Planning Commission

March 20, 2017 Planning Commission Retreat 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Council Chamber Potential Topics to Discuss: - High School Campus [1 hour] o Understand Commissioners view on:  Ideas about best use for the economic development  PC needs to provide a vision  10 Acres versus 8 or 6  Goal: Get some direction from PC so thoughts can be appropriately represented at the meetings  Zoning including height, density  Should we even re-zone prior to any development application? Or is this process best served through the special exception process? Concerned that a premature rezoning might lead to by-right development. This land is perfect for special exception process and want to avoid asking the developer to go through twice.  How does the PC fit into the process? What steps are we required to take? How can we be leaders?  Understand the competing interests and other groups working on this topic. Need to make sure we are not being duplicative (Small Area Plan, Economic Working Group, High School, etc.)  Small Area Plan  Create schedule of milestone dates  Need to establish dates for public hearings - Old Business: Outstanding items that PC show work to close out [45 min] o Greenway downs  Update; how to move this to completion o Paper Streets  Update; how to move this to completion o Commercial buildings at least 2 stories  Update; anything else we need to do to make this required o Review Transitional Zoning  Does it make sense; does current zoning need to be revised o Area Plans – remaining order  Current Plan; does this still make sense O Vision Chapter – Final Edits - Other Business [10 min] o Ex-parte communication - Speaker Series [30 min] o Solicit ideas about types of speakers, and/or specific names Page 1 of 3  o Concept is 10-15 minutes (or more if necessary) to help the PC learn and be proactive PRIOR to a specific application o Boards and Commissions  Each Board or Commission for which we have a liaison should come in and tell us their concerns, issues, and actions they would like the PC take on upcoming applications o Developer(s)  [NAMES?]  Understand their view of the Falls Church market, current and future o How’s Falls Church current mix, and what types should be looking to attract  What interesting ideas are happening in other jurisdictions?  Experience (positives/constructive criticism) dealing with FC Planning Department; hurdles and challenges  Experience/constructive criticism dealing with the Planning Commission; hurdles and challenges  Cost and resources required to get an application through Falls Church versus other local jurisdictions  Ask for solutions to existing problems  Ideas how we can improve; Best practices o Engineers  [NAME?] Walter Phillips?  When looking at a civil design, what questions/considerations should the PC be focused on? Anything unique about FC geography that PC should be aware of? Best practices.  Grading Plans; Storm sewer issues/site water retention  Thoughts on our codes, where improvements/leniency can/should be considered or not considered  Recommended green space standards; Falls Church compared to other local jurisdictions o Transportation  [NAME?]  Transportation Demand Management best practices; what’s appropriate/what should we expect in Falls Church  Autonomous cars; Future of parking o Planning Best practices  Falls Church Planning Department  Items staff believes PC should know  Would help their negotiations with developers o Energy Efficiency  [NAME?]  LEED or EQUIVALENT Page 2 of 3 o Understand LEED, but what other standards/guidelines are out there  Understanding not just guidelines but cost benefit analysis  What’s appropriate requirement for Falls Church o Currently LEED Silver, but should we push for higher  How can Falls Church be leaders in this area? o Legal  [NAME]  Issues that Falls Church should considering  Areas we can improve  Recent decisions that alter/change PC power or decisions  PC’s power regarding eminent domain  Subdivisions and PC power o Technology  [NAME?]  How can we use technology to be a better Planning Department? o Simplify complex processes  Example: a chef trying to open a restaurant  Creation of PORTAL for unsolicited private sector ideas o Requires that there is a policy to allow for action o Public Private Partnerships  [NAME?]  How should FC approach?  How make sure not all risk is on the public sector  Currently Public sector assumes all risk associated with timelines, financing, Operation and Maintenance. How can private sector help?  Setting up appropriate RFPs that outline core goals, interests, and priorities  Best practices o Other Jurisdictions  Fairfax/Arlington, etc. experience with development  Trends  How can we work together? o OTHERS  Coalition for Smarter Growth – Stewart Schwarz (T. Stevens)  Activity Centers – COG (T. Stevens) Page 3 of 3