Chesapeake Planning Commission SPECIAL WORK SESSION August 19, 2015 City Hall 4 th Floor Training Room 5:30 p.m.

Transcription

1 Chesapeake Planning Commission SPECIAL WORK SESSION August 19, 2015 City Hall 4 th Floor Training Room 5:30 p.m. City of Chesapeake Department of Planning Post Office Box Chesapeake, Virginia (757) Members Present John A. Kish, Chair Stephens L. Johnson, Commissioner Members Absent Martin L. Williams, Vice Chair Hollis D. Ellis, Commissioner Dr. Sandi B. Hutchinson, Commissioner Jason M. Morris, Commissioner Adam Perry, Commissioner William Small, Commissioner George R. Van Laethem, Commissioner City Staff Present Andrew R. Fox, Deputy City Attorney Karen E. Shaffer, AICP, Assistant Planning Director Mark H. Woodward, AICP, Comprehensive Planning Administrator Steven A. Lambert, Senior Planner Chairman John Kish called the special work session to order at 5:35 p.m. He then turned the floor over to Senior Planner/Project Manager Steven Lambert to lead the special work session. Mr. Lambert reviewed the agenda packet for the meeting. He noted that the Planning Commission s comments-only public hearing date has been changed from September 23 to September 30, Mr. Lambert reviewed the Plan Area 6, found on pages of the study. He noted that there are fewer property owners but larger parcels in this area, which makes development of the plan vision more feasible. The proposed Pleasant Grove Parkway alignment was moved further south in this area than what is shown of the 2050 Master Transportation Plan. This was done to avoid existing residential uses and an existing borrow pit, but also to provide a better alignment for a potential interchange if Route 17 gets designated as an interstate.

2 Page 2 Mr. Lambert reviewed the proposed land uses within Area 6, as shown on page 87 of the Draft Plan. Commissioner Johnson asked about the freeway-oriented business/commercial land use designation. Mr. Lambert and Mr. Woodward explained that it is primarily a description of where it is located, not so much a unique class of business/commercial use. Mr. Lambert pointed out the land set aside for light industrial/logistics uses to accommodate the new improved roadway. He noted that Route 17 has access limitations due to state requirements. Mr. Lambert reviewed the opportunities and threats in Area 6 as discussed on page 87. He said that it is important to preserve and protect sensitive areas and to improve connectivity to the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail and Dismal Swamp Refuge. He also pointed out the trail system map on page 64 to illustrate the connectivity element promoted in the Draft Plan, including more east-west and north-south connections. Mr. Lambert also reviewed the proposed streets network shown on pages of the study. The Draft Plan seeks to respect and work within the City s adopted 2050 Master Transportation Plan, particularly Scenic Parkway and Pleasant Grove Parkway. A minor streets network is recommended to improve circulation within the focal core areas. He stressed that there is flexibility in the alignment of proposed streets. When specific development proposals are reviewed, the exact alignments are determined at that time. Also, it is possible that there could be fewer or more streets in the area than what is shown in the Draft Plan. Mr. Lambert also pointed out the recommended street cross sections shown on page 58 of the Draft Plan, which promote complete streets for multi-modal traffic. He discussed the master transportation plan for the study area shown on page 98. He noted that a traffic impact analysis was performed on the recommended future roads to ensure that intended capacities and levels of service were sustainable. Chairman Kish asked about the label that says In%/Out% Internal Capture. Mr. Lambert explained that it is a measure of the net inflow and outflow of traffic between areas. Mr. Lambert pointed out Figure 73 in the Draft Plan, which discussed level of service of intersection. He also pointed out the rough cost estimates to construct proposed new roads, which was done to facilitate implementation of the plan. Mr. Lambert reviewed the Master Utilities Plan shown on page 110 of the study. It was developed by a sub-consultant to the main project consultant. City staff has spoken with the City Public Utilities Department staff and Hampton Roads Sanitation District representatives to make sure that the new roads, water and sewer lines are all developed together in harmony. Public Utilities staff have noted their concern with how the public utilities systems dead-ends in the Dominion Boulevard area and that a looped system would be better. Another issue is the airport not having good potable water. The wells are failing. A looped system that serves the airport would have multiple benefits and the lines could run along the airport boundary.

