HomeMy Public PortalAbout11 05 2020 PC MinutesThe Town of Lees6urg in Virginia
Leesburg Planning Commission
Meeting Minutes
November 5, 2020
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: Chairman 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 alter the second paragraph on Page 2 of the minute
deleting the existing sentence "after further discussion..." and replacing with "After further
discussion on the amendment, it was advised by 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 approve 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
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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 the discussion.
Ms. Berry Hill began with an overview of the Gateway Project which is all about promoting
good design that is complementary 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
and the district was subsequently approved by Council. The Commission discussed the
Streetscape Design in October and this 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 these 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 Commission will use the Zoning Ordinance Standards in their review of legislative
applications in the Gateway District.
Ms. Berry Hill gave an overview of the Design Guidelines as follows:
Introduction: 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
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8. Statutory Authority
9. Design Review Authority in the Zoning Ordinance
10. How to use the Guidelines
Site Design: The purpose is to provide site design guidance that the BAR can use in relation to
the building guidelines. The sections in this chapter include:
1. Context
2. Building Orientation and Placement
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 design practices in Leesburg for a wide
range of building situations — not dictate design. The sections in this chapter include:
1. Specific Corridor Guidance
a. Facade Alterations
b. Additions
c. Demolition
2. Existing Structures New Construction
a. Building Form
i. Massing
ii. Size, Scale, and Height
b. Roof Form
c. Facade 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
1. 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 overall design. The sections in
this chapter include:
1. Number and Size
2. Shape
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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 previous evening to discuss the Sign Guidelines.
These guidelines will be include in their 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. Solar 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 presentation 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 the Zoning Ordinance?
3. Do you have any questions, comments, suggestions, and/or requests for information in
preparation of the public hearing on November 19th?
There was discussion regarding the placement of the Character Statement, the need for regulation
in the Zoning Ordinance to support the implementation of the Gateway District Design
Guidelines, signage, clarifying language, parking garage design, public spaces, horizontal and
vertical design, and screening and materials.
The Commission gave the following direction:
1. Introduction - Move the Character Statement to its own page to allow it to standout.
2. Introduction - Move Section #8 Statutory Authority to Section #2 and renumber the
remaining sections.
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3. Introduction - Section #5 The Guiding Principles of the Gateway District — In the first
sentence of the first bullet point change the word "should" to "shall".
4. Introduction - Section #11 How to Use the Gateway District Design Guidelines — In the
second paragraph delete the 2nd and 3rd sentences.
5. Site Design - Section #3 Future Site Design in the Gateway District — Amend the
sentence by adding... "If a development includes a mix of uses that are horizontally and
vertically planned they..."
6. Site Design - Section #4 Guidelines — All Gateway Locations Subsection C Parking —
Add a picture of the parking garage in Staunton, Virginia as an example of good design.
7. Site Design - Section #4 Guidelines — All Gateway Locations Subsection D Public
Spaces — Add the following as a new guideline:
"Public open space should be usable space and will not include areas such as buffer
yards, medians, or other areas that are not specifically designed for the interaction of
members of the public for leisure or recreation."
This new guideline should be added after Guideline #3 and the remaining open space
guidelines renumbered.
8. Site Design - Section #4 Guidelines — All Gateway Locations Subsection G Site Utilities
— Rewrite Guideline #5 as follows:
"Screen and landscape dumpsters with a solid barrier wall when multiple sides of a
building are visible from the public realm. Wood board may be found to be appropriate
but the design and materials should be selected to ensure that over time, the enclosure
may be maintained to provide a well -kept appearance."
STAFF AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
None
SRTC REPORT
Chairman Nacy informed the Commission that the SRTC has lost some members and are looking
to replace them
BAR REPORT
Commissioner Robinson noted that the BAR has been very busy and reviewing a number of
applications at each meeting.
TOWN COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT
Ms. Berry Hill informed the Commission that Town Council had removed items from the Zoning
Ordinance Batch to review separately and that the vending kiosk amendment will be coming
back to them for a public hearing on November 19th
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
Commissioner Robinson made a request to have a future discussion on the need to have
regulation in the Zoning Ordinance to support the implementation of the Gateway District
Design Guidelines,
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Leesburg Planning Commission
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ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 pm.
Approved bye:\
L()LOP:1-Q
(-/Kar n Cicalese, Commission Clerk
41
Kan Nacy, Chair A.,047,
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