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1978-11-29060 November 15 !9~8 (R~ ul_ar_ Ni~ ht Mee~tin )~ _~ _ - ~ ~ Agenda Item No. 11. At 11:20 P.M., motion was offered by Dr. Iachetta, seconded by Mr. ~ier, to adjourn this meeting to November 29, 197~, at 3:00 P.M. in the Board Room of the County Office Building. Roll was called and the motion carried by the following recorded vote: Henley AYES: Messrs. Dorrier, Fisher,/Iachetta, Lindstrom and Roudabush. NAYS: None. N~vember 29, 1978 (Adjourned from Nov. 15' An adjourned meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, was held on November 29, 1978, beginning at 3:00 P.M. in the Board Room of the County Office Building, Charlottesville, Virginia; said meeting being adjourned from November 15, 1978. Present: Messrs. Lindsay G. Dorrier, Jr., Gerald E. Fisher, J. T. Henley, Jr., C. Timothy Lindstrom and W. S. Roudabush. Absent: Dr. F. Anthony Iachetta. Officers present: Tucker, Jr. County Executive, Guy G. Agnor, Jr. and County Planner, Robert W. Agenda Item No. 1. Fisher. The meeting was called to order at 3:10 P.M. by the Chairman, Mr. Agenda Item No. 2. Work Session: Six-year Highway Plan. Mr. Dan Roosevelt, Resident Engineer, Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation, was present. He said lhis meeting was requested to discuss the Highway budget for the 1979-80 fiscal year and the Six-Year Highway Plan. Cost estimates prepared for the Hydraulic Road (Route 743) public hearing indicated that he had underestimated the cost of this project. Therefore, he had obtained more detailed estimates on projects which are planned for advertise ment in the near future and found that an additional $1,600,000 will be needed to finance these projects. As of this date, it appears that approximately $1,000,000 in financed State Force construction remains to be done. Based upon past experience, Mr. Roosevelt said his forces can only accomplish about $500,000 worth of work each year. He, therefore, requested that no new State Force work be scheduled for the 1979-80 year. Mr. Roosevelt said a recent review of the Secondary System for resurfacing needs indicate that there are approximately 13 miles of secondary roads in the County which should be resur- faced using plant mix. The estimated cost for this work is approximately $435,000, which is $360,000 more than had been set aside for the fiscal year 1979-80. He then mad~ the following suggestions: That the contract project schedule be revised to finance the current contract projects. e That the State Force projects not already financed be deferred to later in the Six-Year Plan. That the additional resurfa¢ing needs (for the 13 miles of Secondary roads) be financed in the Fiscal Year 1979-80. Mr. Roosevelt then handed out a chart showing possible plant mix locations for the Secondary System in priority order: Number Route From To Length Traffic Count Cost 1. %7¥-- 1.10 2149 $ 45,300 2. 614 676 835 1.10 1324 36,600 3. 601 250 855 .80 2123 18,600 4. 780 631 Char .53 2354 12,000 5. 601 676W 829 1.70 1672 70,000 6. 656 743 654 .90 7000 20,900 7. 810 240 789 1.00 2922 18,600 8. 663 743 664E 2.05 2443 84,400 9. 708 29 .8 mi E .80 947 18,600 10. 691 240 1204 .12 1708 2,500 11. 1204 691 1205 .08 1577 1,900 12. 614 678W 766 2.90 1081 106,200 13.0~ $435,600 8) 061 November 29, 1978 (Adjourned from November 15, i97'8~ Mr. Roosevelt then handed to the Board a proposed 1979-80 budget as follows: Item 631 601 743 727 631 631 651 671 656 712 60O 665 McIntire Extension Mechum River Bridge Hydraulic Road Hard Surface Rio Road (To 743) Park Street Bridge Bridge-Southern Railroad Millington Bridge Georgetown Road New Plant Mix Unforeseen Items From 29 to Route 692 Railroad Crossing New Additions Buck Mountain Creek Bridge Total Current Proposed 6-Yr Plan Revision $ 50,000 $ 50,000 157,500 - 400,000 600,000 98,100 - 40,000 40,000 130,000 130,000 120,000 37,000 50,000 50,000 20,000 20,000 76,600 435,000 179,300 23,500 147,000 - 45,000 45,000 20,000 20,000 - 83~000 $1,533,500 $1,533,500 Mr. Roosevelt made the following suggestions relating to the 1979-80 budget: Funding for the Mechum River Bridge not be continued in the 1979-80 budget since this project is still six months from construction. Financing can be picked up again in the 1980-81 budget. An additional $200,000 be added to the Hydraulic Road project to cover some of the underestimate. That Route 727 be dropped from the Six-Year plan because of right-of-way problems. This $98,000 can then be transferred to other projects. That