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HomeMy Public PortalAboutDecember 2, 2021 Draft Minutes LEESBURG PLANNING COMMISION MEETING MINUTES December 2, 2021 Town Hall, 25 West Market Street Council Chambers 1 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 LEESBURG PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES December 2, 2021 2 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 LEESBURG PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES December 2, 2021 3 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 LEESBURG PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES December 2, 2021 4 • 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). LEESBURG PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES December 2, 2021 5 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 LEESBURG PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES December 2, 2021 6 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