JUNE 17, 2002 Land Use Committee Minutes - Hunter Mill District - Board of Supervisors - Government

North County Governmental Center

Attendees: Committee members - Ms. Edythe Frankel (Committee Chairperson), Mr. Thom Arnsperger, Mr. Steve Cerny, Mr. Arthur Hill, Mr. Chris Jaeschke, Ms. Sarah Newman, Mr. Craig Kennedy, and Mr. Bob Poppe.

Other attendees: Supervisor Hudgins, Mr. Frank de la Fe, and Mr. John Farrell.

SUMMARY OF MEETING

Applications

HBL (old American Café site), RZ 2002-HM-012, SE 2002-HM-014,PCA 82-056 (Information) - HBL of Tysons Corner requests rezoning to be able to modify the vacant American Café site as an auto showroom.

Other Business

Supervisor Hudgins and Mr. de la Fe provided clarification and guidance to members on their expectation of committee members and how they both use the committee's input on land use issues.

New Business

Committee Business: Election of committee officers; committee vacancies; training for committee members; and nameplates for committee members.
Future Applications: Bradford White Associates' application deferred; Committee Case Manager TBD.

MEETING MINUTES:

Call to Order - The meeting was called to order at 7:30 by Ms. Frankel.

Approval of Minutes - Minutes from the previous meeting were not available, and will be presented for approval at the September 17, 2002 meeting.

Applications

HBL (old American Café site), RZ 2002-HM-012, SE 2002-HM-014,PCA 82-056 HBL's Agent, Mr. John Farrell, presented a request on the behalf of HBL to allow HBL to modify the vacant restaurant and convert the space into an auto showroom. At issue are several zoning matters that must be dealt with to allow such use. The facility is currently within the PDC; to allow modification the land must 1) be rezoned to C7, 2) then be granted an exception to the PDC.

Mr. Farrell stated that: 1) the facility will be used only as a showroom, 2) The building will be re-clad to meet HBL's requirements, 3) sufficient parking is currently available to meet requirements, 4) All existing tenants will be allowed to remain, and 5) landscaping will conform.

Committee members questioned Mr. Farrell at length regarding this application. Although Mr. Farrell was able to answer several of the committee member's questions, the committee requested that Mr. Farrell appear at the next scheduled meeting (in September) and be better able to answer questions regarding the impact of this request on existing tenants (both within the building and nearby surroundings) and on traffic.

Questions/Concerns from the committee:

Have other tenants been surveyed regarding this application? (No).
How will traffic be impacted? (Peak traffic is not in conflict with the current Tyson's traffic Peaks). Is there a study to validate this question? (No).
Where will the vehicle be stored? (Current restaurant space will be used for storage and that should be sufficient, meet requirements, for vehicles, customer, and employee parking).
How do you account for the lost 48 parking spaces in the new configuration? (The plans account for this the numbers meet requirements,
Has bank and pedestrian traffic been accounted for (Yes)
Is there an impact study on the effects on other buildings? (No this isn't required).
What is the zoning for other local dealerships? (C-7).
Why is this area in the PDC? Why should this change? Will a change, change the intent of the PDC? (The Comprehensive Plan indicates that showroom office use is a good mix and adaptive re-use is good).
What does C-7 give the building that the PDC doesn't? (This is a complicated answer).
What are the peak use times? (Will ask the client).

County Staff is Katherine Lewis. The request is scheduled before the Planning Commission on Sep 19, 2002.

Other Business

Supervisor Hudgins spoke to the committee regarding the work of the committee, and upcoming issues. She began her comments by thanking each member of the committee for the service and expressed her impressions of how helpful these "citizen" reviews are. She also encouraged the committee to assist in her outreach to homeowners and associations regarding land use issues.

Supervisor Hudgins expressed her desire to obtain balanced citizen input and is looking for the committee to provide such input. The committee should weigh the relevant facts (such as: resident/tenant input, developer input, laws, zoning rules, the comprehensive plan, as well as other factors that impact on quality of life in the Hunter Mill District) and prepare its report to assist her (and Mr. de la Fe) in arriving at a position regarding each applicant. (Mr. de la Fe echoed this sentiment and described how the committee's debates have helped him form his position).

Supervisor Hudgins discussed four (4) additional topics:

Change in development criteria
Ordinance Changes to allow Cash Proffers
Revised Affordable Housing Ordinance
Dulles Rail (Environmental Impact Statement, & Public hearings)

NEW BUSINESS

Election of Committee Officers was clarified to reflect one (1) year from the last election, Ms. Frankel has agreed to remain as Chairperson through the end of this year.
Committee Vacancies Ms. Frankel reviewed the current committee vacancies and will contact Supervisor Hudgins' office regarding filling the vacancies.
The committee discussed the desire for training on land use issues. Two (2) specific areas were discussed. First providing packets to new member similar to those provided to the original members during the summer of 2001, and updating current members packets. Second, providing subject area expects to "teach" the committee land use subject areas.
Mr. Arnsperger commented on the difficulty applicants and community members have in knowing whom they were talking to when addressing the committee and inquired if it was possible to acqui
Bradford White Associates' application to change for R-1 to R-2 is deferred and will be addressed at the September 17, 2002, meeting.

The Meeting was adjourned at 9:30.

The next Hunter Mill Land Use Committee Meeting is scheduled for Sep 17, 02.