Planning Commission

MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 2013 COUNCIL CHAMBER 1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Rodgers called the meeting to order at 7:45 PM. 2. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Mr. Djan Ms. Hockenberry Mr. Meeks Mr. Rankin Ms. Rodgers Ms. Teates Mr. Wodiska Administrative Staff: James B. Snyder, Director of Planning and Development Services Elizabeth S. Perry, Principal Planner 3. ADOPTION OF AGENDA: Mr. Meeks moved, and Ms. Hockenberry seconded, to adopt the Agenda as presented. The motion passed on voice vote with all members present. 4. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORTS: None. 5. RECEIPT OF PETITIONS: None. 6. PLANNING DIRECTOR’S REPORT: Mr. Snyder reported that the Planning Commission would meet in a joint worksession with the City Council on Tuesday, 19 February 2013 concerning split lots and impervious coverage. He noted that the Commission had held a listening session on split lots and had previously discussed impervious coverage and the Chesapeake Bay Act issues Mr. Snyder stated that a Listening Session on the Greenway Downs Subdivision is scheduled following the Commission’s 4 March meeting. Invitations have been mailed to property owners and residents in that area. MINUTES OF THE 4 FEBRUARY 2013 MEETING OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED 19 FEBRUARY 2013 1 Mr. Snyder advised that information on the Comprehensive Plan update had been provided in the Commission’s package. Ms. Perry indicated that staff is trying to get the update of the Plan moving. She noted that the Commission is currently in a very busy time with multiple development proposals and with the Capital Improvements Program (CIP). Ms. Perry asked the Commissioners to reflect on the 2005 Comprehensive Plan overview and on Chapter 1 of the Plan. The draft provided includes staff changes to date. Ms. Perry asked Commissioners to email her with questions/thoughts in advance of the worksession scheduled. She stated that comments/edits are requested not later than 19 February 2013. Chair Rodgers reminded Commissioners to send comments only to Ms. Perry and not the entire Commission (to avoid an electronic meeting). 7. OLD BUSINESS: A. Eden Center, Good Fortune Grocery Store, Site Plan Waiver Request (Site Plan 2012-0780) Ms. Perry summarized the staff report by indicating that the Good Fortune Grocery Store seeks to occupy a portion of the Eden Center. The intent is to reduce the size of the building and to increase the number of parking spaces. Since the Planning Commission first considered this application, some staff comments conflicted and/or required revisions. The comments received from the City’s Fire Marshal included emergency access to the front of the building, resulting in a drive aisle through the center of the parking lot. This change works well with other staff comments, establishes a maximum size for landscaping areas, and requires an additional waiver for the landscaping islands. The staff comments were provided in Attachment 3. The intent of a five-percent (5%) landscaping coverage is met, but some of the individual planning islands do not meet Code requirements. Mr. Wodiska had several comments and questions, to which Ms. Perry responded. The information provided indicated that the landscape areas on the east side of the property were created with different shapes and sizes, while the other planting areas are more uniform. The two-way drive isle required the reconfiguration of these planting areas. Ms. Antonette Aguilar, PE, representing Walter L. Phillips, advised that the drive aisle curb closest to Roosevelt Boulevard provides a 22-foot width. If the planting areas were larger, then the size of the parking spaces would be tighter. A total of 57 parking spaces will be added to the site with this development. Ms. Aguilar continued to respond to questions and comments MINUTES OF THE 4 FEBRUARY 2013 MEETING OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED 19 FEBRUARY 2013 2 from Mr. Wodiska. Topics discussed included the size and the shape of planting islands, the width of drive aisles, the pedestrian walkway provided, and the lighting plan. Ms. Perry noted that a previous design required a change to avoid stormwater flow in the pedestrian area. Mr. Snyder stated that the design presented provided a safe passage for pedestrians to and from their vehicles to and from the store, to and from the cart corrals, and for pedestrians crossing the site. He concurred that there were pluses and minuses to the first site layout and to the revised site layout. Ms. Hockenberry inquired whether the cart carrels were required by Code. Ms. Perry advised that the Code does not address this issue. Ms. Hockenberry expressed her opinion that more than two cart carrels would be needed given the large number of adjacent parking spaces. Mr. Alan Frank, representing the property owner, advised that Good Fortune Grocery Store employees will monitor the parking lot and would return carts to the store. More carrels will be added, if necessary. In response to further questions from Mr. Wodiska, Ms. Aguilar advised that the new lighting fixtures will have the same appearance as existing fixtures. The lighting plan meets Code requirements. Ms. Perry stated it is staff’s responsibility to check the light fixtures to prevent spillover to adjacent properties; the lighting plan is based on the illumination levels required. Chair Rogers had questions about the waivers requested for stormwater and mitigation measures. Ms. Perry advised that the amount of phosphorous leaving the site would be measured post construction, but it is anticipated that the amount will be less than the 18% maximum permitted. Ms. Aguilar noted that this site plan amendment is limited to four of the entire fifteen acre site. The phosphorous removal requirement is at least 10%; 16% is being provided. The total amount of impervious coverage will be reduced through the tree box structures throughout the parking lot area. Additionally, one-half of the roof runoff will be detained. Chair Rodgers noted that the staff report advised that some staff comments had not been resolved. Ms. Perry stated that staff could not initiate certain pedestrian safety measures given a lack of resources. The applicant cannot provide safer pedestrian crossings across Wilson Boulevard, but has provided a safe pedestrian route from Roosevelt Boulevard and across the site. Motion: Ms. Teates moved, and Mr. Djan seconded, that the Planning Commission approve Site Plan 2012-0780 and the waivers listed on page 1 of Attachment 3 of the January 30, 2013 staff report and for the design criteria MINUTES OF THE 4 FEBRUARY 2013 MEETING OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED 19 FEBRUARY 2013 3 of new landscaping islands, with the condition that staff review and administratively approve a resubmission that shows the revised layout from Attachment 3; addresses outstanding staff comments from the January 30, 2013 staff report, and; complies with all applicable Code regulation and approved waivers. The motion passed on roll call vote with all members present. Mr. Frank thanked staff for its hard work on this project. Mr. Foo, owner of Good Fortune Grocery Store, stated that the store opening is anticipated for August or September. B. Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for FY 14 – FY 18 (All Funds: General Fund; School Fund; and Utility Fund Cindy Mester, Assistant City Manager, noted that this is the Commission’s second public hearing on the CIP. A related worksession is scheduled to follow tonight’s meeting. During the Commission’s 22 January meeting several questions were asked and responses were provided in her memorandum dated 29 January 2013. Those questions concerned the installation of a traffic signal at West Broad Street and Pennsylvania Avenue; mapping of the boundary adjustments proposed with the sale of the City’s water system; construction projects for the Schools; and the five-year projections included in the CIP binder. Ms. Mester indicated that she had forwarded the Commission’s inquiries concerning the Schools CIP items to Dr. Jones, Superintendent of Schools, for response at tonight’s worksession. Ms. Mester requested that the revised handouts provided in the Commission’s package and corrected pages distributed this evening be inserted into each Commissioner’s binder. Ms. Rodgers inquired whether Commissioners had any further questions at this time; there were none. Chair Rodgers asked whether there were any written comments or speaker slips for this item; there were none. MOTION: Ms. Hockenberry moved, and Mr. Wodiska seconded, that the Planning Commission’s public hearing on the CIP for FY 2014-2018 (All Funds: General Fund; School Fund; and Utility Fund) be continued until the Commission’s 19 February 2013 meeting. The motion passed on voice vote with all members present. 8. NEW BUSINESS: MINUTES OF THE 4 FEBRUARY 2013 MEETING OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED 19 FEBRUARY 2013 4 A. Ordinance T013-01, An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 48, Zoning, Article IV, Districts, of the City Code to Create Section 48-801. Decertification of Properties Listed on the City of Falls Church Official Register of Protected Structures and Sites “Official Register” and Section 48-802, Register of Protected Sites and Structures, “Official Register” Mr. Snyder stated that this is an ordinance to amend the City’s Historic and Cultural Conservation Overlay District to create a process to decertify properties under certain circumstances. He asked Ms. Gee to provide additional information. Ms. Gee reported that several years ago the City had received state grant funds to survey the City’s historic resources. A product of that survey was a large binder of information that included recommendations. The recommendations included the decertification of six specific properties. In the mean time, one designated structure burned to the ground in 1990 and has lost all of its historic integrity. This issue had been presented to both the Planning Commission and to the City Council in worksessions held in late 2011; however, neither body supported moving on this issue at that time. The Ordinance amendment before the Commission tonight provides a process to decertify a property that would require “an act of God” that destroyed the historical integrity of a structure. A decertification would not be granted lightly or easily. Ms. Gee noted that the City recently adopted a property maintenance code, which has proven to be successful in getting property owners to clear their sites of a variety of stored items and to maintain their properties. She reported that the members of the City’s Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) conduct an annual sidewalk survey of each designated property and, when necessary, contacts the owners concerning maintenance required. Upon adoption of this Ordinance amendment, the results of the HARB’s annual survey will be provided to the appropriate City inspector for action under the property maintenance code. Ms. Hockenberry noted the attachment that was a letter, apparently from one sibling to another, notifying that their parents, the former owners of the property, had lost their home. She noted that the letter is living history. Ms. Hockenberry stated that e-mails have replaced letters and that it is likely that such evidence would not be available in the future. Mr. Meeks noted that the Commission had not supported this concept previously and asked why the issue was before the Commission again. Mr. MINUTES OF THE 4 FEBRUARY 2013 MEETING OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED 19 FEBRUARY 2013 5 Snyder stated that the City needs to have such legislation to deal with the issue of decertification of properties as a result of an act of God. Ms. Gee advised that the previous discussion was only a discussion, pen hand not been put to paper, but staff was seeking direction from the Planning Commission and from the City Council. Chair Rodgers expressed shock that to learn that some of the designated properties in the City were not really there any longer. Ms. Hockenberry stated that it was a good idea to require the property owner to return the plaque designated for a specific property. Mr. Rankin noted that he was the owner of a designated historic property. Motion: Mr. Meeks moved, and Ms. Hockenberry seconded, to recommend to the City Council support of this Ordinance amendment at its next meeting. The motion passed on voice vote. 9. OTHER BUSINESS: None. 10. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Mr. Wodiska moved, and Mr. Meeks seconded, to approve the Minutes of 22 January 2013 as presented. The motion passed on voice vote with Ms. Teates and Mr. Rankin abstaining. 11. ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Meeks moved, and Ms. Teates seconded, to adjourn. The motion passed on voice vote and the meeting adjourned at 8:41 PM. Immediately following the meeting, the Commission met in a worksession to discuss CIP projects for Schools, Recreation and Parks, Public Safety (Police and Fire), and Information Technology. Respectfully Submitted: Noted and Approved: Debra L. Gee James B. Snyder, Director of Clerk to the Planning Commission Planning and Development Services The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and to the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request reasonable accommodation for any type of disability call 703.248.5040 (TTY 7111). MINUTES OF THE 4 FEBRUARY 2013 MEETING OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED 19 FEBRUARY 2013 6