HINESBURG DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

MINUTES OF JANUARY 21, 2003

Approved 2/04/03

Present: Tom McGlenn, Howdy Russell, Robert Gauthier, and Clint Emmons. Also Alex Weinhagen, Town Planner and Zoning Administrator, Peter Erb.

Absent members of the Board: Ted Bloomhardt, Wayne Burgess, and Greg Waples.

Members of the Audience: Lisa Murdock, David Wagner, Al Barber, Chris Morrell, Jen Milot, John Lyman, David Lyman, Barbara Forrest, Gladys Douse, Nancy Plunkett, John Mace, Bill Marks, Steve Giroux, Rocky Martin, Jeanne Wilson, Jean Isham, Andrea Morgante, Carrie Fenn, and David Giroux.

1. MINUTES Howdy Russell made the motion to accept the minutes of January 7, 2003 as corrected. This motion was seconded by Clint Emmons and passed.

2. LYMAN/GRABOWSKI Brett Grabowski was first on the agenda for a continuation of

sketch plan review of his proposal for a 3-lot subdivision of the David Lyman property on the west side of Route 116. Brett gave a short overview of this project: There will be three lots with a 1-acre lot being retained by Lyman and containing his storage barn and a second lot consisting of the approximately 65 acres with no development plans at this time and also retained by Lyman. Brett has a contract to purchase the third lot of approximately 10.4 acres and is proposing to build 32 detached condominium units. A portion of his lot is located in the Village District and the rest in the Agricultural District.

Since the last review of this project, Brett had been contacted about various issues in relations to their plans. As a result, he would be willing to move the project to the west to accommodate parking for events at the fire and police departments and playing fields for the Town. He explained that he is trying to make these units affordable and not as expensive as some new single-family homes built here.

The following Town board and commission members then spoke and voiced some of their concerns and ideas about this project:

• Beth Sengle – rec director – more town playing fields and with this number of young children the need for a preschool playground.
• Nancy Plunkett, Bill Marks, David Wagner, and Ted White – Conservation Commission – restoration along the LaPlatte River and including a buffer zone. There are several studies currently being conducted on the wetlands and flood plain in this area. They have shown a 75 foot buffer zone along the LaPlatte and they will have to meet all State stormwater regulations when they go through Act 250.

Brett explained in answer to their concerns that he will also have to meet all State regulations in regard to the use of herbicides and pesticides.

There was also a discussion of the set-aside area on the western side of the large lot, which will enable the applicants to propose this number of units.

• Chris Morrell – Police Chief – that parking on the interior road could be a safety issue. He also was concerned that affordable housing may require an increase in crime and the police department’s budget.
• Al Barber – Fire Chief – didn’t have any concerns or issues with this project.
• Jeanne Wilson – Town Administrator – moving the project to the west might help with the issue of these houses being very close to Town buildings and some industrial uses on Route 116.
• Andrea Morgante – Land Trust – the ecological impact of this project in such areas as protecting the watershed into the LaPlatte and wetlands within the Village.
• John Mace and Jean Isham – Planning Commission – the need to address this entire parcel of three lots and what plans they have for the future. Any future plans would depend on receiving more sewer allocations from the Town, which are not available at this time. An important issue is pedestrian access and how school children would walk to the elementary school. There needs to be sidewalks or paths to connect this project to the center of the Village. Another concern is the amount of traffic this project might produce. Brett will conduct a traffic study and will most likely have to construct a passing lane on Route 116.

Tom McGlenn made the motion to close this sketch plan discussion and the Board take this application up in deliberative session in order to render a decision. This motion was seconded by Robert Gauthier and did not pass as Clint Emmons voted against it and there was not the four necessary votes.

3. WARD – SKETCH PLAN Theora Ward was next on the agenda for sketch plan review of a proposed 2-lot subdivision of her property on the south side of the Sherman Hollow Road. Due the fact the applicant was not present, the Board did not act on this request.

4. LEGGETT – SKETCH PLAN Bill Leggett, with his representative George Bedard, next

presented a plan for sketch plan approval to subdivide his property on the east side of the Mechanicsville Road. His plan is to divide this lot into two parcels and remove the mobile homes that are currently there. George explained the following aspects of this proposal:

• The Leggetts are in negotiations to buy a strip of land from Russell Barone landowner to the east. This purchase would enable the Leggetts to meet the depth requirement in the Village District which is 150 feet.
• The Board had received an email from Barone stating some of his concerns. These included the location of the building envelopes and preserving the wooded area between his property and these two lots. If trees are cut on these lots, there will be additional screening planted to replace them. He also would like any future owners to be informed that there will be second phase to his development in back of these lots.
• They would keep the same two road-cuts onto the Mechanicsville Road but not the horseshoe drive. There is a stand of trees there and also that is where the drainage is between the lots. They will check with the Town Road Foreman as to whether new culverts are necessary.
• They can stake out the building envelopes prior to final plat review, so the Board members can see them.

Tom McGlenn made the motion that the Board close the public discussion of the matter and take this application up in deliberative session in order to render a decision. This motion was seconded by Clint Emmons and passed.

5. C.V.U. HIGH SCHOOL – SITE PLAN REVISION Kurt Proux then presented a revised site plan for C.V.U. which had received approval on 4/16/02 for locating a new electrical building. The original plat had shown this small building on the back of the school in the north/east corner. They would like to move it to the front of the new detached maintenance building on that side of the facility.

• The power to this building will be underground.
• There will be an emergency generator here as the school has a contract with the National Guard for the use of the school during emergencies.
• It will be the same building materials as the new maintenance building with a pitched roof but no windows.
• The entrance to this building will be on the west and there will be one down-cast light at that door.
• This revision will have to also be approved under their Act 250 permit.

Tom McGlenn made the motion to close the discussion of this request by C.V.U. and direct the staff to draft conditions of approval for the DRB meeting. This motion was seconded by Howdy Russell and passed.

5. DELIBERATIVE SESSION - Howdy Russell then made the motion that the Board go into deliberative session and this notion was seconded by Robert Gauthier and passed. In that session the Board acted on the following items:

• Masons/United Church Howdy Russell made the motion that the Board accept the proposed motion of approval as drafted by staff as corrected. This motion was seconded by Robert Gauthier and passed.
• St. Cyr Tom McGlenn made the motion that the Board accept the proposed motion of approval as drafted by staff as amended. This motion was seconded by Robert Gauthier and passed.
• Iverson Clint Emmons made the motion that the proposal by Virginia Iverson for a three-lot subdivision on Silver Street should go through preliminary plat review. This motion was seconded by Howdy Russell and passed. The staff will review and revise the conditions for sketch plan approval for the next meeting.
• Tom McGlenn made the motion to accept the submitted deed language for the James and Irena Case subdivision located on the east side of the Richmond Road. This motion was seconded by Robert Gauthier and passed.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Holly Russell

Recording Secretary