the project for the bridge over the Southern Railway tracks on Route 651 (road comes out of Northfields Subdivision) be deferred for three years in order to get some of the larger construction projects completed. Funding for planning would be left, but there would not be enough money for construction. That]~he project on Route 712 from Route 29 to Route 692 be deferred. No attempt has been made at this time to get the necessary right-of-way, but it is not felt it will be a problem because of the number of complaints received about the condition of this road. Because there is already about $1,000,000 in State Force work funded, and only $500,000 of this work can be completed in any given year, that no new State Force work be added during the 1979-80 fiscal year. Instead, the money which would have been used for State Force work could be transferred to the category "New Plant Mix". Mr. Dorrier said he has received many calls asking why Route 727 has not been paved. He knows there is a right-of-way problem, but he did not feel the project should be dropped completely because one person, who does not even live in the community, will not cooperate. Mr. Roosevelt said there are two persons involved. Mr. Friedman who lives at Blenheim will not donate right-of-way for this road project. Mr. Dorrier said the Scottsvilte District has many needs for roads. He was concerned that of the 12 projects listed for plant mix, none were in his district. Mr. Roosevelt said Route 780 is in the Scottsville District. Also, the roads in the Scottsville DistrictJdo not carry the traffic volumes that the roads on this list carry. Mr. Dorrier said he felt that basing priorities entirely on traffic counts is being unfair to the people in the far reaches of the County. He suggested that instead of dropping 727 completely, that the road be hard-surfaced from Route 795 at Blenheim up to within 300 feet of Route 627 where the right-of-way problem starts. This would hard-surface about 95% of that road. Mr. Roosevelt said the right-of-way has not been obtained on that section yet. A Mrs. Patterson is working on that but has not contacted him recently. Mr. Dorrier said it is hard to get a road in the Six-Year Plan and to drop it completely is tragic for the people who live on that road. Mr. Fisher said when these projects are deferred, prices esca!ate~ Hydraulic Road has already taken about 26% of the entire County budget for the current year, has taken signifi- cant amounts in past years, and will do the same for some years into the future. This new estimate takes that 26% up to about 40% of the entire County budget. To put other projects on the "back-burner" is exasperating to people who live in the rural areas. Because of the money situation, the chance of having any rural roads upgraded looks bleaker each year. Mr. Rooseve] said the County's allocation increases four or five percent each year, while inflation goes up eight to ten percent. Inflation is having the same effect on the Secondary System as it is having on individuals. Mr. Roudabush said most of the people in the rural areas would settle for something less than a major project; a way to keep down dust and mud and something hard to drive over. Mr. Roosevelt said the citizens are satisfied today with something less, but when the edges break off and the ditches cannot be maintained, they become dissatisfied. The State Highway CommissJ recognized this back in the 1950's and said that any improvement being made from that time forward would have to be to a standard that could be maintained. There are just as many complaints from people living on hard-surfaced roads without shoulders and ditches as there are from those living on graveled roads. Just as soon as a road is paved, the traffic volume and the speed increases. Mr. Lindstrom said he can sympathize with everybody, but the need for improvements to correct safety problems on Georgetown Road is critical. The road should be widened, straighter with bicycle paths added, but it does not need to be four-laned. He asked how long it would take to do the engineering work and obtain right-of-way if money were no object. Mr. Roosevelt said it usually takes about five years because this is only one Residency in the Culpeper District and has to fight for a place on the schedule. Mr. Lindstrom asked if that time aspect is beyond the control of the Board. Mr. Roosevelt said if the Board went on record 062 November 29, 1978 (Adjourned from November 15, 1978) saying that one particular road had such a