITEMS 1. Work Session Items for Discussion a. Wounded Walk—Fee Waiver/Sponsorship Mayor Umstattd stated there is no applicant for this item and noted that the town may wish to sponsor the walkers. Kaj Dentler confirmed that the walkers will arrive in town on October 5 at 10:15. Key Points: • VFW and American Legion are working on this • Amount asking to be waived is $2150, mainly for Public Works and Police Department staff needed for the rolling street closure • Will start at Ida Lee and walk towards the Courthouse where the presentation will take place • Fee waiver in the form of a sponsorship b. Lot Consolidations Brian Boucher presented this item to Council. Key Points: • Idea is to amend the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision and Land Development Regulations to make it easier to consolidate lots • Many structures that straddle lot lines in areas where there are supposed to be setbacks • Mostly in older neighborhoods • Owners cannot add onto their structures because it would increase the non-conformity • State code changes would allow this to be done minimal expense to the property owner • Will reduce tax liability for homeowners • May help keep the character of the older neighborhoods intact • Will create greater compliance with town ordinances 1 ' Page Council Work Session September 23, 2013 Council Comments/Questions: • Is this mostly residential? Staff answer: Majority of the lots are residential; however, there are some on Catoctin Circle • Is this restricted to the historic district? Staff answer: It would be implemented town-wide. c. Initiating Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to Permit Townhouse Condominiums in the B-1 Brian Boucher gave a brief description of the proposed zoning ordinance initiation. Key Points: • There is no category in the current zoning ordinance to allow this type of building • Product would appear to be a townhouse, but ownership would be condominium • By-right development would mean no special exception conditions or rezoning proffers • Increases the likelihood of redevelopment in the B-1 • Increases the diversity of building types in the downtown • Townhouses are currently by-right in the B-1 Council Comments/Questions: • Lack of green space and parking are issues • Need to look at the community as a whole, rather than the needs of an individual property owner • Would prefer a rezoning • Would like to see how this would impact the town overall • Concern over the town's interests along the creek • Preferable to the current use • Would buildings go to the maximum height allowed for this property? Staff answer: Would have to look at height limitations • Need to work on reducing minimum parking requirements • Reluctant to spend time working on this when the finished product might not fit the applicant's needs • Residential requires more parking d. County Referrals—Goose Creek Golf Club and Tuscarora Crossing Susan Berry Hill presented staff comments in response to two County referrals. Key Points: • Both projects are in the town's Joint Land Management Area (JLMA) • Tuscarora Crossing has reduced the number of residential units 21 Page Council Work Session September 23, 2013 • Town Plan designates the Tuscarora Crossing area as Community Office/Light industrial • Tuscarora Crossing includes proffers to build two lanes of Crosstrail through the site • Town would like total construction of Crosstrail through the property • Tuscarora Crossing may go to County Planning Commission in November • Goose Creek Golf Club is proposing restaurant, hotel and office uses accessed by Russell Branch Parkway • A nine-hole golf course will be retained • 158 residential units • Staff does not feel that residential is an appropriate use on the property due to the proximity to Luck Stone Quarry • Recommend that the developer coordinate with the Tuscarora Crossing and Village at Leesburg Land Bay C developers to determine the location of the needed pump station Council Comments/Questions: • Tuscarora Crossing has addressed some of the town's concerns, but still has many issues to address • Has any phasing been included with the Goose Creek application? Staff answer: Not on this submission e. Beautification of Edwards Ferry Road and the Bypass Kaj Dentler reviewed some suggestions for enhancement of this interchange. Key Points: • Items that could be considered— o Recoating the galvanized metal poles that hold the traffic signals with a black powder coat- $10,000 o Seven additional trees were planted—no additional funding required o Additional enhancements in the form of plantings will be evaluated after the right turn lane project is completed • Budget will need to be amended Council Comments/Questions: • Interested in a monument entrance sign Staff answer: Could be placed on the southbound side near the Exeter Shopping Center—would need to be placed fairly far from the roadway • Concern that powder coating the poles is very expensive • Shrubs can obscure driver's view of pedestrians 3II' a Council Work Session September 23, 2013 2. Additions to Future Council Meetings Council Member Burk noted that the General Assembly passed enabling legislation to allow jurisdictions to designate green energy areas. She asked that staff look into whether Leesburg can participate. She also stated she has been asked about the town's minority hiring practices. Council Member Martinez had no additions. Council Member Wright had no additions. Vice Mayor Butler stated a business on North King is interested in extending outdoor dining hours later into the fall, but tents are not allowed except for special occasions. He asked that staff look into a text amendment. He questioned whether the town could extend Hope Parkway and get reimbursement from the developer. Council Member Dunn questioned whether Paxton desires to be in the H-1 or be taken out of the H-1. Mayor Umstattd stated she would be bringing up a request to rescind Plan A and replace it with Plan B for the Downtown Improvements for the next Council meeting. 3. Closed Session a. None. 4. Adjournment On a motion by Vice Mayor Butler, seconded by Council Member Martinez, the meeting wa Adjourne,_at 8:51 p.m. /, I Clerk of C. it 2013 tcwsmin0923 4 Page