Environmental Sustainability Council

Environmental Sustainability Council/Energy Transition Subcommittee Meeting Minutes October 17, 2024 ❖ 7:30pm 300 Park Ave, Council Chambers, Falls Church, Virginia 22046 • Call to order • Roll Call - ESC City Staff Liaison: Kurt Lawrence - ESC Members / Liaisons: Joseph Schiarizzi, ESC Chair, Chris Behr, ESC Member, Matthew Cunningham, ESC Member, David Stile, ESC Member, Sarah Beaman Bayldon, ESC Member, Tim Stevens, Planning Liaison, Jon Ward, ETS chair - Student Representatives: Hayden Kusic, Serena Binkowski, Lilly Anderson, Allie Campbell, Duke Crespin, Clementine Kim, Wendy Abstone - City Council Liaison: Debbie Hiscott • Public Comment Period Amy Crumpton (Habitat Restoration Task Force and Urban Forestry) mentioned that the invasive species, spotted lantern flies, have now been seen in Falls Church. The spotted lantern fly puts native species at risk. Amy indicated that if they are seen, they should be killed and done so easily by stomping on them. • September Meeting Minutes were unanimously approved • Liaison Report – Kurt L. provided updates on a number of initiatives being led by the City including: 1) Ready Set Go Application. The city submitted its application for a technical assistance grant. 2) Invasive Species Update. Questions arose about whether the city would consider an invasive species ordinance related to bamboo, especially where it migrates across property lines. For example, Fairfax issues a fine to a property owner who fails to control bamboo that crosses property lines. Kurt L. reported that the City Zoning director and Arborist discussed a potential ordinance and determined that the City did not have sufficient resources to enforce an ordinance. Accordingly, the City would not be able to implement one. • Bike Master Plan Review. City staff is seeking endorsement from the ESC on the Master Plan. As background, the plan was delayed in reaching this stage of review because the process changed to include it into the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The procedure of adding it to the Comprehensive Plan, did not entail making changes to the priority routes, which include (a) routes on West Street, to the north and south of the intersection with Broad Street; and (b) and a bicycle connection from the W&OD trail and the secondary school campuses. Discussion among ESC members included: 1) The master plan was not ambitious enough but largely improves upon the current status 2) The proposed bicycle route that cuts through the Falls Plaza Condominium and Gates of  Westfalls properties was not supported by the community who lived in those buildings. Those residents felt that the bike route would lead to a loss of privacy and safety that would differ considerably from how the open space was originally designed and planned for enjoyment primarily for residents. 3) The City would only be able to acquire land from these condominiums by exercising eminent domain. 4) Alternatives to the route through Falls Plaza and Westfalls are limited because of potential liability issues to travel behind Giant Foods since that is a truck loading zone. Similar issues arise if a dedicated bike lane moved through the parking lot on the front of the building. Student representatives indicated that biking behind Giant Foods would be undesirable anyway. At the conclusion of the meeting ESC voted unanimously to endorse the Bike Master plan with the caveat that City staff would continue to explore potential options for safely and conveniently enabling students to reach school by bike. • Accessory Dwelling Units: The ESC discussed the City’s initiative to develop a zoning policy on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU), which would entail a variety of new rules and standards for constructing and using ADUs on private property. Prior to discussing issues related to ADUs, ESC members read aloud a statement drafted by the City attorney, which stated that members had no conflict of interest with respect to ADUs. ESC members discussed several issues related to ADUs including: 1) Desire to include ADU zoning for R-M zones. No ESC member voiced objection to including ADUs in R-M zones. 2) ADU use as short-term rentals. Some ESC members indicated preference that ADUs be used for long-term residents especially to conform with the current residential character of the proposed neighborhoods for ADUs. At the same time, if ADUs are a potential opportunity to increase land use density, owners of ADU-potential properties may be incentivized to construct an ADU if short-term rentals are an option. ESC members also indicated that establishing short-term ADU rentals could make housing incrementally more expensive because speculators could purchase properties with ADU potential to gain additional rental income. 3) Lot Coverage. Currently, the City must comply with existing standards that cannot exceed the State standards. ESC members indicated that in some areas impervious area standards were not limiting enough because flooding becomes problematic. Also, no proposed changes to tree coverage is expected since currently if any trees are removed for the construction of an ADU the same number would have to be planted. • State Legislative Update Mike T. drafted 2025 legislative agenda priorities for review by the ESC. Joseph S. indicated that he would review and provide additional comments. He would send out a final draft next week. • Student report on school board meeting. Duke C. reviewed the school board discussions and indicated that the school discussed acquisition of the two electric buses as part of an EPA grant. • Amy Crumpton made several announcements including: cub scout clean up a local park; FC Forward leave-the-leaves campaign signs are being delivered; VA preservation and improvement society meeting; upcoming Meridian Fall festival. She also indicated that the Climate Crisis Forum, sponsored by the Faith Alliance held a meeting and it was available as a recording. • Adjourn