HINESBURG DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 5, 2002

Approved 11/19/02

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

Member Absent: Wayne Burgess.

Members of the Audience: Janet Francis, Viola and Karen Goodrich, Sam Evanson, Launa Lagasse, David Blittersdorf, Michael Hinsdale, and Colin Smith.

1. MINUTES Greg Waples made the motion to accept the minutes of October 29, 2002 and this motion was seconded by Clint Emmons and passed.

2. GOODRICH – SKETCH PLAN George Bedard made a presentation of a sketch plan request by the Goodrich family to subdivide an approximately 100-acre parcel of land located east of the Lavigne Hill Road and west of the North Road. George explained that this property had been divided between Robert and Ralph Goodrich and Viola Goodrich to settle the estate of Maurice Goodrich. There have been deeds recorded as well as mylars of these “proposed” new lots: the western lot identified on the 2002 Tax Maps as 9-01-69 with 33 acres and the eastern lot identified as parcel #9-01-69.1 with 67 acres.

The following issues were then explained and discussed:

• There is a small separate triangular lot on the west side of the Lagivne Hill Road included in the acreage for the western lot, which has an existing house.
• There is no request for development on the larger eastern lot whose acreage includes the triangle on the other side of Observatory Road which recently sold.
• There is also a 16’ wide strip of land deeded by the Goodriches to the Town which is Observatory Road.
• The existing house did not need septic approval, at the time it was built, but did have an engineer-designed system.
• The boundary line between these two proposed lots is a seasonal stream.
• Although the existing house may not need septic approval, the Town of Hinesburg does have a septic policy on subdividing property with an existing house on one of the lots.
• The plats submitted did not have survey details along the two Town Roads or the dividing brook and these should be included. The applicants are asking that this requirement be waived for their final plat submission.
• Janet Francis, a neighbor to the south, questioned why there has been improvements done to Observatory Road. The Goodriches have deeded this strip of land to the Town and in return they have been given materials to upgrade it.

It was decided there needs to be a more detailed survey of the property being divided and the understanding that without further DRB review and approval there shall be no development on the eastern lot.

Tom McGlenn made the motion to close the discussion on the Goodrich proposal and that the Board continue the discussion of this matter in deliberative session. The motion was seconded by Howdy Russell and passed.

3. MAKUKU – CONDITIONAL USE Owiso Makuku was next on the agenda with

Paul Dreher to request a conditional use permit to construct a small addition on a house that she owns on the west side of Upper Access Road at Lake Iroquois. This is the former Richard Donato property that had previously received approval for conversion from a camp to a year-round residence with a new approved septic system.

This request is governed by Section 5.10 of the Zoning Bylaw and Owiso explained that the current house has 918 square feet of living space and this new dining area, which will be on the roof of the lower section of the house, will only be 91 1/2 square feet in size. They are not enlarging the existing footprint of the house. Owiso plans to eventually re-side the house and replace the windows. They have no plans for exterior lighting at this time.

Tom McGlenn made the motion to close the public hearing and this motion was seconded by Greg Waples and passed. Greg Waples made the motion to direct the staff to draft of motion of approval to Owiso Makuku for a conditional use permit with conditions as discussed during the review. This motion was seconded by Howdy Russell and passed.

4. HINSDALE – SKETCH PLAN The next request was for sketch plan approval to

subdivide an 8.99 Acre piece of property located on the east side of Route 116 just north of Commerce Park. One of the owners, Clark Hinsdale III was present to explain the following aspects of their proposal:

· They have met with David Blittersdorf, perspective owner of the Howard Riggs, Industrial lot, and have agreed to use the road-cut onto Route 116 approved when this commercial lot was created on 8/02/2000.

· The plan is two parcels; Lot 1A1 which is 3 acres to be purchased and developed by Lance Smith, one of the owners of Vermont Sport Car. No plans were presented for lot 1A2 which is 5.99 acres. A plan showing the proposed building and lot setup of the Smith business was shown.

· A wetland delineation and letter had been submitted by Kathy O’Brien, a wetland consultant

· There will be a curb-cut off this new private road with a right-of-way across lot 1A1 to access lot 1A2. The submitted plan, which was reviewed by staff, had indicated that the lot line for lot 1A1 would go to Route 116. Clark submitted a new plan showing lot 1A2 extending in front of this lot across the entire Route 116 frontage.

· These lots have a sewer allocation from the Select Board and will hook onto the water and sewer lines to be installed by NRG Systems Inc. (owned by the Blittersdorfs). David Blittersdorf explained that they would allow only two businesses from this commercial lot to hook onto these water and sewer lines.

· There are no mapped flood hazard areas on this property, however there are errors in those federal maps and this issue would have to be addressed.

· There was also a discussion of the pedestrian easement along Route 116.

The Board members had concerns and questions about the following issues:

· The number of businesses that may eventually be developed on this parcel.

· The potential for the parcel in front of lot 1A1 becoming a separate lot.

· The fact that the proposed building on lot 1A1 will face this new private road and how it’s appearance and screening from Route 116 will affect the entrance into the village.

· Whether this right-of-way dividing the two lots is an easement or a boundary line and how this will affect setbacks for future buildings.

· The extent that the wetlands and flood area would affect lot 1A2.

Ted Bloomhardt made the motion that the staff draft a motion based on comments on this proposal as discussed this evening with a new plan being submitted by the applicant showing the actual dimensions prior to the staff drafting this motion. This motion was seconded by Greg Waples and passed.

5. DELIBERATIVE SESSION

q Tom McGlenn made the motion to approve the preliminary plat as drafted by staff for the Evanson/Goodrich 8-lot subdivision as amended. This motion was seconded by Clint Emmons and passed with 4 affirmative votes and Greg Waples voting against.

q Tom McGlenn made the motion to grant sketch plan as drafted by staff as corrected to Howard Riggs for a 3-lot subdivision. This motion was seconded by Ted Bloomhardt and passed unanimously.

q Ted Bloomhard then made the motion to accept the motion of denial as drafted by staff of the Leggett sketch plan as amended. This motion was seconded by Greg Waples and passed unanimously.

q Greg Waples made the motion to accept the Hodgkin denial as drafted by staff as amended and this motion was seconded by Clint Emmons and passed unanimously.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Holly Russell

Recording Secretary