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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/14/2020 - Regular July 14, 2020 285 Roanoke County Administration Center 5204 Bernard Drive Roanoke, Virginia 24018 The Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia met this day at the Roanoke County Administration Center, this being the second Tuesday and the first regularly scheduled meeting of the month of July 2020. Audio and video recordings of this meeting will be held on file for a minimum of five (5) years in the office of the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors. IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Before the meeting was called to order a moment of silence was observed. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present. IN RE: CALL TO ORDER Chairman Radford called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m. The roll call was taken. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman David F. Radford; Supervisors Martha B. Hooker, Paul M. Mahoney (by telephone), Phil C. North and P. Jason Peters MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Daniel R. O'Donnell, County Administrator; Richard Caywood, Assistant County Administrator; Rebecca Owens, Assistant County Administrator; Peter S. Lubeck, County Attorney; Amy Whittaker, Public Information Officer and Deborah C. Jacks, Chief Deputy Clerk to the Board IN RE: NEW BUSINESS 1. Resolution approving the Amended and Restated Service Agreement of the Roanoke Valley Detention Commission (Richard L. Caywood, Assistant County Administrator) Mr. Caywood outlined the request for resolution. There was no discussion. 286 July 14, 2020 RESOLUTION 071420-1 APPROVING THE AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF THE ROANOKE VALLEY DETENTION COMMISSION WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 16.1-315 of the Code of Virginia, the governing bodies of three or more counties, cities or towns may provide for the establishment of a joint or regional juvenile detention facility commission; and WHEREAS, in October 1998, the Botetourt County, Franklin County, Roanoke County, Roanoke City, and Salem City formed the Roanoke Valley Detention Commission, and entered a service agreement for the construction and operation of a juvenile detention facility (the "Facility"); and WHEREAS, the original service agreement has not been amended since its adoption in 1998; and WHEREAS, as the utilization of the Facility has decreased over the years, the original cost-sharing arrangement that is set forth in the original service agreement is no longer a practical method to meet the facility's ongoing needs; and WHEREAS, it is proposed that the Commission approve an amended and restated agreement that addresses the evolving needs of the Facility; the proposed service agreement must be approved by all participating localities in order to become effective. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia, that: 1. The Board hereby authorizes the County Administrator or any Assistant County Administrator to execute an amended and restated service agreement in substantially the form as attached to this resolution, as approved by the County Attorney. 2. This resolution shall be effective from and after the date of its adoption. On motion of Supervisor Hooker to adopt the resolution, seconded by Supervisor North and carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: Supervisors Mahoney, Hooker, North, Peters, Radford NAYS: None 2. Resolution authorizing the County Administrator to execute an agreement with the Town of Vinton for use of the CARES Act funds (Rachel Lower, Senior Assistant County Attorney) Ms. Lower outlined the request for resolution. There was no discussion. RESOLUTION 071420-2 AUTHORIZING " THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN OF VINTON FOR USE OF THE CARES ACT FUNDS July 14, 2020 287 WHEREAS, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act") was passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by the United States President on March 27, 2020; and WHEREAS, a primary component of the CARES Act is the provision of funding assistance to state, local, territorial, and tribal governments for direct costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic through the establishment of the Coronavirus Relief Fund ("CRF"); and WHEREAS, Roanoke County has received an allocation of $8,217,365.00 from the CRF, and Roanoke County is responsible for ensuring that an equitable share of said funds received shall be shared with and granted to the Town of Vinton; and WHEREAS, the Town of Vinton's equitable share of said funds is $706,693.00; and WHEREAS, on June 23, 2020, the Board, by ordinance, authorized the appropriation of such funds to the Town of Vinton; and WHEREAS, Roanoke County and the Town of Vinton wish to memorialize certain agreements for the share, expenditure, and management of said funds. