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Home My Public Portal AboutDraft Minutes 11 05 2020 The Town of Leesburg in Virginia Leesburg Planning Commission Meeting Minutes November 5, 2020 1 The Leesburg Planning Commission met on Thursday, November 5, 2020 in Town Hall Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176. The meeting was held with a quorum physically present. Staff members present included Susan Berry Hill, Director Planning and Zoning, Lauren Murphy, Preservation Planner, Planning and Zoning, Tina Newton, Deputy Town Attorney, and Karen Cicalese, Executive Associate, Planning and Zoning. CALL TO ORDER Chair Nacy called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Members Present: Chariman Nacy, Commissioners Barney, Barnes, Harper and Robinson Absent: Clemente and Faliskie ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion: Commissioner Harper Second: Commissioner Robinson Vote: 5-0-2 (Clemente and Faliskie absent) APPROVAL OF MINUTES October 15, 2020 Draft Minutes Motion: Commissioner Barnes Second: Commissioner Barney Commissioner Robinson requested to aleter the second paragraph on Page 2 of the minute deleting the exisitning sentence”after further discussion…” and replacing with “After further discussion on the amendment, it was advised vy Counsel to withdraw the amendment because of legal exposure to the Town. Commissioner Robinson agreed to remove the request. Vote: The Planning Commission voted to appove the minutes, as amended, by a vote of 5-0-2. (Clemente and Faliskie absent) DISCLOSURE OF MEETINGS None. CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT None PETITIONERS None Leesburg Planning Commission November 5, 2020 2 PUBLIC HEARING None SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT None ZONING None COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING Gateway District Guidelines Presentation: Susan Berry Hill, Director Planning and Zoning and Lauren Murphy, Preservation Planner, Department of Planning and Zoning Ms. Berry Hill noted that Lauren Murphy, the Town’s Preservation Planner, will be attending via Webex and will be participating in th discussion. Ms. Berry Hill began with an overview of the Gateway Project which is all about promoting good design that is complmentary with the architectural character of Leesburg in key corridors. The Gateway corridor is previously known as the H-2 Corridor and consists of five segments, North King Street, South King Street, East Market Street, West Market Street, and Edwards Ferry Road. The project will implement policies from the Town Plan Chapter 5 Community Design, the recently adopted Eastern Gateway District Small Area Plan, and the new Town Plan which will make good design a priority for development. The Gateway Project consists of three parts; Zoning Ordinance, Streetscape Design, and Design Guidelines. The Planning Commission reviewed the Zoning Ordinance Amendments over the summer and recommended approval of tand the district was subsequently approved by Council. The Commission discussed the Streetscape Design in October and theis will be going before Council on November 23rd. The last remaining portion of the project is the Design Guidelines being discussed this evening. Ms. Berry Hill noted that the BAR and the Preservation Planner will use thse Design Guidelines in their review of Certificates of Appropriateness applications. Zoning Ordinance Section 7.12.14 specifies design standards that are expected in the Gateway District, therefore the Planning Commissin will use the Zoning Ordiance Standards in their review of legislative applications in the Gateway District. Ms. Berry Hill gave an overview of the Desing Guidelines as follows: Introducton: The purpose is to welcome the use and to provide legitimacy for the document and to orient the user. The sections in this chapter include: 1. Purpose of Design Guidelines 2. Role of Design Review 3. Background on H-2 4. Continued H-2 Usage for Proffered Properties 5. Guiding Principles 6. Scope of the Gateway District 7. Relationship of Guidelines to other Documents Leesburg Planning Commission November 5, 2020 3 8. Statutory Authority 9. Desing Review Authority in the Zoning Ordinance 10. How to use the Guidelines Site Design: The purpose is to provide site desing guidance that the BAR can use in relation to the building guidelines. The sections in this chapter incude: 1. Context 2. Building Orientation and {lacement 3. Parking 4. Public Spaces 5. Screening 6. Landscaping 7. Site Utilities, Equipment, and Service Areas 8. Lighting 9. Attached Housing Building Guidelines: The purpose is to address best desing practices in Leesburg for a wide range of building situations – not dictate design. The sections in this chapter include: 1. Specific Corridor Guidance a. Façade Alterations b. Additions c. Demolition 2. Existing Structures New Construction a. Building Form i. Massing ii. Size, Scale, and Height b. Roof Form c. Façade Alteration d. Windows and Doors e. Storefront f. Architectural Expression and Details g. Trademark/Corporate Architecture h. Materials and Texture i. Color j. Building Appurtenances k. Lighting l. Parking Structures m. Building Services n. Attached Housing o. Sustainable Design Sign Guidelines: The purpose is to integrate signage into the building and site design – signage should not be an afterthought and it should add – not detract from oveall design. The sections intis chapter include: 1. Number and Size 2. Shape Leesburg Planning Commission November 5, 2020 4 3. Materials 4. Color and Finish 5. Illumination 6. Multi-tenants 7. Monument and free Standing 8. Public Signs 9. Text/Lettering/Logo Ms. Berry Hill noted that the Sign Guidelines had not been included in their packet for this meeting and explained that the H2WG met the previious evening to discuss the Sign Guidelines. These guidelines will be include intheir packet for the November 19th meeting. Ms. Berry Hill also gave an overview of the Universal Gateway Standards. The Site Design Standards address the following: 1. Building Placement/Orientation 2. Off-street Loading Spaces, Utilities 3. Mechanical Equipment 4. Solat Panels and Wind Turbines 5. Outdoor Lighting 6. Surface Parking Placement/Location 7. Screening Walls 8. Fences 9. Accessory Structures 10. Journey Through Hallowed Ground Landscape/Streetscape Ms. Berry Hill gave an overview of the character statement ended her presention with the following questions for the Commission to consider. 1. Do you agree with the character statement and the characterization of Leesburg and the Corridors in the Gateway District? 2. Do you think the guideline document supports the regulatory standards that are in Section 7.12.24 of th Zoning Ordinance? 3. Do you have any questions, comments, suggestions, and/or requests for information in preparation of the public hearing on November 19th. STAFF AND COMMITTEE REPORTS None SRTC REPORT BAR REPORT Leesburg Planning Commission November 5, 2020 5 TOWN COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT None OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS None ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at pm. Approved by: ______________________________ _____________________________ Karen Cicalese, Commission Clerk Kari Nacy, Chair