HomeMy Public PortalAboutDecember 2, 2021 Draft Minutes
LEESBURG PLANNING COMMISION
MEETING MINUTES
December 2, 2021
Town Hall, 25 West Market Street
Council Chambers
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MEMBERS PRESENT: Ad Barnes, Al Barney, Earl Hoovler, Brian McAfee, Keith Reeve
(arrived at y6:15pm)
MEMBERS ABSENT: Nick Clemente
STAFF: Planning and Zoning Director, Susan Berry Hill, Sr. Planning
Project Manager, Scott Parker, Sr. Planner, Rich Klusek, Town
Attorney, Tina Newton, and Planning Commission Clerk, Karen
Cicalese
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Robinson called the meeting to order at 6:01pm.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
On a motion by Mr. Barney, seconded by Mr. Hoovler, the agenda was adopted by a vote of 5-0-
2 vote (Clemente absent, Reeves absent for vote).
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
November 18, 2021 Draft Minutes
On a motion by Mr. Hoovler, seconded by Mr. Barney, the commission moved to approve the
November 18, 2021 Draft Minutes by a vote of 4-1-2 (Barnes abstained, Clemente absent,
Reeves absent for vote).
PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER DISCLOSURE
None
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
Chair Robinson noted Mr. Barnes’ attendance and welcomed him back.
PETITIONERS
None
PUBLIC HEARING
• TLTA-2021-0001 Legacy Leesburg Town Plan Second Public Hearing: Rich Klusek
and Scott Parker, Co-Project Managers and Susan Berry Hill, Director,
Department of Planning and Zoning
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Mr. Klusek gave an overview of the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan Update Project schedule dating
back to 2019 noting that the Planning Commission held 15 work sessions on the plan. He gave
an overview of the changes made since the first public hearing on April 1, 2021 which include
the following:
Other Boards and Commissions Comments
Staff Comments
Transportation Improvement Plan
Future Character
Concept Sketches
Parcels for Special Consideration
Implementation
Minor edits throughout
Mr. Kluske gave an overview of the document as follows:
Introduction – Playbook Approach. Community Character, Community Outreach, Vision,
Guiding Principles, and Measuring Positive Change
Setting the Stage – Planning Foundation, Market Demand and Demographics, and Opportunities
and Challenges
Legacy Framework – Area Based Land Use Initiatives, Character Areas, and Planning Policy
Framework
Place Based Recommendations – Development Opportunity Areas
Moving Forward – Implementation
Mr. Klusek gave an overview on how Legacy Leesburg differs from the current Town Plan
noting that the current plan is reactive which is effective for building new communities and relies
on prescriptive policy. The Legacy Leesburg Plan is proactive and effective for redevelopment
and enhancing communities and relies on careful consideration of Character and Vision.
Mr. Klusek concluded staff’s presentation with an overview of companion documents already
written and included in the current plan which will transfer to the new plan and include the
Eastern Gateway District Small Area Plan and the Crescent District Master Plan. The
Transportation Improvement Plan will also be included in the Legacy Leesburg Plan.
Public Comment
Molly Novotny, Cooley, LLP, came forward on behalf of her client Lidl, to request redesignation
of an approximately five-acre tract located behind Dick’s Sporting Goods on Edwards Ferry
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Road currently planned for retail uses. She asked that this parcel be redesignated to allow either
storage or residential uses.
Megan Sizemore, Lidl, 3500 S Clark Street, Arlington, VA 20202, came forward and gave an
overview of the site constraints that prohibited the development of a Lidl grocery store. She
asked for the redesignation of the Lidl property to allow either self-storage or residential uses.
Molly Novotny, Cooley, LLP, came forward on behalf of her client, Kettler, to request
redesignation of the 37-acre tract located east of Crosstrail Blvd., directly across from
Wegmans . The property is currently designated as Industrial, and she requested that it be
redesignated to Mixed Use Development as it is more compatible with the Village at Leesburg
Development. This will require an amendment to the Eastern Gateway District Small Area Plan,
and she informed the Commission that Kettler has submitted a Town Plan Amendment
application.
Charlie Kieler, Kettler, 8255 Greensboro Drive, McLean, VA, came forward in support of
redesignating the 37-acre tract (Parcels D and E) to Mixed Use Development. He gave an
overview of the history of the Village at Leesburg parcel, noting that Parcels D and E are part of
the 60-acre parcel . He did not feel that an industrial designation was appropriate as this is a
highly visible site and located at the entrance to the Town. He asked that the Planning
Commission consider redesignating this property. He noted that developing the property as
Mixed use Development would require a rezoning as the property is currently zoned I-1. He
explained that they have tried unsuccessfully to get industrial areas as there is not enough area to
do any kind of meaningful industrial.
Ron Ingraham, 19222 Brookstone Terrace, Leesburg, came forward in support of the
redesignation of the Kettler property as more residential or commercial than industrial as it is
surrounded by residential development.
