TOWN OF HINESBURG

PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES

December 4, 2002

Approved December 18, 2002

Commission Members Present: Fred Haulenbeek (acting Chairperson), Joe Iadanza, John Buckingham, Will Patten, George Bedard, Carrie Fenn

Commission Members Absent: Nancy Norris, Jean Isham, John Mace

Also Present: Alex Weinhagen (Town Planner), Tom Lyman

The meeting was called to order by vice chair Fred Haulenbeek at approximately 7:40pm.

Town Plan Revision Process – Public Opinion Survey:

The commissioners reviewed a pre-survey survey prepared by John Mace. After some discussion, the pre-survey was approved as presented. It will be reproduced and Alex will distribute it to a number of town boards and the Hinesburg Business Association for completion. It is our hope that information interpreted from the survey will assist the preparation of the final survey to be more widely distributed. The purposes of these surveys are to supply the Planning Commission information and guidance in preparation for public hearings associated with the rewrite and town passage of the new Town Plan.

Zoning and Subdivision Regulation Changes:

Next, the commissioners reviewed revisions to the Zoning Bylaw, as prepared by Joe Iadanza. We were working from a document, “Joe’s Revision as of 11/20/02”.

The results of our work will appear in a resulting “revised Zoning Bylaw”, but I will highlight some of this evening’s effort below:

Stream setbacks

· 75’ structure set back

· Pond setbacks unchanged

· Expansion of pre-existing structures – conditional use

Lots divided by a stream or road

· Small revisions defining contiguous area made to improve clarity…no definition change

Multiple Structures and Uses

· Parenthetical language removed to simplify the intention of the section

Height Limitations

· Fences – 8’ limit

· 10’ fences – conditional use

· balance unchanged

Permitted Uses – Commercial

· Omitted #3 because the town has no control over commercial agricultural uses

· #4 – Duplex and Multi-Family Structures…discussed and left unchanged

· add: medical, dental, gov’t over 1000 square feet.

Exterior Building Character

· Village roadside facades must include windows

· Must be architecturally compatible with the area

Permitted Uses

· Mortuaries and funeral homes deleted as permitted use

· “ “ “ “ added as conditional use

Applications for building permits

· #3 – “Residential” structures specified

· all commercial and industrial expansions require a permit

Minutes of the November 20, 2002 Meeting:

The minutes of the 11/20/02 Planning Commission meeting were reviewed. George Bedard MOVED and John Buckingham SECONDED that the minutes be approved as presented. The motion PASSED 6-0.

The meeting was adjourned at a reasonable hour…10:07PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

______________________________/____________

Fred Haulenbeek Date