Board of Zoning Appeals

1 Regular Meeting of The Board Of Zoning Appeals 2 City Council Chambers 3 300 Park Avenue 4 Falls Church, VA 22046 5 December 11, 2014 6 7:30 p.m. 7 8 1. CALL TO ORDER 9 10 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON: I'd like to call to order the regular meeting 11 of the Board of Zoning Appeals for December 11, 2014. 12 Roll call please. 13 14 2. ROLL CALL 15 16 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Stoodley. 17 MR. STOODLEY: Here. 18 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Williamson. 19 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON: Here. 20 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Krasner. 21 MR. KRASNER: Here. 22 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Calabrese. 23 MR. CALABRESE: Here. 24 RECORDING SECRETARY: And, Mr. Howell. 25 MR. HOWELL: Here. 26 27 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Thank you. 28 29 3. PETITIONS 30 31 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON: Are there any Petitions from the audience? 32 Seeing none. 33 34 4. NEW BUSINESS: 35 36 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Is there any New Business? 37 Seeing none. 38 39 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 40 Discussion of minutes from the November 13, 2014, BZA meeting 41 42 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Moving to Item 5 which is the Approval of Minutes 43 from the most recent November 13, 2014, meeting. 44 (Minutes reviewed.) 45 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Is there a motion to approve the minutes from 46 November 13, 2014? 47 MR. CALABRESE: So moved. 48 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Is there a second? 49 MR. STOODLEY: Second. 50 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Roll call vote. 51 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Howell. 52 MR. HOWELL: Yes. 53 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Calabrese. 54 MR. CALABRESE: Yes. MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 11, 2015 MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AS APPROVED ON MARCH 12, 2015  55 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Stoodley. 56 MR. STOODLEY: No. 57 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Mr. Krasner. 58 MR. STOODLEY: I mean, sorry, I can't say hold. 59 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Williamson. 60 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON: Yes. 61 Mr. Stoodley, you're abstaining. 62 MR. STOODLEY: That's right. I couldn't say the word. 63 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON: Okay. 64 Minutes passed. 65 66 6. OTHER BUSINESS 67 a. Annual adoption of Rules of Procedure 68 b. Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman 69 c. Election of Recording Secretary 70 d. Approval of 2015 BZA meeting schedule 71 c. Recognition of Mr. Stoodley's 21 years of BZA service 72 73 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON: Item 6, Other Business. We have several items 74 of New Business. The first such item is the annual adoption of Rules of 75 Procedure. We all received these in advance and we have copies before us 76 tonight. 77 I'll ask my fellow Board members to just cast their eyes to it one 78 more time and when you're prepared to do so, please make a motion to 79 approve the adoption of the Rules of Procedure, unless you have any changes 80 to make, then you should bring those forward now. 81 MR. KRASNER: No changes, Mr. Chairman. Just a couple of comments 82 as I'm reading through them. 83 I think our procedure is fine. I would say I would encourage the 84 staff to continue to work on particularly the review of completeness we've 85 been working on as far as standardizing the submission package. And I 86 think that's a key part of our process that I know has been continued to 87 work on. So I encourage you to work on that to standardize that, makes our 88 job easier and your job easier in the end. 89 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: I think that's right. 90 Any other comments that the Board members have? 91 MR. HOWELL: Just a minor comment if I may. 92 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Please. 93 MR. HOWELL: Just for clarification for me, I noticed that on the 94 agenda it says under 6 C, Election of Recording Secretary; whereas our 95 Rules of Procedures says, The chairman shall appoint a secretary annually. 96 I just wondered what was right. 97 MR. BOYLE: I think historically they've been appointed. 98 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Yeah. Looking at it, I think they are appointed. 99 MR. STOODLEY: Move to approve with the change. 100 MR. KRASNER: Second. 101 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON: I'm sorry. We're going to move to approve the 102 Rules of Procedure as written and then alter the agenda to show 103 appointment, is that correct? 104 MR. STOODLEY: Yes. 105 CHAIRMAN STOODLEY: All right. We have a second for that. 106 Is there a roll call vote for the adoption of the Rules of 107 Procedure? 