Environmental Sustainability Council

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL (ESC) and ENERGY TRANSITION SUBCOMMITTEE (ETS) Thursday, November 18, 2021, Virtual Meeting via Microsoft Teams, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. MINUTES 1. Attendees: ESC Members: Andy Young (Chair), Sarah Bayldon, Mike Trauberman, Jennifer Tabola, Stacey Evers, Jon Ward, Andy Crawford, Joseph Schiarizzi. Student Member: n/a. City Council Member Liaison: N/A; Planning Commission Liaison: Tim Stevens City Staff: Kate Walker, ESC Staff Liaison. ESC/HRTG: Amy Crumpton; Guests: Joseph Muffler, Matt Adams, City Council Member Phil Duncan 2. This meeting was held via electronic communications using ‘Microsoft Teams.’ This meeting was held pursuant to and in compliance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3708.2 and state and local legislation adopted to allow for continued government operation during the COVID-19 declared emergency. 3. Public Comments: None 4. Founders Row II presentation Joseph Muffler of the Founder Row II development company Millcreek spoke on the current status of the Founder’s Row II development. He noted that the company has gone through two submissions with significant changes between the two versions. The project as proposed includes 280 apartment homes—12% of which are affordable—and 26,000 feet of commercial space. In the most recent iteration, Millcreek reduced one proposed floor and increased the commercial density. For the sustainability features of the project, the proposal includes a proposed stormwater 20% reduction over the 10-year storm rate. There will be 31% of open area (including 19% on the ground floor and an additional ~12 % of roof space). The project will use white membranes on roofs that will reflect light. Mr. Muffler indicated that Millcreek is committed to LEED Gold for the entire project and a 20% energy savings over the baseline. The submittal of the LEED scorecard will occur during the site plan submission. Five percent of parking spaces will be installed with EV charging stations, divided between commercial and residential parking, and they will provide up to 50% of spaces with conduits for future installation of EV chargers. Retail customers would not need to pay for charging while residents would pay by the hour. The building will be all electric and include very limited natural gas. Roof space will be set aside for the future potential installation of photovoltaic infrastructure. Millcreek is seeking an increased parking reduction from the zoning allowance, from 17% to 22%. The project includes covered bike storage facility near the Broad Street front of the development. Millcreek is currently evaluating a bikeshare station. Mr. Muffler indicated that right now it is not possible to create a walkway between Broad Street and Ellison Street. The project will seek to incorporate wider sidewalks than the current sidewalks. Joseph Muffler took questions about the submission. Attendees asked about reduction of parking spaces. Mr. Muffler indicated parking is a delicate balance. The proposed 22% reduction of parking is based on 1.2 spaces per unit. Retail parking is important for the project 1 to be commercially viable. He noted that the company needs to be cognizant of the parking burden on the neighborhood. Joseph Schiarizzi spoke in favor of minimizing parking spaces and to seeking a ratio of 1.1 or less. In response to a question from Andy Young, Mr. Muffler discussed that the EV charger strategy is flexible, with the ability to increase chargers in response to demand. The owner/operator of the building would operate the chargers. Stacey Evers brought up the idea of something more sustainable than grass in the small open area at the corner of West and Ellison streets. Mr. Muffler indicated that these final details would be finalized during the site plan process. Mr. Muffler discussed the next steps for the project. The planning commission voted last night to recommend the project to City Council. The City Council would take up the proposal at a December 13 work session. Millcreek is aiming for a final submission before end of year and a second reading in March. If approved, the project would then move to site plan process. He noted that they tried to anticipate a lot of green infrastructure in the design process so far, but a lot will be defined in site plan process. In response to a question from Andy Crawford, Mr. Muffler indicated that they are currently looking at possibly including rooftop solar in the project. He indicated that they do not currently have solar in any prior projects because economically it has not made sense. But Millcreek is actively looking at the idea for Founders Row II and added it would be helpful to meet LEED requirements. Mike Trauberman requested details on the LEED scorecard and asked that Millcreek include a narrative with the scorecard to explain the strategy. All appliances will be Energy Star (Mr. Muffler confirmed that is important for the LEED scorecard). Andy Crawford asked how much of a draw the environmental sustainability features will be for potential tenants and encouraged Mr. Muffler to lean in on those elements. Mr. Muffler indicated that LEED Gold means almost nothing for our tenants unless it reduces energy costs for the individual. However, for