HomeMy Public PortalAbout2016_tcwsmin0307 Council Work Session March 7, 2016
Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, 7:30 p.m. Mayor David Butler presiding.
Council Members Present: Kelly Burk, Thomas Dunn, II, Suzanne Fox, R. Bruce
Gemmill, Katie Sheldon Hammler, Marty Martinez and Mayor Butler.
Council Members Absent: None.
Staff Present: Town Manager Kaj Dentler, Deputy Town Manager Keith Markel,
Town Attorney Barbara Notar, Assistant Town Manager Scott Parker, Director of
Planning and Zoning Susan Berry Hill, and Executive Associate Tara Belote.
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Items for Discussion
a. Council Strategic Priorities
Mayor Butler stated this is an opportunity for Council to be proactive
rather than reactive.
Key Points:
• Council has a duty to be proactive in strategic priorities.
• First step is for Council to brainstorm programs that they feel are
important for the town.
• Possibilities including, but not limited to:
o Resolve daytime parking capacity downtown
o Set service levels for snow removal
Council Questions/Comments:
• Gemmill: Suggested short and long term priorities.
• Fox: Stated there are a lot of transportation issues that come with
growth. She noted that the town is very dependent on the county and
questioned whether this is the forum to bring this up.
• Butler: Stated that if it ends up as one of the top five issues that the
Council identifies, then follow-up would be directed.
• Burk: Stated that this is a good process, but she is concerned that this is
premature since budget discussions have not yet begun.
• Butler: Responded that he does not see this as things to do, but rather
things to look at.
• Martinez: Stated he would like the Council to have a vision of what
the town can be in 5-10 years. He stated the example of the completion
of Catoctin Circle where Council would need to know what types of
legislative changes would be needed to see that corridor develop. He
stated that the zoning should be in place to allow redevelopment to
occur the way Council wants it to. He stated he would also like to see a
bike path around town that would allow riders to access any area of
town on a bicycle.
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Council Work Session March 7, 2016
• Butler: Stated that these are beautiful ideas and the next step would be
to outline the tasks needed. He added that each Council member
should put their five choices on a sticky note.
Council reviewed each of the suggestions and divided them into things
that they could work on now(short term) and things that would take more
time (long term). Council then chose the items that they were most interested
in working on.
The following were Council's choices of top priorities:
• Standard funding process from County
o Create Town/ County joint funding subcommittee of elected
officials.
o Town Manager and County Administrator to discuss specific items
(Balch, SkatePark, fire and rescue, SRO funding).
o Determine the town's cost for redundant services.
o Research how other countys/towns determine their funding
processes
• JLMA/Annexation
o Ask staff to update existing financial impact.
o Call meeting of town and county annexation committee.
o Determine support for boundary line adjustment.
• Increase commercial revenue to 40%, thus reducing average commute
times.
o Fight proffer bill.
o Briefing from Loudoun County Economic Development liaison and
Town on long term job trends - How can the Town maximize
county EDC Services.
o Economic Development Commission recommendations
• Research economic development incentives
• Food trucks and other creative job creation
• Evaluate telework centers
• Resident service levels and outsourcing
o Council Member Gemmill to get info from Sharon Bulova to learn
from Fairfax County.
o Ask staff to provide budget detail of expenditure for residential
services.
o Ask staff to quantify service levels to account for future growth.
o Have staff research private out-sourcing resources.
o Learn what services can be replaced with contracted services.
• Bike lanes around Town.
o Refer to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
o Determine cost and planning issues.
o Crosswalk at bypass.
o Finish Leesburg Loop Bicycle Plan.
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Council Work Session March 7, 2016
o Create an action plan in conjunction with the Parks and Recreation
Commission
• Paint bike lanes—one per month.
• Get private sector support to link destinations.
• Research bike lane in alley downtown.
• Conduct interchanges with bike/pedestrian lanes at major
intersections.
• Park across from Loudoun County High School (Rogers' property)
o Refer to Parks and Recreation Commission for recommendation.
o Begin the outreach to the property owners.
o Park plan.
b. Planning Work Plan
Mayor Butler stated that this is the planning staff's work plan excluding
applications that are in process. He queried the priority order of these non-
essential items.
Council Comments/Questions:
• Hammler: Questioned where Capital Intensity Factors appears on the list.
• Butler: Stated those have not been included because it is more of a finance
function.
• Gemmill: Noted that there was a staff recommendation to table this item
until more information comes out of the disposition of Senate Bill 529.
• Hammler: Suggested that Capital Intensity Factors be put under new
business for discussion.
• Fox: Questioned what PRC in the active amendments category.
Staff Answer: Stated it was initiated by Council on February 23 after a
request by Mr. Banzhaf to look at the Planned Residential Community
District ratios of office to commercial. Further, she noted other
amendments that were brought forward for discussion were a repeal of the
H-2 overlay and a provision to allow commuter lots in the I-1.