glaring problem that it should take precedence over all other projects in the County, then everything would be pushed aside and all work would go on that one road. Mr. Lindstrom said because of the density of popUlation on Georgetown Road because the road feeds in~o one place containing three County schools; because children have to walk to school along this road which has no sidewalks or curbing; he feels it is a dangero~ situation. He syid that squeezing out only $10,000 to $20,000 a year for engineering is just a token measure and asked if there is anyway to sPeed up the process. Mr. Roudabush said he would be willing .to use some of the County's allocation of Highway funds to pay for engineerin if the Highway Department cannot get it done. He felt the money saved on five years of inflation could pay for the engin~ring needed on some of the projects on the list. Mr. Roose~ said it has been done in Northern Virginia. The engineering costs more, but it is finished faster. Mr. Henley said he has a similar problem in his district; children walking from Sunrise Acres to Crozet. Mr. Roosevelt said he has a six-year old stUdy which shows that there are $60,000,000 in road needs in 'Albemarle County and the County only receives $1,500,000 a year to correct these needs. Mr. Lindstrom said recognizing the fact that Georgetown Road will be improved in six or seven years, is there anything that can be done on a temporary basis to solve the problem witk pedestrian traffic. Mr. Roosevelt did not believe HighWay Funds can be used to correct problems with pedestrian traffic. He said if such an improvement were made a part of a total construction project, use of Highway funds might be acceptable. Mr. Lindstrom said the right- of,way will have to be purchased and the sooner, the cheaper it will be~. Mr. Roosevelt said the allocation for Route 656 in the current budget is to try and get the plans to a~place where the right-of-Way can be obtained, or used by the County to get the right-of-way donated as properties along this road are developed. Mr. Roudabush said the Highway Department's schedule will not get any better and he felt some of the minor projects on the list, which already have completed plans, should be contracted out. Mr. Roosevelt said it still takes tw¢ or more years to develop the minimum plans needed for contract purposes. With State Force projects, as soon as it is knoWn what the project will be and the right-of-way is obtained, it only takes a year or two for complete construction. On contract work, it takes~ two years to get something ready to advertise. Mr. Roosevelt said the.Board had gotten off of the subject of today's meeting. He asked two things: 1) To revise the contract schedule in order to finance contract projects without taking any money from State Force projects to do this work; and 2) Because of the work load ox State Forces and the need for resurfacing (which is contracted out) to put the money for Stat~ Force projects for 1979-80 into the resurfacing budget. Mr. Robert Tucker, Director of Planning, was present. He agreed with Mr. Roudabush about the possibility of contracting out some of the engineering work. He said the County has lost several opportunities to obtain donated right-of-way when property was being developed in one of the growth areas because plans for the road were not available. Also, several times an applicant has agreed to install .sidewalks, but it was not reasonable to require same because of the lack of plans. ~ Mr. Roudabush suggested taking $60,000 to $70,000 from resurfacing fUnds and.Putting same into a design fund so consultants could be hired for this work. Mr. Henley disagreed, saying that roads are not resurfaced before it is needed. Mr. Roosevelt said the money that is spent on plant-mix work gives the County as much for the dollar as anything else on which it could be spent. The work that'was done on HydraUlic Road and Rio Road has greatly improve~ the riding quality of these roads and reduced the need for maintenance. The project listed for Route 614 will surface that road from the race t~ack almost to Whi-te Hall~.