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia, that the Board authorizes the County Administrator to execute an agreement with the Town of Vinton for use of the CARES Act funds. On motion of Supervisor Peters to adopt the resolution, seconded by Supervisor North and carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: Supervisors Mahoney, Hooker, North, Peters, Radford NAYS: None IN RE: PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 1. Resolution approving Roanoke County's Secondary Road Six- Year Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2021 through 2026 and the Construction Priority List and Estimated Allocations for Fiscal Year 2021 (Megan Cronise, Transportation Planning Administrator) Ms. Cronise outlined the resolution and provided the Board with a PowerPoint presentation. Supervisor North asked with regard to Fallowater Lane extension, is the funding 50% Roanoke County and 50% Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) with Ms. Cronise responding in the affirmative, all revenue sharing is a 50/50 match program. Supervisor North then asked with regard to Starkey Road and Buck Mountain Road, now that the cost has almost doubled; does Mr. Blevins (in audience from Virginia Department of Transportation) have any forecast for the success of this SmartScale request for$3 million. 288 July 14, 2020 Ms. Cronise advised staff worked on this project very closely with VDOT several years ago and having been through a couple of rounds of funding projects of this scale, we knew that we needed to be extremely conservative with our planning and our cost estimates and despite surveying the intersection and using a concept from a VDOT plan and submitting it for a couple of different funding sources, once the project got under way, VDOT determined that there was not enough funding. This is due to a larger roundabout design than we had originally anticipated. Their staff was concerned about maintenance of traffic activity while trying to construct the roundabout in a tight footprint. Also, they looked at bids that were coming in for similar roundabout projects around the State and saw that the costs were coming in much, much higher than they anticipated. So, they advised that an additional $3 million would be needed and suggested SmartScale, which the pre-applications were due in March. So, we did as they requested and asked for an additional $3 million. Hopefully, the application will be funded. We do have over half of the cost already and we have found that through that process if you have matching funds already available and you are not starting from scratch, definitely helps. So, fingers crossed it will work. We did the best we could with the $3.2 million we put on it and it is still over budget. So we continue to learn with every round. Mr. Blevins added it is true they have seen projects come back especially in urbanized areas like Roanoke, getting higher and higher. The traffic control has just gotten outrageously expensive and trying the limit the impacts on the driving public. There are other ways around, but we still have to be able to maintain access, not just for the public, but for emergency services and schools. As far as SmartScale goes, you know it is scored process where it is a cost benefit and while Ms. Cronise is correct, if you have matching funds, it certainly helps, but there is no guarantees. It depends on how this project stacks up with others and how well the benefits outweigh the additional costs. At least we are not looking at a $6 million project, just $3 million. It will definitely help. Supervisor Hooker asked with regard to Dry Hollow Road, she is excited to see it progressing on the list and her concern is that allocated in fiscal 2021, but when do you think construction will really begin. It is a safety issue and really important. Ms. Cronise stated the schedule shows 2022 is when construction will start. Hopefully, this is a VDOT project that Mr. Blevins knows very well and may wish to speak to it more. They are hoping they can stick to that schedule. Supervisor Hooker stated so when it says estimate allocated between previously fiscal years and fiscal years 2024, is that the funding stream, with Ms. Cronise responding in the affirmative stating we have been adding money to it for several years and she went back and looked at the history. The project was originally added to the list in 1998, and when the recession hit the project was cancelled by the County and then it was picked back up in 2014 with the revenue sharing application and then we added to it with secondary plan money. It has been accruing to hit that $2.85 number for several years and it is a project that VDOT is administering. July 14, 2020 289 Preliminary engineering is still under way and they have been trying to figure out what kind of box culvert to use to put in the creek in order to be able to expand the road under the trestle. There is also right-of-way issues with Norfolk Southern; it is a very complicated project and a very important one because of the access that is needed, i.e. Camp Roanoke and all the homes on Dry Hollow Road. It is still moving and we hope in the next couple of years we will be able to see some real progress. Supervisor Hooker stated that with the improvement on the creek, she would suspect that even with these improvements there would be occasional flooding. Ms. Cronise stated that she would anticipate if it floods now it will probably flood