108 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Williamson. MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 11, 2015 MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AS APPROVED ON MARCH 12, 2015 109 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Yes. 110 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Krasner. 111 MR. KRASNER: Yes. 112 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Stoodley. 113 MR. STOODLEY: Yes. 114 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Calabrese. 115 MR. CALABRESE: Yes. 116 RECORDING SECRETARY: And, Mr. Howell. 117 MR. HOWELL: Yes. 118 119 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: The next item under Other Business is the 120 election of a chairman and vice chairman for 2015. 121 I'll just point out to you all that I've resubmitted my desire to 122 the Council to continue on as a member of the Board and working through the 123 process, I don't expect any other big appointments, to make you all aware 124 of the pending status as we conduct this tonight. Okay. 125 MR. STOODLEY: I move to appoint Mr. Williamson as the chairman for 126 a second year. 127 MR. CALABRESE: I'll second. 128 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSN: Okay. Can we have a roll call vote on that. 129 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Krasner. 130 MR. KRASNER: Yes. 131 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Stoodley. 132 MR. STOODLEY: Yes. 133 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Calabrese. 134 MR. CALABRESE: Yes. 135 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Howell. 136 MR. HOWELL: Yes. 137 RECORDING SECRETARY: And, Mr. Williamson. 138 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON: Yes. 139 140 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: And on the second item which is the election of a 141 vice chairman, I would move to nominate Mr. Krasner. 142 MR. STOODLEY: I second. 143 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON: Okay. Can we have a roll call vote please. 144 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Howell. 145 MR. HOWELL: Yes. 146 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Stoodley. 147 MR. STOODLEY: Yes. 148 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Calabrese. 149 MR. CALABRESE: Yes. 150 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Williamson. 151 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Yes. 152 RECORDING SECRETARY: And Mr. Krasner. 153 MR. KRASNER: Yes. 154 155 CHAIRMAN SECRETARY: All right. Next item is the appointment of a 156 recording secretary. 157 We've been served very well by Mr. Wade. 158 Mr. Wade, are you able to continue on in that capacity? 159 MR. WADE: Absolutely. Thank you. 160 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: All right. You are so appointed. 161 MR. WADE: Thank you. 162 MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 11, 2015 MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AS APPROVED ON MARCH 12, 2015 163 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON: Item D is the approval of the 2015 Board of 164 Zoning Appeals' meeting schedule. Before us here, no August meeting which 165 is traditional. Of course we'll have one if circumstances warrant it, but 166 that's not our intention at this point in time. 167 Does this schedule keep with our normal practice, Mr. Wade, our 168 normal practice of the second Thursday of the month? 169 RECORDING SECRETARY: Yes. 170 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON: So all these days reflect that? 171 RECORDING SECRETARY: Yes. And about the same amount of set up time 172 between the cut-off date and the next meeting as well. So, in general it's 173 the same. 174 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON: Okay. That sounds good to me. 175 MR. STOODLEY: I move to approve the 2015 meeting schedule. 176 MR. KRASNER: Second. 177 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON: Roll call vote please. 178 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Williamson. 179 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Yes. 180 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Krasner. 181 MR. KRASNER: Yes. 182 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Howell. 183 MR. HOWELL: Yes. 184 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Stoodley. 185 MR. STOODLEY: Yes. 186 RECORDING SECRETARY: And, Mr. Calabrese. 187 MR. CALABRESE: Yes. 188 189 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON: Okay. The next item of Other Business which 190 is really a recognition of a significant level and degree of service by 191 Captain Stoodley for his 21 years of service on the Board of Zoning 192 Appeals. 193 I'll just introduce this item by saying that Captain Stoodley has 194 really been a model of service here within the City of Falls Church, the 195 community, and I don't know how else to say it, the United States. He has 196 served in the military. He has performed public service, including the 197 City of Falls Church on the Citizen Advisory Board for Transportation, and 198 21 years as a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals. 199 He joined the Board of Zoning Appeals, interestingly enough, after 200 appearing before the Board of Zoning Appeals after having an appeal denied 201 in 1992. 