Kyle Crosby, Kettler, came forward and read an email he was copied on from Larry Spott, Vice
President, Rappaport, in support of the redesignation request for the Kettler property.
Chair Robinson closed the public hearing at 6:28pm and called for Planning Commission
Discussion.
There was discussion on the following:
• West side of Town setbacks
• Traffic generated by the Virginia Village Development
• Goose Creek Golf Course
• Kettler Property
• Flex Space at Kettler Property
• Lidl property development constraints
• Concerns regarding converting commercial to residential
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• Lack of commercial interest and how long to retain commercial property if there is a
demand for something else now
• Topography and potential uses for the Lidl property
• Town Plan Amendment for the Kettler Property
• Residential Development of residential development on County property adjacent to the
Kettler parcels
• Kettler property near airport and impact of aircraft noise
• Development of a Work Force Housing Task Force to research the Lidl and Kettler
properties as potential affordable/workforce housing
• Commercial interest and property values favoring residential development
Chair Robinson called for a motion at 6:55pm.
Mr. Hoovler moved that the Planning Commission forward Town Plan Amendment TLTA-2021-
0001, New Town Plan, inclusive of the Crescent Design District Master Plan, the Eastern
Gateway District Small Area Plan, and the Transportation Improvement Plan, to the Town of the
Resolution attached to the December 2, 2021 staff report and forwarded to the Town Council for
adoption.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Barney.
Chair Robinson called for comments and/or discussion.
There were comments and discussion on the following:
• Playbook Approach
• Commending staff on their hard work and dedication
• Online tools and resources
• Concerns regarding transportation
• Concerns regarding density
• Concerns regarding ease of use
• Concerns regarding emphasis being placed on outcomes rather than specific ways to
achieve them
• Define vision and steps to get there
• Need for increased public awareness
• Need to continue work once Council has established their Action Plan
• Difficulty in keeping the Zoning Ordinance, DCSM, etc. updated as the Plan is
implemented
Chair Robinson called for the vote at 7:02pm.
The motion carried by a vote of 4-2-1 (Nay – Barnes and Robinson, Clemente absent).
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SUBDVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT
None
ZONING
None
COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING
None
STAFF AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
a) Update on Cases at Council: Susan Berry Hill, Director Planning and Zoning
None
SRTC REPORT
None
BAR REPORT
None
TOWN COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT
None
OLD BUSINESS
a. Adoption of 2022 Planning Commission Meeting Calendar
Mr. McAfee moved to adopt the 2022 Planning Commission Calendar as presented on December
2, 2021.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Reeve and the motion carried by a vote of 6-0-1 (Clemente
absent).
b. Adoption of 2022 Meeting Start Time
The Planning Commission determined to return to a 7:00pm meeting start time beginning with
their second meeting on January 20, 2022.
NEW BUSINESS
Chair Robinson would like the Planning Commission to recommend a review of previous traffic
studies. She explained that this was suggested by Mr. Reeve when they were having their
discussion on transportation for both the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan and the Virginia Village
application.
Ms. Berry Hill informed the Commission that she had a meeting with Renee LaFollette, Director
Department of Public Works and Capital Projects, Calvin Grow, Transportation Engineer, and
Brian Boucher, Deputy Director, Department of Planning and Zoning, regarding this request.
She explained that there has been a budget request on behalf of Public Works and Capital
Projects for the past two years. The request is to include a study in the CIP to do a cumulative
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assessment of traffic impact studies inside the Catoctin Circle (Downtown) area. This request
has not been accepted; however, they will continue to ask for it moving forward.
She noted that the Commission was also interested in including other parts of Leesburg and staff
did not have any recommendations for the Commission to consider as staff wanted to focus on
pushing the current request forward. If the Planning Commission agrees, they could make a
motion to write a recommendation to Council to include this in the budget. This could be done
independently or when they review the CIP in January.
The Planning Commission supported an additional study to review the accuracy of previous
studies (over the past 10 years) and if the mitigation factors put in place worked as well as
anticipated after build out.
It was determined that Mr. Reeve will write a recommendation to Council, to be reviewed by the
Planning Commission at their meeting on December 16, 2021.
Joint Town Council and Planning Commission Meeting on December 13, 2021
Mr. McAfee noted that at the last Town Council Meeting there was discussion regarding a joint
session between the Council and Planning Commission regarding the Virginia Village
application findings. He asked if that proposal had moved forward.
Ms. Berry Hill explained that it was proposed but not accepted however, if members of the
Commission wish to attend that work session and listen, they could do so
Adjournment
On a motion by Mr. Barnes seconded by Mr. Hoovler the meeting adjourned at 7:26pm.
Approved by:
______________________________ _____________________________
Karen Cicalese, Commission Clerk Gigi Robinson, Chair