then as well. She does not believe the level of the road is going to be raised. Supervisor Radford commented that he did not know the severity of the road until he went out there when a client wanted him to build a house and trying to figure out to get around the trestle with a long roof truss truck. We quickly switched direction and so the road is going out over the creek. Chairman Radford recessed the meeting from 3:21 p.m. until 3:31 p.m. to allow for citizen comments. Chairman Radford opened and closed the public hearing with no citizen comments. RESOLUTION 071420-3 APPROVING THE SECONDARY ROAD SIX YEAR IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEARS 2021 THROUGH 2026 AND THE CONSTRUCTION PRIORITY LIST AND ESTIMATED ALLOCATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021 WHEREAS, Sections 33.2-331 of the Code of Virginia (1950, as amended) provides the opportunity for Roanoke County to work with the Virginia Department of Transportation in developing a Secondary Road Six-Year Improvement Plan; and WHEREAS, this Board had previously agreed to assist in the preparation of the Secondary Road Six-Year Improvement Plan, in accordance with Virginia Department of Transportation policies and procedures; and WHEREAS, a public hearing which was duly advertised on the proposed Secondary Road Six-Year Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2021-2026 and Construction Priority List and Estimated Allocations for Fiscal Year 2021 was held on July 14, 2020, to receive comments and recommendations on Roanoke County's Secondary Road Six-Year Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2021-2026 as well as the Construction Priority List and Estimated Allocations for Fiscal Year 2021; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors does hereby approve the Secondary Road Six-Year Improvement Plan for Roanoke County for Fiscal Years 2021-2026; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Supervisors does also hereby approve the Construction Priority List and Estimated Allocations for Fiscal Year 2021; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution duly attested to be forthwith forwarded to the Virginia Department of Transportation Salem Residency 290 July 14, 2020 Office along with a duly attested copy of the proposed Roanoke County Secondary Road Six-Year Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2021-2026 by the Clerk to the Board. On motion of Supervisor North to adopt the resolution, seconded by Supervisor Hooker and carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: Supervisors Mahoney, Hooker, North, Peters, Radford NAYS: None IN RE: FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES 1. Emergency ordinance readopting Ordinance 033120-1 to effectuate temporary changes in certain deadline and to modify public meeting and public hearing practices and procedures to address continuity of operations associated with pandemic disaster (Due to the Pandemic Disaster, it is requested, upon a four-fifths vote of the Board, the second reading be waived and the ordinance adopted as an emergency measure) (Peter S. Lubeck, County Attorney) Mr. Lubeck outlined the request. There was no discussion. I EMERGENCY ORDINANCE 071420-4 READOPTING ORDINANCE 033120-1, TO EFFECTUATE TEMPORARY CHANGES IN CERTAIN DEADLINES AND TO MODIFY PUBLIC MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES TO ADDRESS CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PANDEMIC DISASTER WHEREAS, on March 31, 2020, the Board adopted emergency Ordinance 033120-1, to effectuate temporary changes in certain deadlines and to modify public meeting and public hearing practices and procedures to address continuity of operations associated with the COVID-19 pandemic disaster; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 15.2-1427 of the Code of Virginia, emergency ordinances shall not be enforced for more than sixty (60) days unless readopted; and WHEREAS, the Board readopted the ordinance on.May 26, 2020; and WHEREAS, due to the ongoing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is again proposed that the Board readopt Ordinance 033120-1; and WHEREAS, the first reading of this ordinance was held on July 14, 2020; and the second reading has been dispensed with, upon an affirmative vote of 4/5ths of the members of the Board, this being deemed to be an emergency measure pursuant to Section 18.04 of the Roanoke County Charter. July 14, 2020 291 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Roanoke, Virginia: 1. That Ordinance 033120-1 is hereby readopted. 