North County Governmental Center
Attendees: Committee members – Edith Kelleher (chair), Steve Cerny , Betty Little, Chris Jaeschke, Sarah Newman, and Bruce Wright.
Other attendees: Frank de la Fe (Hunter Mill District Planning Commissioner), Goldie Harrison (Hunter Mill District Office) Elizabeth Baker and Tara Wiederman (Walsh Colucci), Jeff Fairfield (Managing Co-Trustee of the Ruth C. Launders Marital Trust), Don Feltman (Somerford Corp.), Jane Kelsey (Jane Kelsey & Associates Inc), John Rinaldi (Christopher Consultants), Charlotte Laughlin, Rene Herbst, Gretchen McMinimy, Mark McMinimy, Mike Gibson, Chris Ford, Bob Lamborn.
Summary
RZ 2005-HM-024, 1884 Beulah Road – Information only. Concerns expressed about runoff to adjacent properties, condition of existing trail, and height of the new building. Applicant to return Nov. 15.
SE 2005-HM-004, Medical Care Facility, Great Falls Heritage Partners, LLC – Committee recommended approval.
RZ 2002-HM-043, Launders Property, Arrowbrook Centre – Information only. Discussion of new park proposal, road realignment, removal of town houses. Applicant to return Nov. 15.
RZ 2005-HM-024, 1884 Beulah Road – Information only presentation by Jane Kelsey. The Applicant is the owner of all of Lot 57. However, the portion of Lot 57 which is the subject of this application contains 41,448 square feet. It is bordered on the south, north and west by property zoned R-3 and developed with single family detached dwellings and on the east by property zoned R-2 and also developed with single family detached dwellings.
The exact placement of the house to be developed on the lot has not been determined. It will be as far from Beulah Rd. as possible. The existing house was built in 1925 and is occupied by the owner of the lot. That house may be replaced by a new house in the future, although a decision has not yet been made.
The applicant is asking for a waiver of the stormwater pond requirement and the frontage improvements on Beulah Rd. In place of the stormwater pond, the applicant will use techniques that may include permeable pavers, bioretention swales or water quality swales. Limits of clearing and grading line which allows for preservation of the existing mature vegetation on the site is also proposed.
Q. What about the requirement for a trail along the frontage of Beulah Rd.? The current paved trail is in poor condition. A. The applicant prefers to retain the current trial and plans to ask for a waiver.
Q. In what direction is the drainage from the property? Generally to the south.
Q. If best management practices such as porous pavers are used now, what about in the future, could they be replaced by impervious asphalt or concrete? A. No, because the credit given by the county for these practices are a condition of the development. Using pavers is not being proferred, but it could be.
Q. Can a conservation easement be proferred for the outlot? A. Will find out.
Questions from the audience. Several neighbors expressed concerns about the condition of the trail in front of the property. It is used by school children and is in need of repair or replacement. There was also concern expressed about possible flooding problems from the new development. There was also concern expressed regarding the height of the new development compared to surrounding properties (email from Berlow Family dated October 17, 2005).
The applicant will return on Nov. 15 for a final decision from the committee.
SE 2005-HM-004, Medical Care Facility, Great Falls Heritage Partners, LLC –Somerford Place will provide assisted living services for individuals in the middle stages of Alzheimer’s disease, located near the corner of Reston Avenue and Route 7.
Tara Wiederman answered question from the committee regarding protections for residents from wandering. There will be an 8-foot fence and entrance and exit to the houses will be controlled. Re: noise from the fire station, the fire engine drivers will often not use their sirens until they are away from the station.
The committee recommended approval of the application.
RZ 2002-HM-043, Launders Property, Arrowbrook Centre – Elizabeth Baker presented an overview of the changes to the application since the last appearance before the committee. Proffers from October 14, 2005 were handed out to the committee. The size of the active recreation area has been increased by removal of the townhouses located on the west edge of the property. The entrance road from Sunrise Valley Drive was realigned to accommodate the new park land. Of the 66 acres at the site, 23 will be dedicated to the Park Authority.
Existing house – While the Park Authority is not interested, the applicant proposes to study the preservation of the house.
Road to the west – The applicant will escrow money to allow the road to be built in the future.
The applicant will return on November 15 for a decision from the committee.
Meeting Minutes – The September meeting minutes were approved.
New Business – The Middleton Farms application will again be presented to the committee. Ms. Newman agreed to act as case manager.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