• Fox: Questioned why staff does not recommend repeal of the H-2 overlay
district.
Staff answer: Stated there is a concern about repealing the overlay district
without having some type of design guideline in place. She noted that
there are sections of East Market Street that are undeveloped at this time
and are being considered as part of the East Market Street small area plan.
• Burk: Stated her feeling that the H-2 is no longer relevant as it is all
developed except the one section on East Market Street.
Staff answer: Stated that there are a few parcels remaining on S. King
Street as well as outside the bypass on East Market Street.
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Council Work Session March 7, 2016
• Gemmill: Stated his support for repeal of the H-2 overlay district.
• Butler: Clarified that voting to "repeal"the H-2 would only be an initiation
of a zoning ordinance amendment. Further, he agreed that the East Market
Street Plan is more complicated than it needs to be, but is being worked on
by students at no charge to the town.
Staff answer: The students who are working on the plan are receiving
credit for focusing on a specific, real-world project.
• Fox: Questioned where Mobile Hope's application is in the process.
Staff answer: Stated the applicant has requested the application be put on
hold at the current time.
There was consensus to move forward with the repeal of the H-2 overlay
district.
• Butler: Questioned whether Council wants to reorder the priorities. He
questioned whether staff would be able to change the timeline for repeal.
Staff answer: Stated that some of the amendments that have been proposed
or initiated have applications that are waiting for the amendments. She
noted that there are no applications that will be affected by repeal of the H-
2.
There was Council consensus to initiate the repeal of the H-2 and start the
review process in mid-May with completion expected before the end of the year.
• Hammler: Questioned why Council put the parking credit in the H-1 on
hold. She stated it is important for creating infill.
There was no consensus to restart action on this subject.
• Dunn: Questioned what makes the East Market Street Small Area Plan
different from the Crescent Design District.
Staff answer: Stated that the Crescent Design District is a zoning district
with sub-districts to implement the Crescent District master plan. She
stated that the area outside of the bypass was not considered as part of the
Crescent District Master Plan where the idea was to make the area more
walkable and compact in terms of its development pattern. She stated it
may not be the correct development pattern for the area outside of the
bypass. She noted that there are things that can be drawn on from the
Crescent District; however, the area is different in it's make up than the
Crescent District.
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Council Work Session March 7, 2016
• Dunn: Questioned why the town would want to put an"umbrella" over the
various types of zoning in the area.
Staff answer: Stated that staff is trying to create a more tailored land
use/transportation plan for the area outside the bypass. She noted that this
would encompass working with the stakeholders and landowners.
2. Additions to Future Council Meetings
Council Member Dunn requested discussion regarding creation of a zoning
ordinance advisory group. He stated this would not delay the process, but be a group
of unpaid stakeholders who look at the zoning ordinance and make
recommendations.
He requested that the town request that the county pay 100 percent of town
police officer costs for School Resource Officers.
There was consensus to send a letter to the county asking for full funding of the cost of
Leesburg Police officers as School Resource Officers.
He further requested changing the Council's rules to allow something to be put
on an agenda without consensus of four members of Council.
Vice Mayor Burk requested two proclamations - one for Relay for Life and one
for Irish-American Heritage Month. She also requested consideration of a text
amendment for Mr. McLister's property. She noted that someone would be coming
to speak as a petitioner tomorrow night regarding this request.
Council Member Hammier requested authorization for the town manager to
work with the county on parking options other than the Pennington garage.
There was consensus to discuss the limits of the town manager's negotiating ability
during closed session on Tuesday.
She requested an update on SB529 and how it relates to the Capital Intensity
Factors.
Ms. Notar stated this would be part of the legislative wrap up.
She also requested referring the possible river front park grant opportunities to
the Parks and Recreation Commission for their review.
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Council Work Session March 7, 2016
There was consensus to refer this issue to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Council Member Gemmill requested consideration of something to mitigate
the impact of the Pennington Garage on the neighborhood.
Keith Markel noted that localities generally do not enhance private property
and it would set a dangerous precedent.
He requested another Police Appreciation Day. He stated that John Marshall
Bank would be happy to participate in that again.
Mr. Markel stated that the plan is to repeat it again in May 2017, which is
National Police Appreciation.
It was decided to schedule a recognition event sooner than that.
Mayor Butler requested an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to bring the
ending time for noise generation in line with the Town Code.
There was Council consensus to add an initiation resolution to Tuesday night's agenda.
He requested a State of The Town Address.
There was Council consensus to have this during a Council meeting.
On a motion by Council Member Fox, seconded by Council Member Gemmill, the
meeting was adjourned at 10:•13 p.m.
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Clerk of-Co ncil
2016 tcwsmin030
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