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 June 8, 2021 Planning Updates Economic Development Interview Split Voting Precincts Council Salary Restorations The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia held a work session on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Council Present. Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Presiding. Vice-Mayor Charlie L. Frye, Jr. Councilors Kerry P. Devine, Timothy P. Duffy, Jason N. Graham, Matthew J. Kelly and William C. Withers, Jr. Also Present. City Manager Timothy J. Baroody, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Senior Planner Michael Craig, Historic Resources Planner Kate Schwartz and Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Planning Updates. Historic Preservation Update. Historic Resources Planner Schwartz presented a PowerPoint presentation and she discussed the Components of the Historic Preservation Program, Preservation Plan/Comprehensive Plan, City Codes/Preservation Ordinance, Design Guidelines, 2018 Meetings, 2019-2021 Meetings, Plan Overview, A Vision for Preservation in Fredericksburg, Plan Goals, Planning Commission/ ARB Review, Historic District Design Guidelines, screenshots of pages from the plan, ARB Review, and Recommendation. See Attachment I-II. Councilor Withers asked if the HFFI recommendations would be incorporated and Ms. Schwartz said she had already incorporated their recommendation in the document. Councilor Duffy said he valued the work everyone had done to make this a plan that works for everyone. 1  Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendment to Modify Commercial Downtown (CD) Zoning District (Attachment III). Senior Planner Craig gave a refresher on the implementation of the Area 7 Downtown Plan, UDO Text Amendment and the Commercial Downtown Zoning District and some of the rules around the historic district. This was discussed in February and at that time the decision was made to put this on hold while the Historic Preservation process worked its way through and bring it back for a second public hearing in June. There were three core issues in the Commercial Downtown Zoning District that needed to be addressed: the Historic Downtown is envisioned to be a vibrant and sustainable part of the community, but there are currently residential density caps and they are inconsistent with the historic patterns of development. These caps inhibit adaptive reuse of historic structures and compatible infill development; the Commercial Downtown Zoning District specifies the location and character of “mixed-use,’” however, the requirement too broadly requires where active retail is required and too narrowly defines what constitutes an active use and the Historic Downtown is uniquely positioned as a priority area for active retail and entertainment uses and use definitions and standards need to be evolved to clearly permit them. The proposed UDOTA Amendments considered in January and February, 2021 contain the following elements: Permit project-based residential density by special use permit and increase the by-right residential density in a mixed-use project from 24 to 36 units per acre within the Old and Historic Fredericksburg Overlay District. The ordinance requires that any parking generated by the residential portion of a mixed-use project in the OHFD be provided on private property and also provides performance criteria for residential projects regarding archaeology, historic interpretation, and enhanced open space; Recalibrate the mixed-use requirement for active use to the designated “Retail Priority Area” (now to be focused along Caroline Street from Amelia to Wolfe and along William Street from Charles to Princess Anne); Modify requirements for mixed-use projects to stipulate a minimum 25% gross floor area use mix; Expand the definition of “active uses” to use types like theaters and indoor recreation that generate foot traffic and otherwise encourage people to visit the Downtown for a multitude of experiences. The ordinance also changes indoor recreation from a special use to a permitted use; Clarify the use definitions and regulations for public assembly uses such as wedding venues that are a key component of the Downtown destination economy; Modify the permitted uses in 2 the Commercial Downtown district to permit some vocational and veterinary activity within the Downtown. Mr. Craig said there would be one change that they plan to bring forth and that concept was that a formal open space would be required in a project within the commercial-downtown and within the old and historic overlay district that take advantage of either of the residential components (by-right or special Use permit). It would require 10% of the development site and it would have to be a plaza playground, square or a courtyard and a minimum of 25% of the perimeter would have to adjoin the street. The minimum length and width would have to be 25 feet. The minimum length to width ratio would be 1 to 3 and it would require a formal open space plant requirement. The Planning Commission voted 6-0 and it was also taken to the Architectural Review Board and they recommended approval of the amendments as well. Councilor Withers asked what