2. An emergency is deemed to exist, and this ordinance shall be effective upon its adoption. On motion of Supervisor Peters to adopt the resolution, seconded by Supervisor Hooker and carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: Supervisors Mahoney, Hooker, North, Peters, Radford NAYS: None IN RE: CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTION 071420-5 APPROVING AND CONCURRING IN CERTAIN ITEMS SET FORTH ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AGENDA FOR THIS DATE DESIGNATED AS ITEM G- CONSENT AGENDA BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia, as follows: That the certain section of the agenda of the Board of Supervisors for July 14, 2020, designated as Item G - Consent Agenda be, and hereby is, approved and concurred in as to each item separately set forth in said section designated Items H, as follows: 1. Approval of minutes—June 23, 2020 On motion of Supervisor Hooker to adopt the resolution, seconded by Supervisor North and carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: Supervisors Mahoney, Hooker, North, Peters, Radford NAYS: None IN RE: CITIZENS' COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS Noah Tickle stated he has been a Roanoke County resident since 1956. United States Congressional public law 810 17th Congress February 26, 1929, ruled the war department was to erect head stones on confederate graves in the same manner as was United States military graves. United States congressional public law 85-425 sec 410 May 23, 1958, ruled that confederate soldiers were as United States military soldiers. All states were to comply even Virginia a Dillon rule state ruled their local governments are to comply under Virginia law. Removing a confederate remembrance 111 memorial statue would be as removing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. As the sheeped-sheeped people sleep. The street terrorist of today are out to destroy all history and religion during nice weather. Governance should never give unlawful an 292 July 14, 2020 inch, allowing "taking a mile". Public law is not to flex nor go soft, "It is law of the land" In this political clown circus, it seems never a spine shows thus liberty is dying. Liberty branches break then the whole tree falls. Spinelessness will destroy history and the America of our founders. Now, Roanoke College seeks removal of the confederate remembrance memorial statue from Roanoke County property. Placed there by Daughters of the Confederacy in 1909 to honor the bravery of the then Roanoke College cadets and confederate soldiers. So, not one cry baby whine from then till now as the street criminals are now allowed to, "bring it all down man" as the hippies said in the 60s. Roanoke College administrator's actions of today disrespects the Roanoke College cadets, their alumni that attacked the union troop invasion of Salem, Virginia near the campus alongside of confederate soldiers. This disrespect should never be allowed. Women and men of that time cannot be judged by present day ignorance of that time. Generally, we are soft spoiled brats too ignorant to do our civic duties. Generally, the present day powers that be are anti-American history and lawless by doing their do do. The Roanoke College cadets were mustered to action by Roanoke College administration when union soldiers invaded Salem, Virginia. Thus, they self- sacrificed for liberty. Allowing disrespect of history is the same as societal suicide. As the man that came down from the mountain here said, "We are in big trouble". The fat lady has yet to sing, "Wake up." B. R. Roberts of Post Office Box 165, Salem, Virginia stated he is a life- long resident of Roanoke County. He loves history; he loves it a lot. He attended North Cross School and received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Radford University. He has gone to a lot of battlefields here in Virginia, really enjoys it. He has met people from all over the world. Virginia is the largest tourism state east of the Mississippi behind Florida. He does not understand why we are going to destroy the tourism business, but he has an idea why. He could sit here and talk about the Civil War for a couple of hours and what really happened and what it was fought over. It was the Morrill Act, or the Morrill Tariff. It was about money and that used to be taught up until the late 60's and then it morphed in the 70"s, which was when he went to school and studies history and saw the change taking place while he was in the class room. He does not understand why monuments, memorials, statues are being attacked. Not just in some localities, but all over the United States and all over the world. He talked to a very good friend of his in Venezuela and he explained to him that when Hugo Chavez was coming into power, the Chavezistas did the exact same thing. They attacked memorials, grave sites, anything to the history of the country was attacked. His gangs rode around on motorcycles, shot people, stabbed people that were protesting against socialism and communism. Does that sound familiar with what we are reading today here in the United States? So, when he told him that, he said he remembered a history professor at Radford telling him about this. So, he started doing some research into some of these groups, Black Lives Matter and Antifa. They are founded by Marxists, communism. You don't hear the main stream newspaper talking about that. It is up to the individual to do the research and find out what is really going on in this Country with these groups. They moved from confederate statutes to statutes of George July-14, 2020 293 Washington, Thomas Jefferson, even Frederick Douglas an abolitionist they attacked, Christopher Columbus. Now they are attacking the Virgin Mary, burning churches in this Country. Does this sound like this is people who are upset or