City Council

CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA HON. MARY KATHERINE GREENLAW, MAYOR HON. WILLIAM C. WITHERS, JR., VICE -MAYOR, WARD TWO CITY COUNCIL HON. KERRY P. DEVINE, AT-LARGE HON. MATTHEW J. KELLY, AT-LARGE HON. JASON N. GRAHAM, WARD ONE HON. DR. TIMOTHY P. DUFFY, WARD THREE Council Chambers, 715 Princess Anne Street HON. CHARLIE L. FRYE, JR., WARD FOUR Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 Council Work Session October 22, 2019 Area 1 & 2 Charrette with Streetsense Joint Meeting with the Planning Commission on Annual Land Use Report & CIP Process The Lodge (Caretaker’s Cottage) The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia held a work session on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, beginning at 4:30 p.m. 1270 Carl D. Silver Boulevard; 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall, Large Conference Room. Council Present. Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw Presiding. Vice-Mayor William C. Withers, Jr. (4:39), Councilors Kerry P. Devine, Timothy P. Duffy, Charlie L. Frye, Jr. (5:03) Jason N. Graham (4:45) and Matthew J. Kelly. Planning Commission. David Durham (via phone), Thomas O’Toole and Steve Slominski. Planning Commission Absent. Kenneth Gantt, Christopher Hornung, James Pates and Rene Rodriguez. Also Present. City Manager Timothy J. Baroody, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, Assistant City Manager Doug Fawcett, City Attorney Kathleen A. Dooley, Economic Development Director Bill Freehling, Community Planning and Building Services Director Charles Johnston, Senior Planner Michael Craig, Historic Resources Planner Kate Schwartz, Community Development Planner Susanna Finn and Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Others Present. Colin Greene and Beth Hessler both of Streetsense. Area 1 & 2 Charrette with Streetsense. The Council participated in a Charrette for Areas 1 & 2 and they were given a PowerPoint presentation by Mr. Green. The presentation showed maps of Areas 1 & 2, major roads framework, major uses, slopes, area wide considerations, land use opportunities, planning elements for consideration and process schedule. Joint Meeting with the Planning Commission on Annual Land Use Report & CIP Process. Mr. Johnston explained that there was a memo from the Planning 1 Commission to give a summary of the Land Use Plan. He said this report was prepared in accordance to Virginia Code to provide an annual report of the land use status. Mr. Johnston stated that the Planning Commission would also like clarification of their role in reviewing the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP). Mr. Craig gave an overview of the Annual Land Use Report. The purpose of the report was to give a statistical look at what had been done over the year. The report had tables to show the rezonings, text amendments, Comprehensive Plan amendments, zoning permits, certificates of appropriateness, all data on what had been done with the Council and administratively, and maps and charts that show trends. Mr. Craig said the biggest policy focus was on area plans. They created and adopted a form base code. There was an update to Old and Historic Overlay District and for a business development they worked on data centers. Councilor Graham asked what the Planning Commission was hoping the staff would be able to provide with the Parking Action Plan and whether there was a timeline. Mr. Johnston said there were no timelines and some were supportive and others were not. Councilor Duffy asked whether there was support for paid parking and Mr. O’Toole said there was no parking for some development but the development would be beneficial to the City and they wanted to know how the Council felt about it. Councilor Kelly asked if the Planning Commission felt their role was to move initiatives and whether they wanted to be more proactive. Mr. Durham stated that there were ad hoc committees that were put together and the Planning Commission was asked to participate and then there were some that the Planning Commission was not asked to participate. Mr. Durham said going forward the Planning Commission is willing to participate but he did not think it had been standard operating procedure to get a commissioner on all ad hoc committees and when dealing with land use policies, he said he would like to see that changed. He noted that the Parking Advisory Committee does not have a Planning Commissioner on the committee and he thought there needed to be. Councilor Kelly asked if the Planning Commission wanted the Council to send things down to it or if they wanted to present initiatives to the Council. Mayor Greenlaw noted that she thought there were some initiative that Planning Commission would be moving forward. Mr. Johnston said there were some initiatives they would like to move with but they do not want to get out in front of the Council because the Council makes the policies. He said the Commission was seeking guidance on how they could be of help to the Council on many of the issues. Councilor Graham said he thinks the Planning Commission could look at anything that was within the City Council’s goals/visions. 2  Mr. Durham said he feels that the staff was a little shy getting out in front of the Council but the Commission needed the staff’s help. He was understating of staffs work load. Councilor Devine said she would like to figure out a direction for Council and Planning Commission so they could work together. She thought it was a good idea to have a Planning Commissioner on the Parking Committee. Vice-Mayor Wither said they must be careful not to overwork the staff and when asking for something everyone must make sure the staff has the time. He said coordinating was the best way to go instead of everyone bringing items to the table. Mr. Slominski said the Planning Commissioners were advisors and he feels like they need more guidance. He said they do not want to run the City and he asked other than land planning were there other things they should be looking at. Councilor Graham suggested that maybe the Planning Commission could make recommendations to the staff and the staff bring the recommendation to City Council to determine if the Council wanted staff to look at it. Mr. Slominski said they just need direction. The Lodge (Caretaker’s Cottage). Mr. Freehling explained that they were urged to talk to different organizations about the property and they spoke with University of Mary Washington, the National Park Service, Washington Heritage Museum, the Garden Club, the George Washington Foundation, Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc., and Preservation Virginia and no one expressed interest in leasing or purchasing. The Council directed staff to market the property and that was completed but to move forward there needed to be a Comprehensive Plan amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and rezoning the property to R-4. The Planning Commission voted 6-0 against selling the property and staff was seeking direction from the Council. The staff recommended moving forward with the Public Hearing on November 26 with the various planning measures and moving forward with an RFP to sell or lease the property. Staff recommended selling or leasing because they feel that selling or leasing the property was the best way to ensure the property gets the care and investment that it deserves. Mr. Freehling said he talked with the CEO of Preservation Virginia and they have sold or conveyed nine of their thirty-eight historic properties with success despite some initial controversies. He said they drafted a deed of easement which would protect the historic elements and the ARB would also protect the historic elements. The deed of easement could be conveyed to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Sale proceeds would help to fund various city preservation goals. There was some talk about making this a museum but staff stated that it was more 3 appropriate as a residence. Mr. Freehling said putting an RFP out would be the best way to see who was interested in the property. City Attorney said she drew up an easement based on the Memorials Commissions recommendation and she asked for Council’s direction on whether she should contact Department of Historic Resources (DHR) with creating an easement for the property and the Council agreed that would be a great idea. Councilor Kelly asked if there would be opportunity for other groups to come forward and Ms. Dooley explained the timeline. Councilor Kelly said whoever leases the property must be able to show that they could financially keep up the property. Ms. Suzy Stone said everyone that had contacted her, have the resources to take care of it. Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time. Mayor Greenlaw declared the session officially adjourned at 6:55 p.m. _Tonya B. Lacey _______ Tonya B. Lacey Clerk of Council City of Fredericksburg 4