202 And just earlier this evening, Mr. Boyle pointed out to me that 203 after joining the Board when he had his appeal denied, his first vote was a 204 "yes". Reflecting the attention to detail and fairness he brought to the 205 position throughout his 21 years of service. 206 He's always been a loyal, faithful Board of Zoning Appeals' member. 207 He's actually been the chairman and the vice chairman and been a role model 208 for those of us that have appeared before him or after him on the Board. 209 And for those that appear before him, he's certainly commanded their 210 attention and their respect. 211 Mr. Boyle, you've spent considerable time working with Mr. Stoodley. 212 Anything you have to introduce? 213 MR. BOYLE: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes. 214 As a spouse of a military officer, I've really come to know and 215 greatly respect the service our military give to this country and I 216 certainly respect your service for that. And above and beyond your service MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 11, 2015 MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AS APPROVED ON MARCH 12, 2015 217 to our country, you volunteered 21 years to this community. 218 As a member of the City staff, I have the opportunity to work with a 219 number Boards and Commissions and it is rare to see anyone serve maybe more 220 than five years. Many less than that. 221 I would like to know and I intend to find out exactly where your 222 length of service stands in the annals of City service, but you certainly 223 spanned a period of time in this City's history where it's truly evolved 224 from one type of community to another. 225 And for me personally, I know my predecessor David Rock respected 226 you greatly and he, in turn, served a great length of time with the City 227 and was very acquainted with a number of Boards. I think your service on 228 the BZA spanned pretty closely his service with the City and he always had 229 great praise for you and he was a man I respected, continue to respect. 230 When it was my opportunity to become zoning administrator, I greatly 231 appreciated your advice and the manner in which you controlled meetings. 232 And there were opportunities for meetings to go awry and you were always 233 the stickler for Rules of Procedure and keeping order and decorum and 234 allowing people to speak, but speak when it was an appropriate time to 235 speak. 236 And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that you hold the record for 237 the shortest meeting of all time. 238 MR. STOODLEY: You made the time. 239 MR. BOYLE: Did I? Well, if I keep talking, you're going to lose. 240 But it was always a great pleasure to have you inform us that the 241 Navy time was ready to begin the meeting. 242 A couple of things. So a personal appreciation for your assistance 243 in my time here. And we can't replace you but we'll find somebody to take 244 that seat. 245 Couple of items to present. We located the action of the City 246 Council that appointed you to the Board of Zoning Appeals. And this was 247 back in October 24th of '94, and that Council, none of these names are 248 familiar to me. Mr. Brangman, and I apologize, Mr. Brangman, Ms. 249 Fitzgerald, Mr. Perry, Ms. Scully, Mr. Sharpe, Mr. Snyder. That may be the 250 current Mr. Snyder on Council. And Mayor Tarbert. You were appointed as 251 alternate to the BZA and Mr. Driver assumed a regular position. Is that -- 252 MR. STOODLEY: That's it. 253 MR. BOYLE: And then your first BZA meeting -- this is like welcome 254 to This is Your Life. 255 Your first BZA meeting was on November 17, 1994. The meeting was 256 called to order at 7:37 p.m. by Joe Pelletier. The members of the BZA at 257 that time were Mr. Carlin, Mr. Pelletier, Mr. Krachman, Mr. Driver, Captain 258 Stoodley, and Ray Stewart was absent that evening. Dave Rock was the 259 zoning administrator and Joe Pelletier as chair congratulated Mr. Driver on 260 his appointment as a full member and Mr. Stoodley on his appointment as an 261 alternate member. 262 Let's see, your first order of business was for a conditional sign 263 variance, which is pretty rare to see these days. We see full out 264 variances now. 265 So with that, we'll present you with a copy of your minutes which 266 I'm sure will be as thrilling to read now as they were then. 267 MR. STOODLEY: Thank you. 268 MR. BOYLE: And then, Mr. Chair, would you like to present this. 269 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON: Sure. What we have for you here, Captain 270 Stoodley, is a certificate of appreciation for dedicated volunteer service MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 11, 2015 MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AS APPROVED ON MARCH 12, 2015 271 on the City of Falls Church Board of Zoning Appeals from 1994 to 2014. 272 And I will highlight some of the words on here which are, Honor, 273 courage, and commitment that have set the new standard for service and will 274 have a great and lasting impact on the Board and our community. 