does it sound like a Marxist revolution. Think about it. That monument up in Salem has been there as long as he can remember. He goes up to East Hill Cemetery in Salem every Memorial Day weekend. Hundreds of confederate flags are on the graves of confederate veterans from Roanoke County and Salem that fought in the war. There are American flags on American veterans who fought in all the wars. There are soldiers from the Union and soldiers from the Confederacy buried up there side by side. There is a confederate flag that flies there 24/7 alongside of an American flag. If you go to Manassas, you are not allowed to fly a Confederate flag anymore. What does this say about the history of our Country when it is being wiped is the only expression he can use. To cleanse it, to make it palpable for someone else's viewpoint. That is the worst thing you can do with history is ignore it and try to change it. You ought to study it and learn from it. That memorial in Roanoke County should stay right where it is. Up there at the cemetery when he goes there every Memorial weekend for the holiday, past presidents of Roanoke College are buried there with a Confederate flag over their graves. It is sort of ironic, maybe sardonic. It needs to be looked at. Why are we moving his history and his heritage kept in T. O. Roberts of the Confederate artillery who is buried in East Hill Cemetery, his relative. So, he has to make someone happy from Rhode Island or Connecticut that is going here for four year at Roanoke College and take away his history and heritage because they might be upset. He thinks there is a modern day term for that, "snowflake". They are melting because they don't like our history. He is willing to stand up and fight for it. The people of Salem and Roanoke County are looking for leadership. They are looking to the Board to uphold our history and our values. Don't cave. Don't cave to Marxism. E. Roy Guerrant of 4252 Edenshire Rd., Roanoke, VA 24014-5958 requested the following letter be read during the meeting. Dear Members of the Board of Supervisors In regards to viewing a Confederate Memorial as being offensive to an individual, I would like to present a comparable example why Confederate Memorials and memorabilia should be honored and respected and remain where they are originally placed. I would like to share some history of my family. The Guerrant family is descended from French Huguenots (Protestants). My family's original last name was Guerin. They settled in Virginia in 1699 and changed their name to the now anglicized version of Guerrant. The Guerin family barely escaped the Catholic-backed persecution, torture, and death of the Catholic Inquisition in France. In part the Huguenots wanted to live civilly and to worship in peace. They also wanted to practice their faith without having to be forced to practice a faith they disagreed with. The Catholic Church backed and supported the persecution, torture and murder of French Protestants. My ancestor Henri Guerin was tortured and (was broken on the wheel) died on the "wheel". The wheel was a torture device used in public executions. It was also used in part to force Protestants to renounce their current faith and to announce in spoken words that the Catholic religion was the true faith. Pope Gregory XIII (1572-85) 294 July 14, 2020 had a medal made to celebrate the massacre of Saint Bartholomew commemorating the killing of tens of thousands of French Protestants. The Pope ordered a Te Deum to be sung as a special thanksgiving (a practice continued for many years after) and had a medal struck with the motto Ugonottorum strages 1572 (Latin for "slaughter of the Huguenots") showing an angel bearing a cross and sword next to slaughtered Protestants. If my eyes see a Catholic Church, a Knights of Columbus symbol, a statue of Mary or a Catholic crucifix-rosary then perhaps I should say these symbols are offensive because they represent the persecution and the wrongs done to my family (ancestors) by the Catholic Church. Then perhaps I should continue to say that these symbols must be removed and I shouldn't have to be offended by the icons of a past persecuting Catholic Church. Is it my right therefore to have them removed? You know I don't buy into the idea that I should ask my Catholic neighbors to remove their symbols. Everyone has a perspective of what is beautiful and meaningful to them and what is not. Its "cool" to have Catholics who hold in reverence their Catholic symbols. A lady who was my neighbor as I was growing up was a Roman Catholic and I remember in her home symbols of her faith; of paintings of the bleeding heart of Jesus, priests, and several crosses blessed by the Pope. She spent a lot of time with me and I really loved that dear sweet lady. My family (ancestors) died and suffered for their Christian beliefs. To this day most of them still maintain their Protestant theology and Heritage. Today most of the Guerrants are members of The Presbyterian Church (Calvinists). That's my story. But my story continues. My point is that Confederate Memorials are apart of my Heritage. Quite simply said, men, women and children died for what they believed in by supporting Virginia and the Confederate States of America. These Confederate Memorials represent what they sacrificed. Why can't we, you and I agree that we have differences and show some mutual respect/tolerance to what we find meaningful in our lives, and then together equally display statues, memorials, Catholic crosses, and flags that we hold dear. I am asking that the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors vote to leave in place all Confederate Memorials, markers and memorabilia in and around Roanoke County and the City of Salem. I look forward to your response. IN RE: REPORTS Supervisor Peters moved to receive and file the following reports. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Hooker and carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: Supervisors Mahoney, Hooker, North, Peters, Radford NAYS: None 1. Unappropriated, Board Contingency and Capital Reserves Report 2. Outstanding Debt Report July 14, 2020 295 3. Statement of Treasurer's Accountability per Investment and Portfolio Policy as of May 31, 2020 4. Statement of Treasurer's Accountability per Investment and Portfolio Policy as of June 30, 2020 IN RE: REPORTS AND INQUIRIES OF BOARD MEMBERS Supervisor Mahoney commented it has been disconcerting a little bit because there is about a 15 second lag between what he hears by the phone versus what he sees on the video off the computer. So, it is an interesting process with our technology. Supervisor Hooker stated she had one quick comment that she had intended to say last time and got distracted with some other issues. She got to participate with the Gauntlet in a small role with the Advancement Foundation and it was really impressive. The level of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial spirit that we have in this valley. She applauds their efforts in what they are doing there. So, she just wanted to give them a shout out. Supervisor North reminded citizens that the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 to incorporate the Hollins Center Plan into the Roanoke County Comprehensive Plan. The public hearing will be broadcast live so members of the public may watch on RVTV 3 or online at the Roanoke County website. Due to the present state of emergency associated with Coronavirus, he urged everyone to participate through electronic means rather than attending the meeting in person. Prior to and during the public hearing, citizens may share comments by email or by phone at 776-7278. Please include your name and address. Comments will be read aloud during the meeting subject to reasonable time limitations. This is an effort that has been put forth the last two and 1/2 years and he is glad to see it is coming to the Board of Supervisors and looks forward to its approval. Supervisor Radford stated it was announced July 10, 2020, beginning on Monday, the Roanoke County Department of Social Services is offering short-term financial assistance made possible through the CARES Act. Residents of Roanoke County, Town of Vinton and the City of Salem may apply to aid in paying expenses directly related to the loss of income due to COVID-19. Those funds will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis and will be available for unpaid bills as of March 1 through December 30, 2020. Assistance includes, but is not limited to, unpaid utilities, unpaid car payments, unpaid car insurance, unpaid childcare and unpaid medical expenses. Another item, our Roanoke County Economic Development is going to have an online Town Hall Meeting on July 22, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. You can sign up for that on Roanoke County's website. We are going to have our County Administrator talk to us a little bit along with our Director of Economic Development, Jill Loope. Our Director of Parks and Recreation, Doug Blount will give us an update on Explore Park and we will 296 July 14, 2020 also get an update from Philip Thompson, our Director of Planning. Be on the lookout for that on July 22, 2020. At 3:55 p.m. Chairman Radford recessed to the fourth floor for work session. Mr. Mahoney was no longer in attendance IN RE: WORK SESSIONS 1. Work session to discuss the draft Hollins Center Plan with the Board of Supervisors (Philip Thompson, Director Planning) Mr. Thompson went through the PowerPoint presentation. Supervisor North stated he talked to Mr. Thompson yesterday primarily if we wanted to change this would any of this have to go back to the Planning Commission. He indicated it would not after the public hearing. For example, the transition has been reduced, mixed use has been extended up to Lila Drive, which is a stop light now. The transition label is single, family attached residential, but does not allow you to have limited industrial. We talked about what could allow that and the residential. The thought was we could extend mixed use on up as far as we wanted to. Now, the tip closest to 181, we talked about maybe that could be principal industrial. So you could take that and delineate in two (2) different ways. Mr. Thompson added when they did the Hollins area plan back in 2008, obviously the Huffman property that sits adjacent to Hollins University and is a big interest to Hollins University