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Home My Public Portal About2014_tcwsmin0922 Council Work Session September 22, 2014 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 Hammler, Marty Martinez, Kevin Wright and Mayor Umstattd. Council Members Absent: Council Member Dunn arrived at 7:46 p.m. and left at 8:54 p.m. Staff Present: Town Manager John Wells, Deputy Town Manager Kaj Dentler, Deputy Town Attorney Barbara Notar, 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. Traffic Improvements for Rt. 15 North Business/Bypass Tom Mason stated that there are frequent traffic back ups on the Rt. 15 bypass/business headed north. He introduced Chris Turnbull from Wells & Associates, who have been contracted to analyze the issue. He also introduced Joe Kroboth from Loudoun County and Dick Burner from VDOT. He noted that this involves the Town, VDOT and the County as most fixes for the problem are located outside of the town's corporate limits. Key Points: • Wells & Associates were tasked with looking at the Rt. 15 bypass around Battlefield Parkway as well as the area north of town. • Synchro-model gives a fair simulation of traffic patterns/loads • Improvements in traffic flow during peak hours improve safety during off-peak hours Council Comments/Questions: • If this involves the county and the state, why is the town looking at it? Staff answer: This is an opportunity to get all parties together to look at possible options. • Are we getting Maryland involved at all since a lot of the congestion is caused by Maryland drivers? Staff answer: This is local focused roadway improvements. There are surprising effects from what appear to be medium sized improvements. The interstate aspect is beyond the scope of what is being discussed this evening. • Is this considered part of the Journey through Hallowed Ground? Mayor answer: It is an overlay through the area. • Has local money been used on this? Staff answer: Yes, to pay the consultant to analyze options. Council had directed staff to fmd out what was causing the back up along Rt. 15 business/bypass. 1 iPage Council Work Session September 22, 2014 • How much funding is potentially available from other projects? Staff answer: There might be as much as $1.5 million unspent and the recommendation is to have VDOT use the money for additional studies to find the best construction project to alleviate this problem. • Will improvements encourage more people to use this stretch of road causing more problems? • The County should take steps to work with Frederick County, MD, on a high capacity bus solution and/or building a park and ride somewhere north of Point of Rocks to reduce the actual number of cars on the road • What is the preferred alternative offered by Wells &Associates? Consultant answer: 2b and then 3b. • Need something that can provide immediate traffic relief rather than designing a project that will take 10 years to complete. • Anticipate calming features that can be incorporated to help reduce speeds • Would still support a right-in/right-out lane from the bypass to Battlefield • Driveways, school bus stops, intersecting roads all contribute to the back up It was decided that a letter would be brought back for Council approval at tomorrow night's meeting to engage the County Board of Supervisors in discussions with the Town and VDOT about options to relieve congestion on this stretch of road. b. Crosswalks @ Battlefield Parkway/Bypass Intersection Calvin Grow gave a brief presentation regarding the request to investigate whether crosswalks are appropriate at the Battlefield Parkway/Rt. 15 Bypass intersection. He stated representatives of VDOT are present to answer questions as well. Key Points: • Approximately 40 seconds would have to be added to the decision timing. • Additional time would exacerbate delays and back ups, especially during peak traffic hours. • Pedestrians would likely be a surprise to motorists. • Pedestrians would have to cross six lanes of traffic that are used by approximately 5,000 vehicles during peak hours. • Pedestrian counts in 2010 and 2014 showed about 14 pedestrians crossing the bypass at this point in 2010 and 17 in 2014 between the hours of 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. • This is a limited access facility with speeds of 45 mph. • Staff recommends not installing crosswalks at this location. 2IPage Council Work Session September 22, 2014 Council Comments/Questions • What does adding 40 seconds delay at the light mean? Staff answer: In order to provide pedestrian clearance, a certain amount of time has to be allowed for a pedestrian to make it from one side of the bypass to the other—this is about 40 seconds. • Turn lane traffic adds additional time. • Current light time is 33 seconds red for Battlefield Parkway traffic so this would add an additional 7 seconds. • Have seen at least seven intersections, with speeds of at least 45 mph, in Loudoun County where at least six lanes of traffic are traversed by crosswalks. • No intersection is completely safe. • Potomac Crossing HOA endorses the idea of a crosswalk at this intersection. • Would like to see a bicycle lane on the entire length of Battlefield Parkway. • Concern that a crosswalk increases a false sense of safety for pedestrians • What was the logic for putting a crosswalk at Rt. 15 in Dominion Valley? VDOT answer: One of the things to take note of is there is less congestion on this roadway. • If a crosswalk is installed, sidewalks leading to the crosswalk will need to be constructed as well. • Installation of a crosswalk sends a message that the area is safe for pedestrian traffic; however, the Council has supported the Safe-T-Ride because the area is not safe for pedestrian traffic. A crosswalk sends a mixed message. • Currently pedestrians cross wherever they want—a crosswalk would add a level of predictability for drivers. • Who's responsibility is this section of highway? Staff answer: The town has the maintenance responsibility for this section of roadway. Any improvements will need VDOT approval. VDOT answer: VDOT could approve a crosswalk, if the town wants it. Staff was directed to look at cost for crosswalks at both the Battlefield Parkway/Rt. 15 bypass and the Edwards Ferry Road/Rt. 15 bypass intersections. c. Noise Ordinance Barbara Notar stated she is covering the Noise Ordinance in Mr. Parker's absence. 3 Page Council Work Session September 22, 2014 Key Points: • Council asked staff to prepare a compromise ordinance on June 9. • The registration section was deleted, but permit remains. • Permit is to allow outdoor music of any kind, Friday and Saturday evenings until 10 p.m., Sundays noon until 6 p.m. • Council can adjust permit timeframes as desired • 65 decibels was selected because that is the general level used by most jurisdictions when setting an allowable noise level and would apply to those without permits • Current standard may be working because the permit allows louder than plainly audible until 8 p.m. all nights of the week. Council Comments/Questions: • Recommendation by staff solves no problems and would drive music away from the Town. • Definition of a violation is the sound is plainly audible and it is disturbing. • Need to develop an ordinance that will make everyone happy. • Make all types of noise start and stop at the same times. • There is no right to an exceedingly quiet backyard. • Would like a regulation that does not force the residents to "retrain" the restaurant management as to what is acceptable. Council asked that an off-site round table discussion be set up, with a wide sampling of business and residents invited. d. Tuscarora Crossing County Referral Susan Berry Hill updated Council on the application. Key Points: • The Town sent a referral letter in July—to County staff and Planning Commission. • County Planning Commission recommended approval of the application and has forwarded this recommendation to the Board of Supervisors • Board of Supervisors will hear this on October 8 • Council could weigh in at the BOS level • The phasing changed to integrate more of the non-residential with the residential. Council Comments/Questions: • This project has importance for Leesburg citizens 4IPage Council Work Session September 22, 2014 Council consensus was to have staff send a letter reiterating Council's previous position on the project. 2. Additions to Future Council Meetings Council Member Wright asked for initiation of a zoning ordinance amendment dealing with parking requirements for downtown redevelopment. There was a majority of support for this. 3. Adjournment On a motion by Council Member Martinez, seconded by Council Member Wright, the meeting was ad'•urned at 10:17 p.m. 4 $ ,■ $.4., ,_ Clerk of Co.' 2014_tcwsmin 192 5IPage