~ It is a prime~need and will put off any major improvements to that-road for eight to nine years. Mr. Lindstrom said if there were anyway he could have those funds transferred to Georgetown Road yhe would do so because improving the riding quality of that road or putting off maintenance of same~for a few years will not improve the safety problems on Georgetown, which he feels are more obvious. Mr. Dorrier said the average citizen may see the repaying of roads as somethin~ that ~is done more for convenience than necessity, when there are dirt roads that need paving. He asked if it were necessary to resurface all 12 of the listed roads. Mr. Roosevelt said they could hav~ a tar and gravel treatment apPlied, but it ~ould do nothing to protect the road from breaking up in two or three years and do nothing for the riding quality. Mr. Roudabush said if some of the projects scheduled for the urban area do not get going, then th~ projects further out in the County will never happen. The new Comprehensive Plan for the County suggests funnelling growth into the urban ring and several communities. The County is in the process of adopting a new Zoning Ordinance and the road work is getting further behind. He said the work on Stony Point road was a tremendous improvement, but he Would still like to think about taking a couple of the rUral projects each year, having the engineering work done and then putting same out to contract. He said if that is the only way the work will be done he would like for the Board to think about that possibility. Mr. Roosevelt said if that is the desire of the Board, some of the plant-mix work can be deleted from the Six-Year plan, an~ he will check to see what can be done. Personally he feels that the $435,000 of plant-mix work will give more value for the dolIar than anything else on the list. There will be 13 miles of roads that will be relatively safe for travel for six to eight Years, with reduced maintenance costs. Mr. Lindstrom suggested that the $23,500 shown as "Unforeseen Items" be reallocated to engineering work for Georgetown Road thereby accelerating that project. Mr. Roudabush said h~ had no problem going to public hearing with Mr. Roosevelt's suggestions, reallocating the ~$23,500 as suggested. After discussion by the Board as to possible dates for a public hearin~ motion was offered by Mr2 Lindstrom to set January 24, 1979, at 7:30 P.M. in the Albemarle County Courthouse, as the date for a public hearing on the 1979-80 Highway budget, reallocati~ $23,500 shown in the budget for "Unforeseen Items" to Route 656 for Engineering making a total of $43,500 available for this work. The motion was seconded by Mr. Roudabush. Mr. Dorrier said he felt the rural areas will be left out in the dark next year with no paving projects. He did not feel the rural people are getting their fair share of the funds now and to get even less would be a mistake and he could not support the motion. Nowember 29, 1978 (Adjourned from November 15,1978) 063 Mr. Henley Said Georgetown Road had gotten more publicity in the~ears t-~at he~h~ been on the Board than any other road in the County. He said he would support tha motion if the reallocation of these funds will get the engineering work done so the County can accept donation of some of the right-of-way needed for sidewalks. Mr. Lindstrom said if it were for the safety aspects, he would not have brought up the subject. Roll was called at this time, and the motion carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: Messrs. Fisher, Henley, Lindstrom and Roudabush. Mr. Dorrier. Dr. Iachetta. Mr. Fisher asked why the Buck Mountain Creek Bridge costs had accelerated by $83,000. Mr. Roosevelt said this is one of the projects that he had underestimated. The bridge is under construction now. It was estimated to cost $486,000 and will actually cost $569,000. The purpose of the reconstruction is to get legal loads out to Route 29. There is no other way to get traffic across the Rivanna, Mechum and Moormans Rivers without going all the way to Greene County. Mr. Roosevelt said a bridge project was set up many years ago on Route 636 in the Batesvi[ area and $50,000 was allocated to same. Right-of-way was required before the bridge could be widened and the Highway Department has been unable to obtain that right-of-way. He suggested that the project be dropped since the bridge is on a gravel road. He suggested that the funds from this project be transferred to the slurry seal schedule of subdivision streets. Mr. Fisher said if there is no way to obtain right-of-way, he sees no reason to keep the project. Motion was then offered by Mr. Henley, seconded by Mr. Dorrier, to transfer the funds allocate~ for reconstruction of a bridge on Route 636 to slurry seal projects. The motion carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: Messrs. Dorrier, Fisher, Henley, Lindstrom and Roudabush. NAYS: None. ABSENT: Dr. Iachetta. Mr. Roosevelt