Village
Growth Project
Public Discussion Schedule with
Planning Commission
as of 2/20/06
Each work session will focus on
public feedback in small groups to encourage dialogue and participation. Discussion questions will be used as a
catalyst to generate specific input on ideas/concepts being considered. Maps and related material will be available
at each work session. See
Planning/Zoning page at www.hinesburg.org
for more info.
* Note – The discussion questions below are tentative and subject to
revision as we proceed.
Feb. 1 Focus Areas: Village
Core & Southern Approach
Discussion Questions:
1) What kinds of new uses would you like to see near the Buck Hill Road, Route 116 intersection to create an earlier sense of “arrival” when entering the village from the south? Examples: recreation fields, small residential neighborhood, commercial uses (retail stores, restaurant, bank, offices, etc.), etc.
2) Do you support new homes and businesses behind the historic “Main Street” section of Route 116 – i.e., around Lyman Park and surrounding areas?
3) Do you think the village area needs and would benefit from an assisted living facility for the elderly or disabled – possibly next to Kelly’s Field?
4) Do you think a network of new local roads, sidewalks, and access drives should be created in the existing village core to facilitate connectivity and shared parking in this area?
5) Town Green & Park – If Lyman Park were redesigned as a more formal Town Green/Common, what kinds of amenities would you like to see? What do you think about relocating the war memorials and surrounding Town Green to a new location in order to re-establish commercial use of this space (used to be a church on this corner)? Possible new locations: next to Town Hall, in redesigned Lyman Park, next to Fire Station, etc.
Feb. 15 Focus Areas: Village
Core & Commerce Park
Discussion Questions:
1) Do you think future development should occur within the existing village core FIRST, before other areas like Ballard’s Corner or Mechanicsville Road?
2) With the exception of the historic “Main Street” section of Route 116, are you amenable to seeing 3 or 4 story buildings in the village area – either new buildings or redesigns to existing buildings?
3) Do you think the village growth center should include some truly affordable housing? Affordable means the price is capped so that annual cost does not exceed 30% of gross income for those earning less than the state median income. Frequently this involves partnering with non-profit groups like Housing Vermont, Burlington Community Land Trust, etc. If yes, where should it be located, and should it be focused in certain areas, mixed in all neighborhoods, a little of both?
4) Would you support more residential housing mixed into the commercial area in/around Commerce Park?
5) Do you think the Town should review the architectural design of new and redesigned village area buildings? If yes, what kinds of design features do you like and dislike?
Mar. 1 Focus Areas: Ballard’s Corner &
Route 116 North of Commerce Street
Discussion Questions:
1) Which growth option are you more interested in for this area – i.e., greater hamlet concept or lesser hamlet concept (refer to maps)? Both options include some degree of mixed commercial & residential growth, but the extent and arrangement is markedly different.
2) Do you favor or oppose a new north/south road connector west of Route 116 to provide access options for growth in this area? To what extent does your answer depend on the function and end points of the road – e.g., local, low speed traffic vs. Route 116 bypass; Commerce Street to Shelburne Falls Road or Charlotte Road to Shelburne Falls Road?
3) Should the Town encourage more large industry (employers like NRG, Nestech, Iroquois Manufacturing, etc.) to locate in the area from NRG to CVU road on the east side of Route 116?
4) Do you want the Town to restrict larger commercial or retail buildings, either through size caps or through more stringent review standards? Consider Williston’s big box stores, but also consider Lantman’s, NRG, Saputo.
5) Do you think concentrating more people, stores, and jobs in this area of new village growth should be offset by protecting more of Hinesburg’s rural lands from development? Do you think the Town should allow rural landowners to sell the development rights to their rural land in order to encourage concentrated growth in the village area?
6) Do you think the proposed village green (or community gardens) shown on the greater Ballard’s Corner hamlet is a good idea? How could such a space best serve the community (visual aesthetic, community building, community gardens, recreation, etc.)?
Mar. 15 Focus
Areas: Mechanicsville Road
Discussion Questions:
1) Do you think new neighborhoods in this area should be primarily along Mechanicsville Road or also include side streets to the upper slopes to the east of the road (south of cemetery, primarily Quinn property)?
2) Should Patrick Brook be allowed to “re-naturalize” by getting rid of the upper portion of the canal (north of Commerce Park)? See map for new neighborhood possibilities.
3) Do you want the Town to control the pace of new growth in this and other “expansion” areas (like south of Ballard’s Corner) – e.g., via an annual cap on new dwellings/development, via phasing tied to improved municipal infrastructure (streets, sidewalks, police/fire service, etc.), or other methods?
4) Do you think the area north of Commerce Street should continue to have a residential focus, or should other uses (e.g., commercial) be considered?
5) Should there be a neighborhood green in this area to serve as a focal point? How should this green or common area differ from others proposed in the existing village core or south of Ballard’s Corner?
Mar. 29 Presentation
Meeting: Upcoming Municipal Projects & Possible Development Plans Pending
Re-Zoning
Presentations:
1) Upcoming municipal projects – Alex Weinhagen, Town Planner
2) NRG master planning – David Blittersdorf, NRG Owner
3) Jiffy Mart planning – Tony Cairns, Jiffy Mart (Champlain Oil) Owner
4) Creekside area planning – presenter to be determined
Apr. 5 Focus
Areas: Entire Greater Village Area
Discussion Questions To Be Determined – Topics to include:
5) LaPlatte Partnership presentation
6) Transportation improvements discussion – short term, long term
7) Limits of the growth center – when, how many people, what % of future growth can village absorb
8) Context of growth center with rest of Town