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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/2/2017 - Public Hearing and WorksessionMINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE TOWN OF VINTON PLANNING COMMISSION HELD ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017, AT 6:30 P.M., AT THE VINTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 311 SOUTH POLLARD STREET. MEMBERS PRESENT: Dave Jones, Chairman Keith Liles, Vice Chairman Bob Benninger Bill Booth MEMBERS ABSENT: Bob Patterson STAFF PRESENT: Anita McMillan, Planning and Zoning Director Karla Turman, Associate Planner/Code Enforcement Officer Julie Tucei, Planning and Zoning Coordinator AGENDA WORK SESSION—6:30 P.M. I. Call to Order—Roll Call II. Briefing on Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment (OIPI) Tier 3 Grant to support planning for and adopting revisions to the zoning and subdivision codes of the designated Urban Development Areas (UDA) III. Briefing on the Town Council Planning Retreat Presentation on the Planning Process of the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances Amendments IV. Advisory Committees for Urban Development Areas; Zoning Ordinance Amendment and Critical Sections of the Zoning Ordinance; and Subdivision Ordinance Amendment V. Review of the Planning Process Timeline VI. Next Meeting Dates VII. Comments of Planning Commissioners and Planning Staff VIII. Adjournment of Work Session The work session of the Vinton Planning Commission was called to order at 6:25 p.m. by Chairman Jones. All members were present for the work session, except Mr. Patterson who previously notified staff that he would be unable to attend. The first item on the work session agenda was the Briefing on Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment (OIPI) Tier 3 Grant to support planning for and adopting revisions to the zoning and subdivision codes of the designated Urban Development Areas (UDA). Ms. McMillan briefed the Commissioners on the $65,000 grant. She said the Town will be working with Ms. Deanna Rhodeside, as well as Mr. Vlad Gavrilovic. Mr. Gavrilovic is now out on his own since the Town last worked with him on the original OIPI grant for the UDA. Ms. McMillan gave them a copy of the proposed outline scope. She stated that the grant money will not be able to cover all of the zoning ordinance updates due to the amount we received and the requirements of the grant. She said that she has submitted the proposed outline scope to OIPI for approval. Ms. McMillan said that the kick-off meeting likely won’t be held until January 2018. She mentioned that, normally, the OIPI grant allows up to a year to get the work done. She stated that she had informed OIPI that the Town’s update could take longer than a year to update. PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION AND PUBLIC HEARING NOVEMBER 2, 2017 PAGE 2 Ms. McMillan said that we may have to select just one or two UDA to be covered by the grant, and then apply for another grant for the remainder of the UDA. She said it would be good to be able to get it done in 12 months, but it will probably be more like 18 months. She asked that they review the proposed outline scope prior to the next meeting. Chairman Jones asked about the County’s involvement. Ms. McMillan said they will be included and involved throughout the process, especially due to the gain share agreement between the County and Town. The next item on the agenda was the Briefing on the Town Council Planning Retreat Presentation on the Planning Process of the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances Amendments. Ms. McMillan said that the retreat had been canceled and will not be held until January or February due to Mr. Thompson’s being sick. Ms. McMillan went over a few of the slides in the PowerPoint about the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances Amendments that the Planning and Zoning Department had prepared for the retreat. She discussed the changes that had been done in the mid-1990s to the zoning ordinance due to the possible annexation that was going on during that time. She said that since that time, the ordinance has only been updated on a piecemeal basis. Ms. McMillan said that Roanoke County planning staff will assist us on the updates, as well as Amanda McGhee from the Regional Commission. She mentioned that Ms. McGhee should be able to help us with the mapping component so we will not have to bother the County with it. Ms. McMillan asked if they have any questions about the PowerPoint presentation. Vice Chairman Liles mentioned that, as far as suggested stakeholders slide, he will likely be the Council representative. Ms. McMillan went on to say that a recent court case made content-based sign ordinances unenforceable. She stated that the town attorney provided a copy of Christiansburg’s new sign ordinance, which is content-neutral, but it may not meet the Town’s needs. Ms. Turman said Christiansburg’s sign ordinance could be even more restrictive than some of our sign ordinance is currently. Ms. Turman said she has modified her code enforcement on signs to things such as if a business doesn’t have a permit or their signs are too big, but she does not do enforcement on content now. Ms. McMillan mentioned that signs have always been a difficult subject. Ms. Turman also discussed the possible changes proposed for the banner sign regulations. She explained the Roanoke County’s ordinance allows banner signs by an annual permit. The Town’s ordinance allows banners up to 6 times per year with a permit required each time. Ms. McMillan said a committee may be needed for the sign ordinance update since there are so many issues with signs. Ms. McMillan stated that, as far as the subdivision ordinance, she would like to see the Town incorporate Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) standards. She thinks it would be wise to incorporate VDOT standards like only requiring 30 feet wide right-of-ways, rather than the 50 feet requirement that the Town has now. However, Ms. McMillan mentioned that we may have to hold off on updating the subdivision ordinance in order to concentrate on the zoning and sign ordinance updates. Chairman Jones suggested that, for the public meetings, we provide food because that helps draw people in to the meetings. Ms. McMillan said that both food and door prizes were included on the PowerPoint as ideas to increase public participation. PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION AND PUBLIC HEARING NOVEMBER 2, 2017 PAGE 3 Ms. McMillan asked for the Commissioners’ feedback and their top 10 priorities for the ordinance update. She also asked them to provide citizen name suggestions for the advisory committees. Ms. McMillan asked if they each have a copy of the UDA plan, and if not to please email her which plans they would like to have copies of to use during the ordinance updates. She also asked them to review the proposed timeline to see if it is realistic. Mr. Benninger asked if the update will have to wait until Council has the retreat before we can move forward with it. Ms. McMillan said that they may want to focus on the budget at the retreat when it is rescheduled. She stated that she may present the PowerPoint at an upcoming Council meeting. Chairman Jones mentioned that we need to stay on schedule because should the Town not meet the timeline for this grant, future grant applications could be denied. The next item on the agenda was the discussion of the Advisory Committees for Urban Development Areas; Zoning Ordinance Amendment and Critical Sections of the Zoning Ordinance; and Subdivision Ordinance Amendment. Nothing further on this was discussed during the meeting as it had already been covered. Next was the review of the Planning Process Timeline. McMillan asked them to review it and let her know if it is realistic or needs to be adjusted. The next item discussed were the next meeting dates for the Planning Commission. December 7th was set for the next meeting date. Mr. Benninger asked when the ordinance committees will be formed. Ms. McMillan stated that she will have to have a list of names to give to Administration, who then will discuss it with the Mayor. Ms. Turman suggested making the first Thursday of each month the definite meeting date for the Commission. It was mentioned that the January 2018 date may have to be adjusted due to Ms. McMillan’s schedule. Next, comments were received from the Commissioners and staff. Ms. McMillan mentioned that Phase 2 of the Glade Creek Greenway will be starting soon. She also mentioned that a grant has been applied for to install a crosswalk on Hardy Road near W. E. Cundiff Elementary School. She said a grant was also applied for to improve Walnut Avenue, including bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. A grant application for $50,000 is being submitted to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for the former Vinton Ford site. Also, a grant application in the amount of $300,000 is being submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cover several sites in Vinton. Vice Chairman Liles said staff is doing a great job on all the grant applications. With there being nothing further to discuss, the work session was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Anita McMillan Planning Commission Secretary