investors, sustainable features are very important. If the City of Falls Church did not require LEED proposal, investors would require it anyway. He noted that LEED Gold doesn’t hurt with potential tenants and offering more elements is better. After the presentation, the committee discussed next steps on the project. Kate confirmed that the ESC needed to submit comments by November 24. Joseph Schiarrizi agreed to draft a letter by November 24. The group discussed a realistic goal for a parking ratio for the project to be raised in the letter. Phil Duncan encouraged ESC members to keep their hopes high while looking for well-reasoned approaches. He said that the City Council wrestles with the parking ratio issue with every new development project. The group proposed to launch a second effort to examine the City’s parking standards for development projects.  Action #1: Joseph Schiarizzi will draft a letter of behalf of the ESC for review by ESC members. 2   Action #2: Joseph and Stacey will begin an effort to look at City-wide parking ratios and the zoning issues. 5. Falls Church City Public Schools Strategic Plan. Meeting attendees discussed ways to incorporate sustainability elements into the FCCPS Strategic Plan. Jon Ward commented that the schools are looking for succinct inputs to their planning process and shared some proposed language on promoting sharing equipment, expertise and knowledge within the city to support sustainability in the schools. Kate noted that the schools plan discusses facilities and underscored with value of sharing expertise across the city, including the ESC. For example, she noted that a shared vehicle fleet could be advantageous. Mike asked if the FCCPS is interested in ESC expertise. Stacey noted that she believes the schools want to be well integrated with the community. Kate added that there was a great collaborative effort in applying to Dominion Energy for the electric bus competition. Jon said it would be worthwhile for the ESC to try to send some comments to FCCPS on shared equipment and expertise and proposed some specific language to the committee.  Action #1: Jon offered to send around the language and forward a final version to Andy Young and Kate for submission to FCCPS. 6. Subcommittee Reports Energy Transition Subcommittee (ETS) Jon Ward: 1) As previously discussed, there are opportunities for energy efficiency improvements in the Virginia Village area. Jon was not sure where that effort stood. Jon noted that what the City learns about the energy efficiency opportunities in the City-owned units could be used in other units in that neighborhood, including those that might be acquired by the City in the future. 2) Jon added that City budget amendments include a $125,000 funding for the climate change mitigation action plan. Kate clarified that that funding could be used for Metropolitan Washington Council of Government-contracted consultants, which provides for efficiencies. Education Task Group (ETG) Sarah Bayldon: The group distributed its October and November worksheets. Sarah noted the value of continuing of using the website for future distribution to reduce the use of paper versions. Habitat Restoration Task Group (HRTG) Amy Crumpton: Three recent public invasive species removal events were well attended and noted that there are upcoming projects at Crossman Park aimed at young people. Sandy Tarpinian wrote in the News Press about the value of homeowners leaving leaves on their properties. 8. Other updates Staff Liaison Report: Kate Walker Carly Aubrey in the planning department shared with Kate about proposed names for streets in the West Falls Church project, which Kate shared with the committee. Kate will present to the Planning Commission the climate change mitigation and energy action plan. The City has offered an internship to an individual to help with the City energy plan. Kate also noted that the City’s communications staff is now reduced to one staff member, which will limit the ESC’s ability to publish environmentally focused content. The One City Center project will come to the ESC in January for review. 3 Tim Stevens added that the Planning Commission recently added an environmental lens for evaluating the Capital Improvement Plan. Jon mentioned that there is $500,000 available via ARPA funding for an overhaul of the Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School HVAC system. This would be augmented by $500,000 from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Jon also mentioned that in the context of the FY2021 budget, the City’s department of public works is looking to spend $400,000 for new trucks and he presumes DPW will purchase new diesel trucks. Jon spoke in favor of buying some lightly used trucks rather than purchasing brand new trucks with an eye towards procuring electric trucks in the future. Tim Stevens noted that the City Council might be considering leasing vehicles. 9. Review and Approval of October 2021 ESC Minutes: Minutes were approved unanimously. 10. Chair Andy Young update: Andy informed the committee that next month (December) would be his last as chair of the ESC after two years in that role. He noted his appreciation for the opportunity to serve in this role and said he plans to remain on the ESC. (Thank you for your excellent leadership and service, Andy!) 11. Adjourned 9:30 p.m. 4