City Council

The “New River ” City 10 Robertson St. January 28, 2013 Radford, Virginia Meeting Number 12 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2012-2013 The regular meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, 10 Robertson Street, Radford, VA. The Mayor of the City, Dr. Bruce Brown, was present and presiding. Other members of City Council present were Mr. Cox, Dr. Richard Harshberger, Mr. Keith Marshall, and Mr. Robert Nicholson III. Others present were as follows: Mr. David Ridpath, City Manager Ms. Melissa Skelton, City Clerk Mr. Donald Goodman, Chief of Police Mrs. Gail Cook-DeVilbiss, City Attorney Following the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Mayor Brown, the invocation was pronounced by Rev. McClandlish. MINUTES APPROVAL: On a motion by Dr. Harshberger, seconded by Mr. Nicholson that the minutes of January 14, 2013 were approved as presented. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 JOINT PUBLIC HEARING: International Church of the Four Squares Gospel, New Horizon’s request for Special Use Permit Mayor Brown opened the public hearing at 7:03. Mr. Howard, Planning Commission Chair, informed Council that the Commission has a quorum and is ready to vote this evening. Mr. Roger Handy, lives adjacent to New Horizon’s, shared that he has a big problem with the request to expand parking. He shared that on Sunday mornings when the church is letting out; he is unable to get into his home. He sits on Tyler Ave waiting to get into the church. He said that the entrance off of Tyler is awful and feels the church has gotten too big for that land. We need to be able to get into our property. It’s just a very dangerous situation. Mr. Brian Handy, Radford resident, asked how the grading will work with adding the additional parking spaces. Ms. Skelton, City Clerk, informed City Council that Nicky Mills, Engineer from New Horizon’s was here to answer any questions in terms of site. Mr. Nickie Mills, Albott Engineering, shared the preliminary plan of the church’s intent. Mayor Brown closed the public hearing at 7:11. Mr. Howard stated that due to public comments, the Planning Commission will wait until next months meeting to make a recommendation to City Council. JOINT PUBLIC HEARING: 905 Tyler Ave., LLC request for Special Use Permit Mayor Brown opened the public hearing at 7:15. Doug Walsh and John Cox, who represent Radford University Foundation, stated we’d appreciate your consideration for tonight’s request and we are here to answer any question the Council may have. Mayor Brown asked, for the benefit of audience, for them to go over the short term/ long term plans for the property. Mr. Cox shared that the 905 Tyler Ave plan on using the property for office space for the foundation. Mayor Brown closed the public hearing at 7:17. Mrs. DeVilbiss asked Mr. Walsh and Mr. Cox to go over the proffers that were discussed. Mr. Walsh referred to the letter dated December 18, 2012 and it outlined that they would request but not require the need for 5 additional parking spaces and if need be, would prepare to move forward without any additional parking but in an ideal world would like to accommodate 5 additional parking. Mr. Cox commented that they have an invested interest in keeping that part of the community the way it is. Mrs. DeVilbiss commented that the way the letter read was they would make no major exterior alterations and request but did not require the ability to add 5 parking spaces and to install an ADA access ramp and asked if this was part of the application? Mr. Cox responded that they would like to add the ADA ramp if necessary but depends on who goes in at that building. Mrs. DeVilbiss asked if the request for the parking spaces were a part of the Special Use Permit application. Mr. Cox responded we would certainly accept that. Mrs. DeVilbiss asked again if that was what they were requesting. Mr. Cox responded yes. Mrs. DeVilbiss also asked that it was stated in the letter that they would maintain the aesthetics of the building, is that part of your proffer. Mr. Cox responded yes. Mrs. DeVilbiss asked if the brick wall in front of the home will remain intact and if it was a part of the proffer. Mr. Cox responded it will. Mr. Howard asked the Commissioners if there was a motion on the floor. Mr. Nicholson made a motion to recommend approval of the Special Use Permit as presented with the proffers, Mr. Shelor seconded the motion. VOTE: Mr. Gilmore Yes Mr. Nicholson Yes Mr. Shelor Yes Mr. Turk Yes Mr. Watson Yes Mr. Howard Yes REPORT SUBJECT: Main Street Radford SUMMARY: Ms. Haupt, Main Street Radford Director, provided Council with an overview of its accomplishments over the past few months and their plan for the remainder of the fiscal year. OLD BUSINESS None CITIZEN COMMENTS: Rev John McClandlish, Radford citizen, wanted to take a moment to commend the City’s Public Works Department for the job they did during the snow storm. There was a tree that totally blocked Fairway Drive and someone came and removed the tree that completely covered the road. They often hear when they are not doing a good job and just wanted to say thanks and let you know when they are doing a good job. NEW BUSINESS SUBJECT: Ordinance 1644 – Special Use Permit for International Church of the Four Squares Gospel, New Horizon’s SUMMARY: This Ordinance will allow International Church of the Four