because they have the view shed there. Originally, it was neighborhood conservation when it was back before 2008 and the thought was making it transition and allowing it to develop as more of a research with a theme of some of the architecture associated with Hollins University that would blend in and keep the industrial nature of that property complimentary versus straight industrial. The thought was it is zoned R-1. It would allow the commercial and industrial uses available that is allowed in the mixed up. The Planning Commission thought it made sense to go up to Lila Drive. When you see the word transition on that map, from a topography stand point it drops off and the Huffman property that you get to through Friendship Lane is actually zoned I-1. Supervisor North commented that anything can be changed later. Supervisor Hooker stated if a business was interested in that property, they would not want to go through the process of change. Mr. Thompson stated there is land use and then there is zoning. Supervisor Radford asked should we develop a mixed use zoning designation? Mr. Thompson advised staff would look at that when we develop the design guidelines and develop an ordinance to go along with it; that would be an implementation step of this. Supervisor Radford stated he is looking at our zoning districts and there is not one that really covers that. July 14, 2020 297 Mr. Thompson stated as we look at the design guidelines and develop those first and see if they needed to be updated and then try to incorporate those things into the actual ordinance, similar to how Clearbrook was done. Supervisor North commented when riding around Hollins this summer, he noticed there was grass that had grown up along areas where between the path and the roadway, there was a strip of grass. It was not being maintained. He wondered why we even did that to begin with, why didn't we take it all the way to the curb then we would not have to worry about maintaining the grass. At the intersection of Williamson and Peters Creek, in front of the Dunkin Donuts and Kroger, it is a constant battle to keep that maintained, too. While that was maintained by Friendship and the Williamson Road Merchants Association, they dropped their sponsorship and we have been trying for 2 % years to get another sponsor. Usually, the Sheriff or Parks and Recreation if they have time, goes in there and keep it down. Supervisor Hooker gave a shout out to Sherriff Orange and what he has done with his work crews because West Salem with its sidewalks would be a mess if not for them. So, the maintenance is an issue. Supervisor North commented if we are planning to do the same thing down Rt. 419, we might want to "tap the brakes" on that or otherwise you are going to have to get someone to maintain it. It looks good, but there is a price you have to pay to maintain it. Supervisor North added that most of these projects being touched on, we have spent almost $7 million of Federal and State funding; State funding is SMART Scale and Federal funding is from the TPO and the Surface Transportation Block grants that we get. Our County has spent about $55,000 on these five(5) projects, some of which Mr. Thompson touched on. The name of the game is other people's money. We have been pretty successful with that. Daniel R. O'Donnell, County Administrator, noted that these types of plans really prime the pump with that too because you have a rational basis for spending. Supervisor North stated with regard to transit opportunities, we were approached when Supervisor Hooker was Chair from Roanoke City to do a couple of routes into this area and the cost was high, about $1.6 million to do a year or two. We just did not have money in the budget at that time. People keep brining that back up again, especially when it comes to citizens who live in Roanoke City and work at Wells Fargo and also Elbit. It keeps coming up; it is a challenge for the future. 298 July 14, 2020 Chairman Radford asked Mr. Thompson to back up to the transportation recommendations. Chairman Radford stated Mr. Thompson had talked about constructing bicycle and pedestrian accommodations either in the roadway or off the roadway. Since there has been an explosion of e-bikes and scooters, we need to think about that. Mr. Thompson stated we will always consider bike and ped accommodations and then when you get into the actual details of a particular project, you would look at pavement widths, what is on the side of the road, flat or not flat. A lot of times when Ms. Cronise and her staff look before we do any engineering with do a joint site visit with VDOT and walk the corridor and identify issues and problems prior to doing any engineering to get a conceptual idea. VDOT is very helpful and that starts to help shape the project. From that, the surveying will identify things and a lot of times, the utilities cause problems. So, they will look at that and who are the users, what would be appropriate, etc. The work session was held from 4:08 p.m. until 4:54 p.m. IN RE: ADJOURNMENT Chairman Radford adjourned the meeting at 4:55 p.m. ub itted by: Approved by: /014 ,ëhi ..AD--Borah I I . -*/ J: David F. Radford Chief Depu ,.rk to the Board Chairman