Planning Commission

PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES February 26, 2025 6:30 PM Supplementary Meeting You may view and listen to the meeting in its entirety by going to the Planning Commission page on the City’s website: https://www.regionalwebtv.com/fredpc The agenda, staff report and associated documents are also available on the Planning Commission page: https://www.fredericksburgva.gov/241/Planning-Commission MEMBERS CITY STAFF Chairman (vacant) Mike Craig, Director Carey Whitehead, Vice-Chairman Josh Crump, Principal Planner Dugan Caswell , Secretary Bailey Thompson, Community Development Mary-Margaret Marshall (absent) Planner David Durham Tanagra Cafferky, Administrative Assistant Jane McDonald Joseph Winterer (absent) 1. CALL TO ORDER [00:11:32] Vice Chairman Whitehead called the meeting to order at 6:42 p.m. in School Board Meeting Room of the Walker-Grant Center, located at 210 Ferdinand Street, and explained meeting procedures for the public. Members of the public were invited to attend or access this meeting by public access television Cox Channel 84, Verizon Channel 42, or online at https://www.regionalwebtv.com/fredpc. 2. DETERMINATION OF A QUORUM There were four members in attendance of the meeting at the call to order. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA [00:13:16] There were no changes to the agenda. Ms. Whitehead moved to approve the agenda; Ms. McDonald seconded. Motion passed 4-0. 4. COMMUNITY MEETING REGARDING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE [00:19:20] (Attachment) This is the third community Meeting for the Fredericksburg Forward Comprehensive Plan Meeting. Ms. Whitehead invited the Dais to join the public for the community meeting. Principal Planner, Josh Crump introduced consultant, Anne Darby, of Summit Design & Engineering. Ms. Darby then introduced the rest of the consultant team from Summit Design, Will Teeples, Michael Stapor, and John Accordino as well as the consultant team from Stantec, John Bachmann, Jason Beske and Andrew McCray. Ms. Darby referenced the content draft plan on the City’s Fredericksburg Forward! website. Ms. Darby gave a brief overview of the Comprehensive Planning Process and explained that a Comprehensive Plan is a long-term policy guiding document used by the city to guide funding, project priorities, and grants. All localities are required to update their Comprehensive Plan every five years. John Bachman continued the presentation. Mr. Bachman gave an overview of the public engagement methods and the feedback results from that process. Mr. Bachman said there were over 600 respondents to the survey. Mr. Bachman reviewed various aspects of the Comprehensive Plan including key issues such as mobility, housing, economic development, and historic resources. Ms. Darby explained the next steps of the Comprehensive Plan process, including incorporating tonight’s public input comments. Discussion with the public included zoning, housing, and the residential demand in the City. Discussion also included plan language and ensuring that it was clear and understandable as well as aspirational. Ms. Darby explained that the Fredericksburg Forward update focused on City-wide systems to stitch the Area Plans together. The City has invested in focused planning in the ten small areas that make it up. Comments from the public included a vision for an eco-village type of housing, increasing the references in the plan to trees, connecting walkable areas, and how to approach development processes in the City. Ms. Darby discussed the upcoming efforts to format the Fredericksburg Forward document and the accompanying interactive story maps and will track the implementation of the plan. Mr. Beske introduced the different meeting elements set up around the room and encouraged participants to talk more in those break-out activities. 5. ADJOURNMENT [02:07:36] Ms. Whitehead said the next scheduled Planning Commission Regular Meeting will be on March 12, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. Vice Chair Whitehead adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m. FXBG FORWARD City of Fredericksburg Comprehensive Plan update Community Meeting #3 – February 26, 2025 Agenda • Welcome and Introduction • Project Summary and Plan Overview • Q&A • Discussion at Stations  Comprehensive Planning Process Work Session/Public Joint Work Session Hearing w/ City Project w/ City Council Council Kick-Off June 11 May/June April 10th Present Final Draft Integrate Recent February 26, 2025 Planning Input October 2024 May/June July/Aug/Sept Oct/Nov Dec/Jan/Feb Mar/Apr 2025 Prepare& Refine StoryMap – Ongoing Open Survey, 20+ public engagement sessions Tour, Updated Database Report to Adopting the Plan Planning May/June Commission Draft & Refine the Prepare Final Draft May 8th Vision Statement December-February Work Session/Public Joint Work Session September Hearing w/ Planning w/ Planning Prepare Draft Comp Commission Commission Plan Chapters March/April June 12 November  Will Teeples, AICP Will Teeples, AICP Planner II Will Teeples, AICP What is a Comprehensive Plan? • Long-term policy guiding document • Guides funding, project prioritization, grant eligibility • Enabled and required by Code of Virginia How is FXBG's Comp Plan unique? • Bottom-up approach, building on local planning efforts already completed • Macro-level focus on city- wide systems that connect and enhance local areas Public Engagement Methods City-Wide Community Meetings: • 06/26/2024, 10/05/2024, and today Neighborhood Meetings: • Mayfield and Fall Hill Neighborhoods Focus Groups: • 14 meetings (Oct 2024 – Feb 2025) Pop-Up Events: • Fourth in Fredericksburg Show, 07/04/2024 • First Friday, 07/05/2024 • Farmers’ Market, 07/13/2024 • Sports Saturday, 09/28/2024 Survey: • 588 respondents over the period 06/14/24 through 10/16/2024 Takeaways from Community Conversations Community Meetings: • Residents appreciate Fredericksburg’s history, culture, and sense of community. They