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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/7/2019 - Work SessionMINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE TOWN OF VINTON PLANNING COMMISSION HELD ON FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 2019, AT 12 P.M., AT THE VINTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 311 SOUTH POLLARD STREET. MEMBERS PRESENT: Keith Liles, Chairman Dave Jones, Vice Chairman Bob Benninger Bill Booth MEMBERS ABSENT: Bob Patterson STAFF PRESENT: Nathan McClung, Principal Planner Julie S. Tucei, Planning and Zoning Coordinator AGENDA WORK SESSION I. Call to Order—Roll Call II. Zoning Amendment Topics for Discussion: 1. Proposed Landscaping Ordinance a. Review attached proposed landscaping ordinance document b. Review attached PowerPoint Presentation 2. Revisions to Buffering/Screening Standards a. Review attached draft of revisions to buffering and screening standards III. Comments of Planning Commissioners and Planning Staff VI. Adjournment The work session of the Planning Commission was called to order at 12:30 p.m. by Chairman Liles. Roll was called, and all members were present, except Mr. Patterson. Nathan introduced the two topics for discussion at today’s meeting, including the Landscaping Ordinance and Buffering and Screening. He stated that he used City of Roanoke, City of Salem, Town of Blacksburg, and Roanoke County as guides when working on the proposed ordinance for Vinton. Mr. McClung mentioned that Town of Christiansburg does not currently have regulations on those topics. Vice Chairman Jones asked if Town of Bedford had these type of regulations. Mr. McClung said he would have to check on Bedford’s regulations. Mr. McClung said that, in creating the proposed new landscaping regulations, he attempted to make them pro-business and easy to understand without putting a lot of regulations on developers. He said that these requirements would help to decrease the “heat effect” of pavement and also help with stormwater management. Additionally, he said it will make development more aesthetically pleasing. He said the regulations should be easy for staff and the community to use. He said most of the development plans will be created by professionals such as landscape architects and the like. Mr. McClung went over the portion of his PowerPoint concerning the landscaping regulations, a copy of which will be made a part of the permanent record. Vice Chairman Jones asked how this would have been applied to the Roland E. Cook or Billy Byrd apartment projects. He mentioned that the developers PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION JUNE 7, 2019 PAGE 2 were planning to leave a lot of the existing trees at Cook, but they ended up taking many trees out in the back of the building. Mr. McClung said these regulations may or may not have applied since much of the work was done on the interior at the Cook and Byrd projects. Mr. McClung stated that there would be many safety valves within the ordinance to protect against different situations such as where trees may contact power lines or when planting trees would be impossible or impractical. Vice Chairman Jones said the Town has been responsible for some of the tree issues we have because of the current requirements and not requiring the correct type of trees to be planted. Mr. McClung showed them a table with examples of minimum sizes and spacing requirements for different types of trees. Mr. Booth asked how the regulations will apply to hedges around properties. Mr. McClung said that it will not affect hedges as long as they are not planted within the Town right-of-way. He stated that the new ordinance would require replacement of trees up to the maximum canopy coverage requirements for any trees or ornamental trees. Vice Chairman Jones mentioned the tree plantings which were done by Precision Fabrics Group a few years ago. He stated that he believed they did it to get carbon credits. Mr. McClung stated that in regards to the canopy coverage requirements, those will last for the life of the property. He explained how the percentage of canopy coverage is calculated. Mr. McClung mention that these regulations won’t apply to single-family homes, but will apply in R-1 and R-2 when entire site plans for subdivisions are submitted. He gave the example of the A. Porters Haven development and mentioned that he thought the development would look even better with more trees. Mr. McClung stated that the regulations will be based on construction limits for projects. He said that, for parking lots, he proposes to use similar regulations to what Blacksburg requires. They require five percent of the entire parking lot to be landscaped with trees and vegetative ground cover. Mr. McClung stated that perimeter plantings could be required for smaller parking lots that are less than 42 feet in width. He said they could also set up a system that would give credits for plantings placed in the Town’s right-of-way. Vice Chairman Jones mentioned that care needs to be taken because of sight visibility at intersections. He gave the example of the plantings at the Wells Fargo at the corner of Virginia Avenue and 2nd Street. He said that when he worked for Southern States, their large truck drivers had a hard time seeing around the landscaping at that intersection. Mr. Booth wanted to know the reasons, other than looks, as to why landscaping and trees are required. Mr. McClung stated that the trees and plantings help with stormwater runoff. Mr. Booth said they are going to be in the middle of parking lots, though. Mr. McClung said they can still help. Chairman Liles mentioned his company’s new building has islands in its parking lot that help to filter stormwater. Mr. McClung also briefly went over some of the safety valves, and those are included in the PowerPoint which will be made a part of the permanent record of this meeting. Next, Mr. McClung reviewed the portion of the PowerPoint about buffering and screening requirements. He stated that buffering helps to mitigate negative impacts, provides a transition between the private and public realm, and creates an attractive street for motorists. Mr. McClung said that the current ordinance does not define acceptable screening materials. He gave examples of appropriate materials and said the materials should be completely opaque. He said that there are two options that can be used for screening—architectural and vegetative. He stated that Salem’s ordinance regulates it that way. He showed them an example of Roanoke County’s buffering and screening pattern, as well as an example from Allen County, IN which distinguishes between business driveways and drive-thrus. He mentioned PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION JUNE 7, 2019 PAGE 3 that cinderblock walls would not be allowed as screening, that only decorative walls would be allowed. Mr. McClung showed the Commissioners some aerial map examples of properties in Vinton and showed how the new ordinance would work with either structural or evergreen screening. The former EZN and the former Vinton Motors Used Car lot were used as hypothetical examples. Mr. McClung also showed a property located off Highland Road adjacent to the railroad tracks that is zoned M-1 Industrial as an example. Mr. Booth asked how we can make property owners do the screening and buffering. Mr. McClung said they will not be given a zoning permit or a final certificate of occupancy if they refuse to do the screening. Mr. McClung stated that this is this way it is currently handled. Mr. McClung asked them if they thought the required buffer yards are too large. Chairman Liles said 50 feet is a lot, but Mr. McClung stated that the 50 feet is only required in industrial zoned areas. On a final note, it was mentioned that buffer yards and associated vegetation may be credited towards the required percentage. However, there are many alternatives and exemptions where it is not practical for buffering and screening. Mr. McClung also explained that the current ordinance calls them transitional yards instead of buffer yards. He showed a copy of the current ordinance on the screen for them to see. Vice Chairman Jones asked if the proposed ordinance came from the consultants. Mr. McClung stated that said some of it did, but some of what they sent was omitted because it was too complicated and not necessary for the Town. Next, the bus stop near the McDonalds on Hardy Road was briefly discussed. Chairman Liles said the bus stop there really messes up traffic in that area. He stated that he would like to see it moved. Mr. McClung said they had a meeting with Town Staff and officials from Valley Metro yesterday to discuss that stop. Chairman Liles stated that it stops traffic in all directions when the bus is there. He said it stops for 4 to 5 minutes at times. Mr. McClung said that it is required to stop along a sidewalk, which ends next to McDonald’s, to provide safe means of travel for bus users to get to and from the bus. It was mentioned that crosswalks are also lacking in that intersection. On a positive note, Mr. McClung said, since the routes have changed, the bus ridership has increased. With there being nothing further to discuss, the work session was adjourned at 2:05 p.m. by Chairman Liles. Respectfully Submitted, Anita McMillan Planning Commission Secretary