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PLANNING COMMISSION
WORK SESSION MINU'TEN
MAY 5, 2017
Roanoke County Commissioners Present:
Mr. Wayne Bower
Mr. Troy Henderson
Mr, Rick James,
Mr., Paul Mahoney
Mr. Jim Woltz
Roanoke County Staff Present:
Mr. Philip Thompson, Secretary
Mr, Peter Lubeck, Senior Assistant County Attorney
Mr. David Holladay
Ms. Megan Cronise
Ms. Susan McCoy, Recording Secretary
Roanoke City Commissioners Present:
Mr. Kit Hale
Ms. Angela Penn
Ms. Karri Atwood
Mr. Tony Russell
Mr. James Smith,
Roanoke City Staff Present:
Mr. Ian Shaw
Mr. Wayne Leftwich
Ms. Donna Payne
Ms. Katherine Gray
Ms. Jillian Moore
WORK SESSION:
Mr. Hale called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m.
Briefings:
1. Reimagine 419
Mr. Thompson provided a PowerPoint presentation of the 419 Town Center Plan,
including a brief history of the plan, the process, vision, market analysis, design
and transportation guiding principles. He discussed community outreach,
including workshops and surveys. He discussed the strengths, demographics,
and transportation challenges. He reviewed the Vision Statement, including the
plan design principles. He discussed creating an authentic place, securing and
sustaining healthy future, and improving connectivity. He reviewed the draft
concept design and objectives, including traffic design to move more traffic,
intersection treatments, and transit integration. He discussed the public realm,
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ROANOKE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
MAY 5, 2077
including creating new public gathering spaces, streetscape amenities, improving
lighting, and introducing stronger landscape standards. Mr. Thompson reviewed
redevelopment priorities, including the Core Town Center and the Ridges. He
discussed development sites which are prime sites for redevelopment, including
Old Country Plaza, Madison Square, and Tanglewood Mall. He discussed the
implementation process, including plan approval, land use and zoning updates,
land owner engagement, developer attraction, and infrastructure investments.
He discussed the next steps which will include the July 6, 2017 Joint Board of
Supervisors and Planning Commission Work Session at 5:00 p.m.
Mr. Hale inquired if property owners approve of the plan. Mr. Thompson
discussed this issue, noting this area was chosen because of its urban nature,
transit availability, and density. Mr. Woltz stated the County can learn from the
City's experience with this type of development. Mr. Mahoney noted the City has
successfully mixed commercial and residential properties. Mr. Woltz discussed
the importance of all localities working together. Mr. Hale discussed
development in other smaller localities. Mr. Shaw discussed the Comprehensive
Plan and developers working with the regulations. Mr. James discussed the
importance of communication. Mr. Thompson discussed the Roanoke County
Community Strategic Plan. Mr. Mahoney discussed changes in regulations and
standards. Mr. James discussed making the proposed 419 Town Center area a
pet -friendly environment. Ms. Penn discussed the importance of developing
regulations regarding pet waste disposal. Ms. Russell suggested beginning with
the addition of dog parks in the County. Mr. Mahoney stated the County Code
does not currently allow dog parks.
2. Downtown Plan
Mr. Leftwich provided a PowerPoint presentation of the Downtown Plan,
including the process timeline. He discussed survey results, including amenities,
frustrations, and perception concerns. He discussed underlying principals and
major themes of the plan. He discussed building on strengths, including
protection of historic areas, maintaining signs and murals, enhancing natural
beauty, focusing on people and culture, and maintaining a regional center of
employment. He discussed filling in the gaps, including vacant storefronts and
voids, enhancing the market area, support multi -modal plan, and stormwater
management. He discussed expanding the area and enhancing public spaces.
He discussed strengthening connectivity, including neighborhoods, urban trail,
and multimodal transit. He also discussed maintenance, marketing, and
wayfinding of the downtown area.
Mr. James inquired about urban flexibility. Mr. Leftwich discussed allowing mixed
use in the downtown area. Ms. Cronise inquired about an urban loop. Mr.
Leftwich discussed this issue. Ms. Cronise discussed including downtown bike
and pedestrian maps in the Greenway Plan update.
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ROANOKE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
MAY 5, 2017
3. Joint Areas of Interest
Mr. Thompson discussed the overlap with City and County projects, including
Roanoke River Greenway and connectivity of neighborhoods. Mr. Thompson
and County Commissioners noted they want development on Route 419 to
complement the City. Mr. Thompson discussed regional wayfinding.
Mr. Thompson, Mr. Shaw, and the Commissioners discussed plans for future Joint
Roanoke City/Roanoke County Planning Commission meetings.
With no further business or comments, Mr. Hale adjourned the meeting at 1:15 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted:
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Susan McCoy
Record'm_ Secretary, Roanoke County Planning Commission
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Secretarf, Roanoke County Planning Commission
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Wayne 13wer
Chairman, Roanoke County Planning Commission
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