said he had one further item of interest to the Board. In preliminary planning for the reconstruction of the Park Street Bridge (Route 631) the main problem that has been encountered is finding a way to get across the River during construction. If the new bridge is put on either side of the old bridge, roadway will be put within the City Limits of Charlottesville. Mr. Roosevelt said he met with City Council recently and asked their reactio~ They felt it might not be necessary to replace the bridge at all and sent the matter to their Planning Commission for review. If the City takes the position that they do not want the Highway Department coming into the City with the revised alignment of the road, Mr. Roosevelt said he will suggest that the project be deferred until the McIntire Extension is completed so the new bridge can be constructed where the old bridge is now located. At this time, the project is at a standstill until the City Planning Commission makes their recommendation. Agenda Item No. 3. County Office Buiilding (Lane) Site plan. Mr. Byron Sample, architec' with the firm of Stainback and Scribner, was present to show an amended site plan to the Board. This site plan showed the elimination of the disputed parking lot on the front yard of Lane, and the introduction of a new north entrance. Basically there will be 100 parki-ng spaces for use by service vehicles and the public. Also shown is a drive-up window to the Finance Department on the south end of the building. Mr. Agnor noted his concern that 100 parking spaces will not be sufficient for both service vehicles and the public. He said if City Council will not allow the County to use the upper end of the football field, service vehicles will have to be parked on the street. He said two site plans will be drawn; one is a short-range plan and the other is a long-range plan. He suggested that on the long-range plan the disputed lot in the front yard be retained in the event the retaining wall that will be built when Mcintire Road is reconstructed, effectively camouflages the lot. When questioned about employee parking, Mr. Agnor said no consideration will be given to employee parking until after the football field is turned over to the County, however, he expressed no concern since he said many employees walk long distances from their cars at this time. Mr. Fisher agreed that this parking might be shown on the long-range plan as "Possible Parking" and not "Future Parking" Mr. Sample said he would start~rking on the site plan with the City immediately. He said the general layout of departments should be finished in January and ready for review. One major problem which has not been solved at this time is how to handle the existing windows for the most efficient heating and cooling methods. Not Docketed: Mr. Fisher said he attended a meeting yesterday of the Steering Committee on the Zoning Ordinance. They discussed the minimum lot size which is being proposed in the new ordinance. For a home with a well and septic tank, the new ordinance proposes 40,000 square feet. The present ordinance calls for a lot size of 60,000 square feet and this size was based on recommendations by the local health department. Mr. Fisher said he felt the Board should obtain the health department's recommendation on this question as soon as possibl~ Motion was then offered by Mr. Lindstrom, seconded by Mr. Roudabush, to adopt the .... following resolution: WHEREAS the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors is in the process of reviewing a proposed revision to the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance; and WHEREAS the minimum lot size for single-family detached dwellings, where individual wells and septic tanks are utilized, is being considered for reduction from 60,000 square feet, as previously recommended by the State Health Department, to 40,000 square feet; and '064 November 29, 1978 (Adjourned from November 15, 1978) November 30, 1978 (Adjourned from November 29, 1978) WHEREAS the proposed ordinance provides for an Original and replacement drainfield, whose location and size shall be approved by the local Health Department, provided that the local Health Department may increase the lot size due to soils or other conditions directly related to public health; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, requests a recommendation from the State Department of Health, in writing, concerning this proposed reduction in lot size and requirements outlined above. The foregoing motion carried