Squares Gospel, New Horizon’s to provide additional parking, which the Zoning Ordinance allows with a special use permit. ACTION: Postponed action until later meeting. SUBJECT: Receive recommendation from Planning Commission for Special Use Permit for 905 Tyler Ave., LLC ACTION: Mr. Cox made a motion, to receive the Planning Commission’s recommendation relative to Ordinance 1646, seconded by Dr. Harshberger. VOTE: Mr. Cox Yes Dr. Harshberger Yes Mr. Marshall Yes Mr. Nicholson Yes Mayor Brown Yes SUBJECT: Ordinance 1646– Special Use Permit for 905 Tyler Ave., LLC SUMMARY: This Ordinance will allow 905 Tyler Ave., LLC to be used as office space for education purpose to Radford University, which the Zoning Ordinance allows with a special use permit. ACTION: No action was taken by City Council – Gave time for City Attorney to include proffers. Mr. Marshall recommended that the City Attorney look at the Ordinance. Mr. Nicholson asked Mr. Howard if he could provide some clarity to New Horizon’s members as to why they did not take action on their request. Mr. Howard informed them that the reason they did not take any action is because when a public comment is made in the negative, then the Planning Commission takes that opportunity to go back into session and consult staff and engineering to see that those comments are heard. CITY MANAGER’S COMMENTS: Mr. Ridpath shared that it’s been a busy few weeks and it doesn’t appear that the weather is going to get better over the week or so. We are out clearing out all right of ways and trying to get people in and out of neighborhoods. A notice has been provided that we are going around and sending the brush truck, if residents will get their debris to the street, we will do that as a service. He also informed Council that we are getting ready for our annual budget development next month; I will do a presentation on the accomplishments from over the past year and start looking at scheduling as we go forward. I’m waiting as long as possible to see whats coming out of Richmond. The Dg’s project is on hold for the time being; the weather got bad and just can’t do that much more with it. The project will continue to move forward and hope to have the project completed in April. He asked Mr. Marshall if he had any more to add from the Recreation Commission meeting. Mr. Marshall added that it sounds like that they made significant progress, they put the drainage in and with all this wet weather, they’ve been able to test it good and sounds like its working well. The staff and crew at the Recreation Department is very excited about it and think it’s going to be a special project. Mayor Brown asked Mr. Ridpath to comment on how we helped Pulaski County with water during the recent snow storm. Mr. Ridpath shared how both the Town of Pulaski and the County’s Water Treatment Plants went down with the power outage so we ramped up water production to help them get more water into the Fairlawn area and they were able to pump water into Dublin. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mr. Marshall wanted to thank members from New Horizon’s for coming out tonight; I think it’s funny how we hear something that strikes a memory. I think the first Council meeting I ever came to was a lot like this one, I came with my father who was a Deacon and Calvary Baptist church was trying to build a new building and a comment that came from audience from a neighbor who was worried that more people would come to church if we built the building. And imagine that, I just ask you to be patient and let us just work through the process and think it will all work out in end. Mr. Nicholson complimented the Radford High School students for representing our community as they participated in the Presidential inaugural; it is a wonderful opportunity no matter which party is being recognized. I myself, as an 18 year old, had the opportunity to march in the inaugural parade. It’s a phenomenal experience to be there and recognize that part of our governmental process. So often we don’t think about government and the Radford High School students until it comes around to student government day and they get focused on local government and think that’s their introduction to government, they are getting introduced to government, local, national and international on a yearlong basis. Once every four year, for those who want to and can, get the opportunity to travel to our nation’s Capital to experience that part of our democracy. I thank the News Journal’s presentation and coverage of it, along with Roanoke Times, I think it helps our community to see our students are being well educated in bringing themselves to take the seats we currently are in. My compliments go out to Radford High School and the students for representing us very well. Dr. Harshberger commented on the report from Main Street Radford that we are keeping Main Street stores fairly filled, but doing that with a lot of turnover on them which is a lot of work and creates instability. We do not have many designation businesses in Radford and would like to see a campaign started to buy in Radford, to create more designation businesses that will increase the flow and stability in the business end of town. Mr. Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:19, seconded by Mr. Nicholson. ATTEST: _________________________________ Melissa A. Skelton, City Clerk of Council