North County Governmental Center
Attendees: Committee members – Edythe Kelleher (chair), Steve Cerny , Betty Little, Chris Jaeschke, Sarah Newman, David Gibson, and Bruce Wright.
Other attendees: Frank de la Fe (Hunter Mill District Planning Commissioner), Goldie Harrison (Hunter Mill District Office) Elizabeth Baker (Walsh Colucci), J. Farnum Johnson and Jeff Fairfield (Managing Co-Trustees of the Ruth C. Launders Marital Trust), Don Feltman (Somerford Corp.), Jane Kelsey (Jane Kelsey & Associates Inc), Mike Albright (Christopher Consultants), David Laughlin, Rene Herbst, Gretchen McMinimy, Mark McMinimy, Mike Gibson, Chris Ford, Bob Lamborn.
Summary
RZ 2005-HM-024, 1884 Beulah Road – Decision. Additoinal concerns were expressed about runoff to adjacent properties, condition of the existing trail, and the height of the new building. Committee deferred a decision until after the staff report is available. Commissioner de la Fe agreed to defer a Planning Commission decision until after the January 17 HMLU meeting. Applicant to return on Jan. 17.
RZ 2002-HM-043, Launders Property, Arrowbrook Centre – Decision. Committee voted to recommend approval of the application with the request that efforts continue to be made to find a way to either produce more affordable dwelling units or to find funds for the affordable dwelling unit trust fund. The committee also voted to remove language regarding the inter-parcel connector road on the western edge of the property in proffer 15.B.
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. Committee members introduced themselves.
RZ 2005-HM-024, 1884 Beulah Road – Jane Kelsey summarized the application and described changes to the application since the last meeting. The stormwater pond was removed from the plans. Rain gardens and/or infiltration trenches will be used instead. There has been no resolution of the frontage improvement waiver request. Staff wants to be assured that there is sufficient sight distance for motorists entering Beulah Rd. if the improvements are not made, which includes removing some trees, installing curb and gutter and a sidewalk. The applicant stated that the existing paved trail is not in bad condition but there will be some improvements made to the surface.
The final location of the driveway on the eastern edge has not been finalized. In order to place it so that there is less impact on the trees, it would be moved into the outlot, which is not allowed. The applicant is also asking that the sanitary sewer be installed in part of the outlot, which is also not allowed.
Q. How can the community be assured that the rain gardens or infiltration trenches will remain in the future? A. There will be maintenance requirements for these measures in the land record, as part of the plat.
Q. Despite repeated statements by the applicant, the trail is in poor condition and needs to be replaced. Why can’t the asphalt trail be removed and replaced in the same location, saving the trees? A. The trail is located in the VDOT right of way and a new sidewalk would be considered non-standard improvement and would not be allowed.
Q. Are the stormwater management measures enough to handle future runoff? A. Yes. They are planned for handling runoff from the lots and two 2500 sq. ft. residences. Plus, in the plans for Embassy Courts, stormwater runoff from these lots was included.
Q. Who is responsible for maintaining the outlots? Both lot owners.
Q. What happens if the Stormwater improvements are not able to handle future storm water? Once the plans are approved by the County, there is little recourse for the homeowner. County engineers review the plans and use the best methods available to determine the adequacy of the stormwater measures.
Q. Is it true that there are no current plans to replace the existing house with a new one? Yes. The current owner is not sure if it will be possible to build and sell the adjacent house and then build a new house on the location of the existing house.
Citizen Questions
Diane Lowenbaum, President of Eudora Civic Association – The biggest concern is the condition of the existing sidewalkl. It is in bad condition, and strollers have been known to break wheels when using the trail. The trail must be improved. There are mixed opinions about whether the full frontage improvements should be made, given that several large trees will be lost. Some favor, some oppose. All agree the old sidewalk should be replaced. Without a proffer, the trees could still be removed even without the frontage improvements.
Q. from committee: What is the estimated cost of the frontage improvements? Mr. Albright: $17,000. Owner received an estimate of $100,000 for tree removal and installation of improvements.
James Berlow, Lot 12, Windsor Hunt Ct. He is very concerned about the land that slopes steeply toward his lot. There is currently flooding on his lot, and into his basement, about once a year. Concerned if the houses are moved away from Beulah Rd., that the problem would become worse.
Mike Gibson, Lot 5, The sidewalk issue has been raised repeatedly. Children use it to walk to school. It’s in bad condition. After earlier comments, he was hopeful for a proposal for correcting the situation from the applicant, but is disappointed that none was forthcoming.
Motion – Due to the many unresolved issues, Ms Little moved that the committee defer a decision on the application until the January meeting so that the committee can review the staff report, if Commissioner de la Fe would agree to defer a decision at the Planning Commission hearing on January 11, 2006. Commissioner de la Fe agreed to defer the decision but the public hearing will proceed as planned.
RZ 2002-HM-043, Launders Property, Arrowbrook Centre – Elizabeth Baker once again presented an overview of the changes to the application since the last appearance before the committee. The final staff report was mailed to committee members before the meeting. (http://ldsnet.fairfaxcounty.gov/ldsnet/ZAPSMain.aspx?cde=RZ&seq=4027623) Staff have recommended approval of the application. A number of Transportation Demand Management measures are now finalized, including the use of shuttle buses to the Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride Lot and the future Wiehle Ave. Metro station.
There was discussion of the request to waive the on-road bicycle route along Centreville Rd. The current lane width is 11 feet which does not allow for any lane reduction to accommodate the bike lanes. The road was designed in 2000, before the addition of on-road facilities to the Trails Plan.
There was a request made to the applicant that more green building techniques be used so that the development can be a showcase for these techniques in the future. Green roofs will be used on some buildings.
Aaron Shriber of the Dept. of Planning and Zoning summarized staff comments. Staff noted that because the townhomes were removed from the plan, at the suggestion of staff, that the number of affordable dwelling units is now reduced. The applicant has doubled the requirements, but since the residences are in elevator buildings, the requirements for ADU are significantly reduced. He also noted that staff did not think that the inter-parcel connection in Proffer 15.B. should be tied to the phasing requirements.
There was discussion of the need for ADU in the county and a request from the committee that the applicant and the county continue to attempt to obtain more ADU from this application.
Motion – Mr. Cerny moved that the committee recommend approval of the application with the request that efforts continue to be made to find a way to either produce more affordable dwelling units or to find funds for the affordable dwelling unit trust fund. An amendment to the motion was proposed by Ms. Newman that the applicant remove language regarding the inter-parcel connector road on the western edge of the property in proffer 15.B.
Meeting Minutes – The October meeting minutes were approved as long as Ms. Kelleher’s first name is spelled correctly.
New Business – Mr. Jaeschke stated that he has submitted a letter of resignation from the committee. His contributions to the committee were noted and appreciated. We will miss the challenge of spelling his name correctly in the future.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