by the following recorded vote: Messrs. Dorrier, Fisher, Henley, Lindstrom and Roudabush. None. Dr. Iachetta. AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: Mr. Fisher said he had been presented with a petition signed by citizens in the southern part of the County complaining about the lack of game wardens during the hunting season. This has been turned over to the Sheriff and Mr. Agnor for review. Mr. Fisher said the Virginia Municipal League and the Virginia Association of Counties are sponsoring their annual legislative conferences in December. They request that the individual counties bring their representatives to the General Assembly to these meetings. The closest meeting is scheduled for December 14th in Richmond. Messrs. Dorrier, Fisher and Roudabush agreed to attend. Agenda Item No. 4. At 5:28 P.M., motion was offered by Mr. Lindstrom, seconded by Mr. Dorrier, to adjourn this meeting until November 30, 1978, at 7:30 P.M. in the Greer School Cafetorium for a public presentation of the proposed revisions to the Zoning Ordinance. The motion carried by the following recorded vote: Messrs. Dorrier, Fisher, Henley, Lindstrom and Roudabush. None. Dr. Iachetta. Ch~an - ' ' November 30, 1978 (Adjourned from November 29 AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: An adjourned meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, was held on November 30, 1978, beginning at 7:30 P.M. in the Greer Elementary School Cafetorium, Lamb's Road, Charlottesville, Virginia; said meeting being adjourned from November 29, 1978. Present: Messrs. Lindsay G. Dorrier, Jr., Gerald E. Fisher, J. T. Henley, Jr., F. Anthony Iachetta, C. Timothy Lindstrom (arriving at 7:40 P.M.) and W. S. Roudabush. Absent: None. Officers present: County Executive, Guy B. Agnor, Jr.; County Attorney, George R. St.Joh: and County Planner, Robert W. Tucker, Jr. The meeting was called to order at 7:35 P.M. by the Chairman, Mr. Fisher, for a public presentation of the proposed revisions to the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance. (Notice of this change in meeting place was advertisied in the Daily Progress on November 15 and November 22, 1978.) Mr. Fisher said that after the ~r~7~omprehensive Plan was adopted in 1971, a proposed revised zoning ordinance was draftedY Th&2'Zoning Ordinance was drafted to try and implement the '71 Comprehensive Plan. It was not enacted, but sections of that proposed revision have been adopted into the current ordinance over the past few years. This meeting tonight has been scheduled for a joint presentation of the proposed revisions to the Board and Planning Commission by the consultants, Kamstra, Dickerson and Associates. A citizens advisory committ has been working with the consultants on these revisions and have not Yet given their recom- mendations. Mr. Fisher said a formal public hearing on these revisions will be held in the near future, however, time will be given at the end of this presentation for comments from those present. He then introduced Mr. Robert Tucker, Director of Planning. Mr. Tucker made some very brief opening remarks and then introduced Mr. Bruce Drenning. Mr. Drenning introduced Mr. Beckham Dickerson and then proceeded with the presentation. He said this is a draft for discussion only and is not ready for adoption. There are 13 sections in the ordinance; nine basically similar to material in the present ordinance. However, four sections have substantial revisions. Most changes were geared to implement the '77 Comprehens Plan. When the consultants were working on the revised Comprehensive Plan, they realized that the County had seen a low level of achievement under the '71 Comprehensive Plan and it was felt that the major rea'son was lack of implementation tools probably caused by the need for a revised zoning ordinance. The zoning ordinance was adopted in 1968 and since that time many changes have been made, making parts of that ordinance inconsistent. The General Assembly, in 1977, changed the law to state that a Comprehensive Plan must be considered in the zoning ordinance and since these two are not well-meshed in Albemarle County, the County could possibly have some legal jeopardy. Mr. Drenning then listed objectives of the revised ordinan Encourage growth in the urban area, communities and villages. Limit growth in the rural areas. Conserve natural resources. Better locations for industrial growth. Improve commercial development. Higher quality residential development in neighborhood settings. 1978) ; e ve e: