HINESBURG DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

MINUTES OF OCTOBER 29, 2002

Approved

Present: Tom McGlenn, Howdy Russell, Greg Waples, Ted Bloomhardt, and Clint Emmons. Also Peter Erb, Zoning Administrator.

Member Absent: Wayne Burgess.

Members of the Audience: David Haber, Robin Edelman, Marty Illick, Lance Smith, Michael J & Clark W Hinsdale III, David & Jan Blittersdorf, Ian Jewkes, Louise Roomet, and Joseph Fallon.

1. MINUTES – Tom McGlenn made the motion to accept the minutes of October 15,

2002 as corrected. This motion was seconded by Greg Waples and passed unanimously.

2. ST. CYR – SKETCH PLAN Brian and Penny St. Cyr were first on the agenda to

request sketch plan approval to create a new parcel at their property, which is on the corner of Tyler Bridge Road and Route 116. This new lot would be 2.8 acres in size and they are requesting approval for a 3-bedroom house and in the future, an apartment in the proposed detached garage. They had submitted a letter from by W. Bradford Ramsay, P.E. indicating there are adequate soils on site for this project and a plan locating the septic system on the property.

This proposed new lot would have 300 feet of frontage on the Tyler Bridge Road and 327 feet on Route 116. As per the Hinesburg Zoning Bylaw, a new lot is required to have 400 feet of frontage on Route 116. This issue could be addressed as a Planned Residential Development (PRD) or a lot without frontage on Route 116.

Brian explained that if they proposed this as a PRD they would provide protection for the wetland on the north end of their property, and by moving the proposed house location back would ensure the meadow on the corner is left open.

The Board had received a fax from Steve Walker, the neighbor to the west of the property, addressing his concerns about this project. It was explained that the Walker shallow well is outside well-head protection zone for the proposed septic system. The driveway, which could result in lights shining into the Mitchell house across the street, is actually the original St. Cyr drive and not this newer shared access. Further research can be done on the original farm deed in reference to mobile homes.

There was then discussion of how the applicant could meet the lot size and setback requirements if this proposal is not approved as a PRD. The applicant then agreed to withdraw his sketch plan application to further work on possible configurations of this new lot.

3. HODGKIN – SKETCH PLAN Vivian Hodgkin was present with George Bedard

to present a proposal for sketch plan review to subdivide a lot on the Lewis Creek Road. This subdivision would allow the two existing residences to each be on their own lot.

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George explained that the Hodgkins own 3 lots: a larger lot of 30 acres where their own home is located; a lot approximately 1.5 acres in size, where two rental houses are located (the larger of which has an apartment and the smaller one which, at one time, was a camp); and a small 0.70 acre empty lot on the corner of the Lewis Creek Road and Turkey Lane. This proposal was being presented as a Planned Residential Development due to the fact is would not meet several requirements of the Zoning Bylaw. The following issues and concerns were then discussed and explained:

• There needs to be sufficient off-road space to park 6 vehicles for these 3 living units.
• Each of these houses have its own septic systems and drilled wells. An engineer has done perc tests and may design new septic systems.
• There would be a 2-acre set-aside area on the other side of Lewis Creek to provide a 100 foot buffer zone for the creek. This area will not be part of the acres on the north side of the creek with the new house lots and will not be sold with those lots.
• There is an existing wood road through this buffer zone and the applicant would like to reserve this area for possible septic systems if the soils prove to be suitable.
• Marty Illick, from the Lewis Creek Association, explained that this is a wonderful area along Lewis Creek and it would be good to protect the stream bank. She also suggested providing public access along the creek to the Fish and Game property to the south. She stated that their group would be willing to work with the applicant in trying to achieve this. She also suggested providing an area for public parking next to the creek for people that walk and bicycle on the Lewis Creek Road.
• George explained that this proposal is for subdividing this lot with the existing houses into two parcels and they are not addressing the rest of the Hodgkin property. Vivian said that she will be leaving soon for the winter and would have to think about these issues. She said that she realizes this is a unique piece of property with many natural features.
• On the FEMA maps, this land with the two existing houses is shown to be in the flood hazard area.

Tom McGlenn made the motion that the staff draft a sketch plan motion with conditions for the DRB to act on with particular attention to the PRD and protection of Lewis Creek, and that the Board further discuss this in deliberative session. This motion was seconded by Clint Emmons and passed.

4. RIGGS – SKETCH PLAN Howdy Riggs then presented a plan for a 3-lot

subdivision of his property, which is located on the east side of Route 116 north of Commerce Park. This proposal consists of lot 1-B, which is 9.51 acres in size and is a industrial lot as per the recent Zoning Bylaw change; lot 1-C which is 46.49 acres in size and is residential; and 10.02 acre lot 1-D which is also residential. At this time, Howdy is planning to sell lots B & C to NRG Systems which is owned by David and Jan

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Blittersdorf, and retain lot D for his future residential uses. There are no plans at this time for the development uses of lots B & D.

The following issues were then explained and discussed:

• Lot D will be accessed off the C.V.U. Road and the other two lots will use the road-cut established at the time of the Riggs subdivision which created lot 1-A. This is a lot zoned commercial and owned by Clark Hinsdale III, Michael Hinsdale and Paul MacCluskey.

• The engineer for this project, Ian Jewkes, submitted a traffic study for this proposal that has been submitted to the State Department of Transportation. This road-cut has received a letter of intent from the State. Ian stated that if necessary, the NRG owners would build a turning lane for south-bound traffic.
• Clark Hinsdale then reported that he had been involved with this parcel of land owned by the Riggs with an earlier proposal in the 1980’s. He also has recently met with the state traffic engineers, and at the next DRB meeting, will be proposing an alternative road-cut to the south for his property.
• Joe Fallon, Dave & Jan Blittersdorf’s lawyer, explained that Howdy Riggs does not have an easement to cross the Hinsdale property and this would have to be negotiated. This shared access point was the one approved at the time the final plat approval of the subdivision of the commercial lot (1-A).
• There are wetlands on this property and they will be mapped for the next review.
• The owners of NRG Systems will install the water and sewer lines within this shared roadway.
• A pedestrian right-of-way was shown on the plan along Route 116 and there was discussion about continuing this across lot D and eventually to C.V.U.

Tom McGlenn then made the motion to direct the staff to draft a sketch plan motion

and that the Board further discuss this proposal in deliberative session. This motion was seconded by Clint Emmons and passed.

5. Tom McGlenn then made the motion that the DRB go into deliberative session and

the motion was seconded by Greg Waples and passed.

• Tom McGlenn made the motion that the DRB grant sketch plan approval to William and Barbara Leggett to subdivide a lot on the Mechanicsville Road with two existing mobile homes. This motion was seconded by Howdy Russell. The resulting vote was Howdy Russell and Tom McGlenn voting in favor and Ted Bloomhardt, Greg Waples and Clint Emmons voting against as the project does not meet the purpose or criteria of a PRD. Therefore, the motion was defeated.

• Tom McGlenn then made the motion to grant site plan approval to the Town of Hinesburg for a new access plan for the Town Hall as per the written motion

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• prepared by staff, as revised. This motion was seconded by Howdy Russell and passed with Ted Bloomhardt abstaining from the vote.

• Tom McGlenn made the motion to accept the submission for the James and Charlene O’Neill subdivision on the Buck Hill Road West as per the condition #10 of their final plat approval, with the exception that the equipment size shall be limited to minimize the amount of damage in the power line easement. This motion was seconded by Howdy Russell and passed with Greg Waples abstaining from the vote.

• There was then a discussion of the staff prepared draft motion for preliminary plat approval for the Evanson/Goodrich subdivision, which is located on corner of Buck Hill Road West and the Lavigne Hill Road. The Board members made several suggestions of revisions for these conditions of approval and the staff will update this language for the next meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Holly Russell

Recording Secretary