Thursday's Internet Edition, September 02, 2010.
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The first amendment increases the allowable size of political signs from 240 square inches to 340 square inches. This issue was brought to town staff’s attention during the 2005 election. Many candidates found that 240 square inches was not a standard measurement for signs and required custom orders, thus imposing an additional expense on the candidates.
The new 340 square inch standard permits the use of most standard sizes of card stock carried by sign vendors.
The second amendment provides guidelines for signage of non-town sponsored events held on town property. These guidelines were suggested by the Sponsorship Policy Rules and Review Committee.
Groups holding non-town sponsored events on town property will now be allowed to display one 32-square foot freestanding sign or banner per road frontage and one 32-square foot freestanding sign bearing the name of the event and its organizers and/or sponsors on town property for promotional purposes. Vendors at these events will be allowed a maximum of 16 square feet of copy area per tent, stand, kiosk or other vending location.
Term Expiration Dates for Boards Changed
Council voted unanimously to change the term expiration dates of the Lewisville Planning Organization, which includes the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment, and the Willow Run Municipal Service District.
Previously, members of these boards were appointed in December and their terms ran from January 1 to December 31. However, this became problematic when council elections were held in November and newly-elected officials had to make appointments in December.
Council changed the term expiration date to March 31 to allow new officials an opportunity to review applications at length. The new terms will now begin on April 1 and expire on March 31. All board and committee terms currently in effect and due to expire in December will be extended to March 31.
Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Changes
Council approved two changes to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).
The preferred roof pitch requirement in the LD1 and LD2 zoning districts was changed from a 12:12 ratio with a minimum pitch of 8:12 to a preferred pitch between 8:12 and 12:12 with the minimum pitch being 8:12.
The new rule will help keep roof pitch and building scale in proportion to each other. The motion to approve was unanimous.
The requirements for sidewalks, trees, greenways and walkways as they apply to subdivisions were also changed.
Conventional subdivisions and Planned Residential Developments (PRDs) will now be required to install center traffic islands on streets at least 24 feet wide and with an uninterrupted distance of 750 feet or more without significant curvature. All islands shall be a minimum of eight feet wide and landscaped with evergreen shrubs.
The goal of this rule is to have the islands function as traffic calming devices.
Street trees planted to define a street canopy will now be provided at a rate of one tree per 45 feet of linear street frontage instead of one tree per 25 feet of frontage. This will allow the trees more room to grow.
A requirement regarding sidewalks, greenways and bikeways was stricken from the resolution and sent back to the Planning Board for further review.
The proposed change stated that for conventional subdivisions and PRDs with densities equal to or greater than RS-9, sidewalks, greenways or bikeways be constructed at a 2:1 ratio (two feet of new sidewalk for every one foot of major roadway within new major subdivisions) instead of the current 1:1 ratio.
For conventional subdivisions and PRDs with densities equal to or greater than RS-20, the 1:1 ratio would remain in place.
Mayor Tom Lawson pointed out that most of the undeveloped land in town is RS-20 or greater and would never fall under the 2:1 requirement.
“The rule would never apply to them. If Planning Board’s intent is to require the 2:1 ratio in new developments, then they need to take another look at how this is written and bring it back to us,” he said.
The vote to approve the changes and omit the sidewalk portion was 6-1 vote with Councilman Shelton Barefoot opposed.
In other business, council unanimously approved a $1,000 budget amendment to purchase sign materials for Warren Park design presentations. The town has ordered 10 copies of 30 x 42 prints of the park plan, which will be mounted on signs and posted at various locations around town.
It is council’s desire that comment cards and boxes be plaaced with the signs to garner public input on the park’s design.