275 And one thing I'll point out on here is that I believe this little - 276 - 277 MR. STOODLEY: Yes. 278 MR. BOYLE: You recognize that. 279 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: That little -- 280 MR. BOYLE: Insignia. 281 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON: -- insignia right there would be from your 282 Navy service, correct? 283 MR. STOODLEY: Yes, sir. 284 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON: So there we go. They've got that on there 285 too. 286 MR. STOODLEY: Thank you so much. 287 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: I'd like to ask if any of my fellow members have 288 anything to say. 289 Yes. Mr. Howell. 290 MR. HOWELL: Yes, Captain, as sort of the newest kid on the block, 291 it's been a great pleasure. I first met you when I was getting my formal 292 interview as to whether I was a worthy temporary alternate member. We had 293 a very interesting discussion and I thought that if there were people like 294 you serving in this capacity, it was going to be a pretty worthwhile 295 activity for me. 296 So thank you for your help in those early days and your early 297 guidance and we wish you all the best and we'll miss you. 298 MR. STOODLEY: As here. 299 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Any other Board members. 300 MR. CALABRESE: I'll say I haven't known you as long as others, but 301 I do recall you being a stickler for procedure which I like very much being 302 a lawyer, I love when things follow rules and we stick to those. So I 303 appreciate that very much. 304 MR. STOODLEY: Thank you, sir. 305 MR. CALABRESE: And I think of you too as someone who while you're a 306 stickler, you're a very kind person. I appreciate people who have a kind 307 of sense when looking at people in their situations, that they're all 308 humans and they do things they maybe shouldn't do but you were able to 309 account for that so I really appreciate that. 310 MR. STOODLEY: Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. 311 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Any other comments from the Board? 312 MR. KRASNER: Just I'd like to say congratulations to Captain 313 Stoodley. And as the youngest member of the Board, even I am a little 314 intimidated by 21 years of service. Granted, and Mr. Boyle raised the 315 gauntlet of 21 years and I'll consider it, we'll see how it goes. 316 Congratulations. You set a very high bar for this community. 317 MR. STOODLEY: Thank you, sir. 318 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Mr. Wade, anything you'd like to add. 319 MR. WADE: Yes. I've only been here for a short time, the last one 320 fifth of your tenure on the Board, but it's been an honor. It's been a 321 learning experience. 322 I too have appreciated your appreciation for the order and you've 323 been a stickler and kept people in line and we kind of feel applicants 324 sometimes going off in the weeds a little bit and Mr. Stoodley has always MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 11, 2015 MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AS APPROVED ON MARCH 12, 2015 325 been there to keep them right back between the lanes. 326 So I really appreciate that and appreciate being able to serve at 327 the same time with you and learn from you, sir. 328 MR. STOODLEY: Thank you, Mr. Wade. 329 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Mr. Stoodley, anything you'd like to add to these 330 proceedings? 331 MR. STOODLEY: Yes. I wanted to thank the Board members for my 332 tenure. I think this is the best Board that I have served on. I think 333 John and Wade are just wonderful people. I just appreciate your help. I 334 thought Mr. Rock was good. I think you're better. 335 MR. BOYLE: Thank you, sir. 336 MR. STOODLEY: Yes, sir. My pleasure. 337 I want to say if I've talked seven minutes, four minutes longer, I 338 would take the record with me. 339 I propose that we terminate the meeting. 340 341 7. OLD BUSINESS: 342 8. ADJOURNMENT: 343 344 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Okay. Well, we do need a motion to adjourn 345 because there was no Old Business, and I think we just got a motion to 346 adjourn. 347 MR. STOODLEY: Yes, sir. 348 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON: Is there a second? 349 MR. KRASNER: Second. 350 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Roll call vote. 351 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Stoodley. 352 MR. STOODLEY: Yes. 353 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Calabrese. 354 MR. CALABRESE: Yes. 355 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Williamson. 356 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: Yes. 357 RECORDING SECRETARY: Mr. Krasner. 358 MR. KRASNER: Yes. 359 RECORDING SECRETARY: And, Mr. Howell. 360 MR. HOWELL: Yes. 361 CHAIR WILLIAMSON: The meeting is adjourned. Happy holidays, 362 everyone, and thank you again, Captain Stoodley. 363 MR. STOODLEY: Yes. 364 365 366 MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 11, 2015 MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AS APPROVED ON MARCH 12, 2015