City Council

CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA HON. MARY KATHERINE GREENLAW, MAYOR HON. CHARLIE L. FRYE, JR., VICE -MAYOR, WARD FOUR CITY COUNCIL HON. KERRY P. DEVINE, AT-LARGE HON. MATTHEW J. KELLY, AT-LARGE HON. JASON N. GRAHAM, WARD ONE HON. WILLIAM C. WITHERS, JR., WARD TWO Council Chambers, 715 Princess Anne Street HON. DR. TIMOTHY P. DUFFY, WARD THREE Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 Council Work Session February 23, 2021 Creative Maker District Rezoning Area 2, Fall Hill Small Area Plan General Assembly Update The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia held a work session on Tuesday, February 23, 2021, beginning at 5:30 p.m. using electronic communication through GoToMeeting pursuant to and in compliance with the City Council Ordinance 20-05, an ordinance to address Continuity of City Government during the pendency of a pandemic disaster. Council Present. Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Presiding. Vice-Mayor Charlie L. Frye, Jr. Councilors Kerry P. Devine, Timothy P. Duffy, Jason N. Graham and Matthew J. Kelly. Council Absent. William C. Withers, Jr. (sick). Also Present. City Manager Timothy J. Baroody, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Assistant City Attorney Dori Martin, Community Planning and Building Services Director Charles Johnston, Senior Planner Michael Craig, Community Development Planner Susanna Finn and Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Creative Maker District Rezoning. Senior Planner Craig presented a PowerPoint presentation. He discussed the implementation of the Creative Maker District (CMD) in Area 7. He discussed the existing and proposed zoning. He explained that an existing business (Sprelly) was in need of moving their business and they found a location in the proposed CMD and wanted to move forward with a rezoning for the location. Mr. Craig said the CMD applies a form based code in the proposed CMD. The CMD allows for only two building types in new construction elements, by-right general Non-residential Floor Area ratio, by-right general residential density permitted, general open space required. The CMD permits a mix of 1 residential and commercial uses, including low impact maker uses traditionally classified as light manufacturing or contactor’s office in order to create an environment where people can live, work and create within a pedestrian-scaled environment that transitions appropriately to surrounding residential neighborhoods. He said using the form controls would make the proposed uses good additions to the area. Mr. Craig stated that there were a few things that would need regulating in the CMD such as drive-throughs, outdoor storage and alcohol sales which would all need a special use permits. See Attachment I for more information. Council had a brief discussion on enforcement of special use permit violations. Area 2, Fall Hill Small Area Plan. Community Development Planner Finn presented a PowerPoint presentation and she discussed the Plan Goals, Fall Hill Area, Land Use Designations (T-1, civic designations, T-2, T-3, T-4), Environment and Open Space, Wild Riverfront Park Focus Area, Motts to Dixon Trail System, Neighborhood Center, Access and Mobility and Implementation which is broken down into three areas. See Attachment II for more information. Councilor Graham asked if FRED transit stops had been a part of the conversations. Ms. Finn said it had been discussed and they would continue to work on it. Councilor Devine stated how thrilled she was with the connectivity in the City. She added how important it was to have that connectivity. Councilor Kelly asked if Friends of the Rappahannock had been involved in the conversations. Mr. Johnston said they have had conversations with American Canoe Association (ACA) and they will continue discussions. Mayor Greenlaw said this was an exciting plan and it had so much opportunity. She said she had enjoyed seeing it evolve. General Assembly Update. City Attorney Dooley noted that the Council had adopted a resolution on February 9 addressing the General Assembly Senate Bill 1157 which would move May elections to November. This resolution was cautioning the General Assembly that this bill was a surprise and it did not hold a hearing before the House Cities and Towns Committee and it would override the City’s Charter as well as other Charters and it needed another look. The City’s position did not prevail in the General Assembly. Ms. Dooley presented a PowerPoint presentation discussing the local election landscape – overview, 2 normal local election/redistricting cycle, late delivery of Census data – 2022 calendar uncertain, SB1157 moves May elections to November, potential 2022 overlap: redistricting/ward campaigns, option: move May 2022 to November 2021, normal November even-year election cycle, and normal November odd-year election cycle. See Attachment III for more information. Ms. Dooley told the Council if it was important to have a public conversation to move the May election to an odd year election cycle the Council should move quickly. After Council discussion it was noted they were concerned about keeping elections non- partisan, the amount of time potential candidates would have to get their names on the ballot and the location of wards if they move elections to even year. Majority of the Council agreed to move forward with the process. Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time. Mayor Greenlaw declared the session officially adjourned at 6:37 p.m. ______________________ Tonya B. Lacey, MMC Clerk of Council City of Fredericksburg 3