want to preserve and enhance these aspects. • Improve transit, bike, and pedestrian infrastructure; address traffic congestion and safety. Focus Groups: • Appreciation for how downtown has come to life. • Participants see many development opportunities but feel the community is often resistant to any change. • It’s challenging to find or build space for new businesses. Community Conversations (cont’d) Pop-Up Events: • People expressed concern with affordable housing, historic preservation, and traffic congestion. • People want to preserve the character of the area. Neighborhood Meetings: • Need to provide more grocery stores across the city. • Develop vacant and underutilized properties. Survey: • Respondents want Fredericksburg to be a safe, walkable place. Vision Fredericksburg is the cultural and economic hub of a fast-growing east coast metropolitan region. The city is a model of urban life that nourishes and enriches its residents while promoting economic vitality, historic integrity, environmental sustainability, and cultural vibrancy. Our diverse community enjoys a high quality of life enhanced by neighborhoods that are safe, accessible, and interconnected. It is a place that works for everyone; a place where people want to be! Community Design Framework Walkable Centers Transects & Future Land Use Goals Community Historic Equity Preservation Resiliency Sustainability Community Fredericksburg seeks to preserve and enhance the sense of community experienced by its residents. Equity Fredericksburg embraces equal opportunity for all its residents to find employ- ment, secure housing, and benefit from City services. Sustainability Fredericksburg’s historic and new walkable centers provide residents with the opportunity to live a lower-carbon lifestyle. Resiliency Fredericksburg stands ready to cope with the challenges associated with climate change, including flooding and frequent, intense storm events. Historic Preservation The City uses its historic features as the blueprint for new vibrant places and seeks to uncover the full breadth of its history to bring its people together. Systems Approach Urban Design & Community Fabric Public Open Environment Space Economic Housing Development Public Historic Facilities & Preservation Services Community Design & Urban Fabric Fredericksburg’s traditional walkable urban form is a defining feature, this plan calls for replicating this form through a system of walkable centers. Strategy Snapshot: 1(d). Develop guidelines specific to retrofitting auto-oriented corridors into walkable, amenity-rich centers.1 (1) FXBG Forward pg.15 Mobility Transportation systems provide sustainable and accessible walking, biking, and transit. Strategy Snapshot: 4(b). Fill gaps in the existing trails network by identifying new on-street bike facilities that are protected, safe, and paired with measures to slow vehicle speeds and improve safety.2 (2) FXBG Forward pg.28 Public Open Space Fredericksburg’s open space network is woven throughout the city with a series of parks, trails, and natural areas. These areas contribute on many levels. Strategy Snapshot: 2(c). Advance linking the Uplands Open Space network as envisioned in the Small Area Plans…to enhance connectivity between neighborhoods and walkable centers while providing recreational and aesthetic value.3 (3) FXBG Forward pg.33 Housing The key to housing affordability is increasing housing supply. Given land constraints, the main option is redevelopment of existing assets in a way that enhances existing neighborhoods. Strategy Snapshot: 1(a). Update the City’s form-based and traditional development regulations to explicitly permit and encourage the replication of downtown’s built form in walkable urban centers.4 (4) FXBG Forward pg.38 Adobe Stock Historic Preservation Preservation is no mere homage to the past, it is integral to the future – as a dynamic philosophy of change, preservation is a critical factor in planning urban growth. Strategy Snapshot: 4(f). Permit flexibility in use and residential density standards for identified historic structures to incentivize their adaptive reuse.5 (5) FXBG Forward pg.46 Public Facilities & Services The efficient and effective provision of public facilities and services to all Fredericksburg residents is a key organizing principle for the City. Strategy Snapshot: 3(b). Take into consideration during capital improvement planning for public facilities the anticipated population increases in new and expanded walkable centers.6 (6) FXBG Forward pg.56 Economic Development The City’s downtown is a unique economic asset, representing the past, present, and future of the city as a walkable center where residents can live, work, play, and shop. Strategy Snapshot: 6(a). Identify and attract businesses in emerging and high-growth sectors.7 (7) FXBG Forward pg.62 Environment Diverse auto-oriented development patterns present challenges and opportunities – adapting and fostering environmental resilience is paramount. Strategy Snapshot: 4(a). Explore opportunities to add green infrastructure and urban green spaces, using state conservation programs as resources.8 (8) FXBG Forward pg.68  Next Steps Work Session/Public Hearing with City Joint Work Session Council Project Kick- With City Council Present Final Draft Off February 26, 2025 May/June June 11 April 10th Incorporate Recent Planning Efforts October 2024 May/June July/Aug/Sept Oct/Nov Dec/Jan/Feb Mar/Apr 2025 <- Prepare/Refine StoryMap, Ongoing-> <- Open Survey, 20+ public engagement sessions -> City Tour, Updated Draft & Refine the Database Report to Vision Statement Adopting the Plan Planning September May/June Commission Prepare Final Draft May 8th December-February Work Session/Public Joint Work Session Hearing with Planning with Planning Prepare Draft Comp Commission Commission Plan Chapters March/April June 12 November Questions Utilize QR code to review draft plan Deadline to submit public comments March 5th Submit comments to planning@fredericksburgva.gov