Loading...
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 1 Leesburg Planning Commission November 5, 2020 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 2 Leesburg Planning Commission November 5, 2020 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 3 Leesburg Planning Commission November 5, 2020 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. 4 Leesburg Planning Commission November 5, 2020 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, 5 Leesburg Planning Commission November 5, 2020 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, 6