Work Session Meeting minutes of the Town Council Work Session on February 17, 2004

As reviewed, approved and accepted by the Town Council on March 2, 2004

The Work Session was opened by Mayor Charles W. Oland at 7:30 p.m. Council Members Frank Bennett, David Preusch and Charles Bradsher were present. Council Member Tom Wilkinson was absent. The Town Planner, Mr. Stan Benning, was present. The Clerk was present. There were three citizens present.

Mayor Oland commented that the Work Session’s agenda was to discuss the request that the Mayor and Council had received from the Town’s Citizens Advisory Committee regarding their recommendations relative to the styles and architecture utilized in new development. The Town’s attorney, Stanley D. Abrams, had written a memo stating that such recommendations would most likely become a part of the Town’s zoning code.

Chair of the Citizens Advisory Board, Eric Wenger, distributed a proposal for architectural controls for new development within the Town of Laytonsville. Items covered included: Eligibility of materials; design; workmanship and association (development which relates locally to the diversity within the Historic District and surrounding neighborhoods.)

Town Planner, Stan Benning, agrees with the Design recommendation of the Citizens Advisory board in that development which has a sense of cohesiveness expressed through a similarity and/or variety of detail relatedness, architectural otherwise, based upon abstracts of aesthetic quality is important. This would include scale, height, proportion, materials, colors, textures, silhouette, siting, etc. Stan Benning concluded that you have to provide standards and the standards have to be flexible.

Mayor Oland commented it would be appropriate for the Mayor and Council to have the authorization to approve an initial them for any preliminary designs.

Council Member Dave Preusch reviewed the Layton’s Crest (Mobley Farm Drive) subdivision standards.

Resident Pete Stadler reported that he was particularly interested in the procedure that would allow the elected officials of the Town to retain the final approval.

Stan Benning expressed a concern regarding the legal aspects of any established standards and the necessity of special exceptions. Town Counsel would have to approve any standards before final approval.

Mayor Oland requested that Stan Benning develop a broad standards definition plan for further review by the Mayor and Council. This plan should be submitted for review by the Mayor and Council by June, 2004.

A discussion regarding Home Owner’s Associations followed relative to special taxes, liability, parks, common usage and exclusivity.

The Work Session was concluded at 8:25 p.m.

Cathryn D. Buit

Clerk

February 17, 2004