3 Page 3 Chairman Kish asked which lines would be built first, water or sewer. Mr. Lambert replied that it could be both together, depending on the specific utilities needed in a particular area. Mr. Lambert also clarified that alignments shown on the map are not exact and that only main transmission lines are depicted, not smaller feeder lines. Mark Woodward pointed out for persons watching the session live or at a later re-broadcast time, that the master transportation and utilities plans for the entire study area are being discussed, not just Area 6. Mr. Lambert pointed out that pages 113 and 115 of the study depict the overall existing and proposed water and sewer systems individually. The potential costs for constructing new utilities is shown on pages of the study. Mr. Lambert reviewed the telecommunications infrastructure strategies contained in the Draft Plan. The information is not highly detailed due to the proprietary nature of infrastructure maintained or planned by the utilities franchisees. Planning Department staff coordinated closely with the Information Technology Department for advice on strategic recommendations. Staff also heard on multiple occasions in meetings with key economic development stakeholders that new business wants to locate where a good telecommunications infrastructure is in place. Mr. Lambert pointed to Figure 80 on page 125 of the study, which shows the recommended utilities placement plan as part of the development review process. Mr. Lambert concluded his presentation and then Chairman Kish entertained follow-up questions. Commissioner Johnson said that his question about the nature of freeway-oriented business was answered earlier. Mr. Kish asked if there was any plan to bring this type of business into the Zoning Ordinance as a new classification and was there anything different in Area 6. Mr. Lambert said this area will likely develop naturally as a freeway oriented area due to its proximity to Route 17 and that a special classification for the area wasn t being contemplated. Ms. Shaffer noted that the study represents a conceptual plan and policy and that no change of zoning is involved. The current Business/Commercial 2035 Land Use Plan classification would be used to review development applications and the applicant would proffer the specific types of uses (e.g. hotels, restaurants, etc.). She said that a special land use designation is not being considered. Chairman Kish asked if an intersection exists in Area 6 now where the freeway-oriented business and commercial is shown. Mr. Lambert said no, but an intersection is planned for the intersection of Route 17 and the proposed Pleasant Grove Parkway. The state would need to approve it. The proposed streets network for Area 6 would still make business and commercial readily accessible. Mr. Kish asked about the rationale for proposing business/commercial at the southern end of Area 6. Planning staff explained that this area is adjacent to the northern trailheads of the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail and also adjacent to proposed new residential uses, so it was felt that there could be some supporting neighborhood scale retail uses there.

4 Page 4 Chairman Kish asked about the proportions of land uses in Area 6. Mr. Lambert pointed out the table on page 86 that shows the breakout of residential and non-residential uses by type. The overall proportions of land uses for the study area were reviewed with the Economic Development Authority also. Ms. Shaffer noted that the proposed land uses build off the market study allocations generated by the consultant. She also pointed out that the community chose Areas 6 and 3 as the preferred focal development areas for concentrating commercial uses. Mr. Kish agreed that is an important distinction. Chairman Kish asked if a fiscal impact analysis was done for Area 6. Mr. Woodward responded that a fiscal impact analysis was performed for the entire study and that it was significantly positive. Mr. Kish asked if the analysis could be broken down by the plan areas. Mr. Woodward responded that as discussed with Planning Commission at a recent meeting, Planning staff is planning to include a recommendation in the implementation strategies section of the study that fiscal impact analyses be performed on individual plan areas periodically to measure change and impact on the City. Commissioner Johnson asked about the time projection for implementing the study and also completing Pleasant Grove Parkway. Mr. Lambert said that there is no specific projection for implementing the study. It has a 20-year planning window and the market analysis indicated that some sections could be built much sooner. He said that the draft land use plan for the study includes opportunities to develop portions of the Pleasant Grove Parkway as development occurs in that area. Ms. Shaffer pointed out that the Master Transportation Plan has a 50-year planning horizon, but the Land Use Plan has a 20-year horizon. Chairman Kish pointed out that new roads can be built in two ways: either the developer of a large parcel constructs a major portion of a planned roadway, or smaller, individual developer construct portions related to their development. He said that it would be beneficial to achieving the Dominion Boulevard Corridor Study vision if developers could assemble large parcel so of land for development. Chairman Kish asked if planned utilities infrastructure will be adequate to accommodate future development if it occurs on a piecemeal basis. Mr. Lambert said yes, that there is flexibility in the utilities strategy so that it can be done in phases in each plan area. Mr. Woodward pointed out that the utilities master plan found at the back of the study identified recommended infrastructure, such as pump stations, pipe sizing and other features for future planning. Ms. Shaffer said the City s pro-rata share utility development policy and that of HRSD would accommodate development in stages. Mr. Woodward noted that the 2035 Comprehensive Plan/2050 Master Transportation Pan included a change to Pleasant Grove Parkway to classify it as an arterial road versus freeway. This will help facilitate its construction in the study area, which will in turn help achieve the plan

5 Page 5 development vision. Mr. Woodward also noted that the market study indicated that development could happen sooner rather than later in the planning timeline. Chairman Kish said that it might be beneficial to have representatives from the Public Works Department attend a future meeting to discuss the proposed roads. Since time allowed it, Mr. Kish also invited guests in attendance at the special work session to speak. Mr. Michael Glasser spoke and said that his family owns property in the study area near Vincek Way and that it is used for agricultural purposes now. He noted that his family supports balanced growth in the area and will be monitoring the process. Chairman Kish brought the special work session to conclusion by stating his hopes that citizens will review the Draft Plan, make their comments known to the Planning Commission and be involved in the process. Ms. Shaffer announced that Planning staff will provide proposed amendments to the 2035 Land Use Plan and 2050 Master Transportation Plan resulting from the Dominion Boulevard Study recommendations at the next special work session. With no further business to discuss, the special work session ended at approximately 7:15 p.m.