HINESBURG PLANNING COMMISSION

       Minutes of September 26, 2001

APPROVED 10/17/01

 

Present:            Ted Bloomhardt, Roger Kohn, John Mace, Jean Isham, George Bedard, Carrie Fenn, Fred Haulenbeek, and George Munson.  Also Faith Ingulsrud, Town Planner                       

 

Members Absent:            Will Patten                                   

 

Members of the Audience:            none

 

 

1.  Work Session - Forest Resource Overlay District.  Brain Shupe of Burnt Rock, Inc. presented a first draft of a forest overlay conservation district for the Planning Commission members to review and use as a starting point for discussion.  He also brought some draft maps of the overlay district.  The draft language would be added to Article 3.11 of the Zoning Bylaws as an overlay district to address ridgeline development.  Mr. Shupe noted the overlay district would apply to the interior areas in RR1 and RR2 districts, and that the need for a permit in that area would trigger further review.  Mr. Shupe led everyone through the draft.   George Bedard noted at the beginning of the exercise  that he did not like the draft.  Carrie Fenn said she liked it because it would keep large parcels of forest land intact.   Jean Isham added that the draft was a good starting point, and the details needed to be worked out. 

 

The issues of forestry as a permitted use, and using forest management for pre-development site preparation was discussed at length.  It was agreed the Planning Commission does not want to limit access roads in the proposed overlay district.  Faith thought the Town’s new road standards would address the road requirements listed in the draft, and that the issues were not just limited to a forest district.  John Mace said all the items on page 3 of the draft dealing with visual impacts of development don’t apply to all the forest overlay areas because they are not visible from the road.  Fred Haulenbeek noted that building design standards add another layer of scrutiny to be used only in visually sensitive areas.  Mr. Shupe asked if the Planning Commission wanted standards to encourage clustering in the forest overlay district.  Ted said he didn’t want fragmentation, and Roger noted that forestry clear cutting is incompatible with housing development.  Roger wondered if cell phone towers should be addressed.  Faith suggested that the wireless facilities be dealt with conceptually in the new Town Plan.  Fred suggested the purpose section of the draft be revised to clearly explain that the forest resource overlay district was not created to prohibit development but rather trigger greater scrutiny and encourage land stewardship.  Fred gave Mr. Shupe a written paragraph of this theme to incorporate into the purpose section of the next draft of the document. 

 

It was agreed that rural density and development patterns will be discussed at the next work session, scheduled for October 24th.

 

 

2.  DRB Update.  Faith noted the Selectboard is having a public meeting on Monday, October 15th at 7:00 p.m. regarding the DRB.  Faith reminded the Planning Commission members to attend the meeting if possible.

 

3.  Minutes of August 15 and September 5.  Roger Kohn moved to adopt the minutes of September 5, 2001 as revised.  Jean Isham seconded, and it was unanimously approved with the exception of George Munson, who abstained from the vote.

 

Jean Isham moved to approve the minutes of August 15, 2001 as corrected.  The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.

 

 

4.  Town Plan Grant Application.  Faith suggested planning grant funds be sought for expenses at the beginning of the town plan process.  Ted said he liked a town-wide questionnaire with scientific polling methods.  Roger liked an informal survey as a way to engage people.  Jean suggested a telephone survey.  Faith said she will explore the specifics.  Community forums are also liked, but Jean noted the time of year that they are scheduled is crucial.  Faith said the goal is for the Planning Commission to adopt an update of the current Town Plan in August 2002, and then after more work is done, re-adopt a more refined Town Plan.

 

 

5.  Miscellaneous

CVU Meeting.  Faith reminded everyone about the All Board meeting on the CVU expansion,  Monday, October 1st.

              Husted/Babbott Site Visit.  A site visit regarding access issues for the Husted/Babbott property on Pond Road was scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on October 3rd, prior to the Planning Commission meeting.  It was agreed that the site visit should be part of a public meeting.

Donato Question.  Faith relayed that Lisa Carlson wondered if Al Barber’s approval of turn outs was sufficient to meet one of the items the Planning Commission requires prior to her scheduling another meeting with the Planning Commission.  It was agreed that Rocky Martin should go to the site and check it out.  Mrs. Carlson also told Faith that she has all the deeds for everyone involved on the road.  All the deeds say the original ROW is over the road “as it is laid out now”.  Roger disagreed with Mrs. Carlson’s interpretation of the wording in the deeds.  He felt a survey is needed to figure out where the original road was at the time the deeds were written.  Roger said Mrs. Carlson needs to provide an opinion by an attorney or surveyor.

 

 

The meeting adjourned at  10:30 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Sally Kimball, Recording Secretary