was the reason for increasing the density downtown and Mr. Craig said there were second and third floors of the historic buildings and the units per acre were out of whack and that level could not be reestablished. Councilor Wither asked if all the increases could be by special use. Mr. Craig said it could be done but it would not be good to put a regulatory burden on people. Many thought that the level of use was good and it made for a more vibrant downtown. Councilor Withers said a special use for large buildings would be better in order to keep the downtown character. Mayor Greenlaw said the changes enabled the City to keep the existing character of the downtown because existing rules and regulations do not allow new construction or adaptive reuse to mirror what was currently existing. Councilor Withers said both could be done with a special use permit. Councilor Kelly said he never opposed the density issue using existing building but he was concerned when it translated into new construction. He said the downtown was too important to the City. He also had concerns with special exceptions being used in the historic district. He asked if the economics were discussed at all. Mr. Craig said the rules would only be for projects over a half an acre and he said there were not many. Councilor Graham asked how the parking would be provided and Mr. Craig said the urban parking standards had gotten pretty good and for an adaptive reuse of a historic building. He said as long as the use was within the existing building the parking was exempt but for new development there were several ways to meet the parking requirement. Councilor Graham 3 asked if the Sophia Street parking garage could be considered for the parking in the new construction cases. Mr. Craig explained that was beyond the scope of the current ordinance. The ordinance does require parking on private parking as long as it’s off street. Economic Development Interview. Travis Batts – Mr. Batts said he was very green at Economic Development but he could learn. Mr. Batts said with the current economy it would be great to keep people in Fredericksburg to work because many commute up north to work and they tend to spend money where they work. He said if we could keep them local they would spend here. He noted that tech jobs were missing in the area but he also stated that it would be great if the City could get a Trader Joe’s or an Apple store this would be great economic driver and great for the younger generation. Mr. Batts also said a place like the Potomac Towne Center in Woodbridge would be supported if there was something similar in the City. When asked what he would not like to see happen in the City he said getting rid of what attracts the tourist and he felt building too much would be detrimental. He would like the City to keep its charm because that brings people to the City. He also said it would be important to keep the trails intact as well as the historic places and keeping them appealing for younger people. Attachment IV. Split Voting Precincts. City Attorney Dooley said the staff was putting forth a resolution asking the Virginia Department of Elections to grant the City a waiver to administer split precincts in calendar year 2021. The Fredericksburg Electoral Board and the General Registrar both supported this request. Ms. Dooley began her PowerPoint presentation and she began with a map showing the Fredericksburg Wards and Virginia House Districts 28 & 88 and the precinct polling places, a map showing Fredericksburg Precinct 201 and VA House Districts and the precinct polling places, a map showing Fredericksburg Precinct 401 and VA House Districts and the precinct polling places, a map showing Fredericksburg Precinct 402 and VA House Districts and the precinct polling places, she also discussed the new law that prohibits future split precincts, Each precinct needing a polling place and Department of Elections Wavier. See Attachment V for more information. Ward 201 was divided into three sections between district 88, 28 and Ward 2 and this was an example of split precinct and the officers have to ask their address in order to give the 4 proper ballot. Wards 401 and 402 also has a divided precinct. The General Assembly recognized that these split precincts could cause problems and they put in to law that each precinct would wholly contain a single electoral district and they thought with the redistricting this could be done but there was a delay in the census data and it had not been done. Each precinct would need its own polling place. Council Salary Restorations. City Attorney Dooley presented a PowerPoint presentation and she discussed salary reductions due to COVID-19, Legal parameters on council compensation and Draft Ordinance. When COVID hit there was a reduction in salaries to all City employees and Council decided to do the same. City Attorney explained that in order to restore Council’s Salary an ordinance had to be approved and in order to restore the salaries the Council must vote in June for salaries to be restored in July 1, 2022 or January 1, 2022 if authorized by the General Assembly. 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 Clerk of Council City of Fredericksburg 5