HINESBURG DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD
MINUTES OF MARCH 18, 2003
Approved 4/1/03
Present: Tom McGlenn, Howdy Russell, Robert Gauthier, Greg Waples, Wayne Burgess, Ted Bloomhardt, and Clint Emmons. Also Peter Erb, Town Zoning Administrator and Alex Weinhagen, Town Planner.
Members of the Audience: Karla & George Munson, Lucas Evanson, Bernadette & Robert Goodrich, Patty Whitney, Nancy LeRoy, Sally & Chuck Reiss, Jeffry Galper, George Bedard, and Carl Bohlen.
1. MINUTES Greg Waples made the motion to accept the minutes of March 4, 2003 as corrected. This motion was seconded by Ted Bloomhardt and passed.
2. EVANSON/GOODRICH – FINAL PLAT The first item on the agenda was continued
public hearing for the Evanson/Goodrich 8-lot subdivision on the corner of the Buck Hill West and Lavigne Hill Roads. Sam Evanson was present to explain the new submittals for this project:
· A list of three steps for establishing and maintaining the landscaping between the retention pond on lot #3 and the Buck Hill West Road.
· Photographs of the existing houses in this neighborhood at this time of year and their visibility from the Buck Hill Road.
· A picture of the woods at the proposed trail easement location of the east side of the property. This easement would be given to the town for a path to be used by neighbors and other townspeople.
· A revision to the Forest Management Plan, which would consider the preservation of the most “mature, healthy and long lived trees.”
· A plan, not yet approved by the Select Board, that had been worked on with Rocky Martin, the Public Works Director and the neighbors committee. This would enable the road to be improved and yet save many of the trees on the sides of the Town Road. The Select Board has agreed that this road does not have to meet the 18 foot width of the Town’s Road Standards.
· A new list of the percent of building envelopes to be cleared on each lot. He explained that these would be included in the deeds and homeowners association covenants.
Jeffry Galper, the landowner to the east of this project, was concerned about the status of his well when these 8 new wells are drilled. Sam agreed to notify the neighbors when he is going to drill the new wells. Jeffry was also concerned about the path easement being so close to his property line. There is not vegetation on his property on his western boundary. It was suggested that a better location for this path could be along the seasonal stream in the center of the subdivision.
It was suggested that the new owners of the two lots on the Buck Hill Road West side work with the neighbors in replanting trees to help preserve the canopy of that Town Road.
Jeff Galper stated he feels this project is too dense and does not fit the quality of
neighborhood. It was explained that the Zoning density in this district is 3 acres and the average size of these lots is 4 acres in size.
Ted Bloomhardt made the motion to close the public hearing for the Evanson/Goodrich final plat review. This motion was seconded by Tom McGlenn and passed with Wayne Burgess abstaining from the vote.
3.
ST. HILAIRE – SKETCH PLAN Tony St. Hilaire was next on the agenda to request
sketch plan approval for a 3-lot subdivision on the Pond Road. Lot #1 would be 3.3 acres in size, lot #2 with 3 acres and the larger lot 48.3 Acres. Tony explained the following aspects of his proposal:
·
He agreed that Tom McGlenn, as member of the Board,
although an adjacent neighbor, would not have a conflict of interest in
reviewing this project.
·
Lot #1 had an old house, which has been removed, and
replaced with a new house on the same footprint.
·
They have constructed a new road-cut to the entire
property at the request of Mike Anthony, the Town’s Road Foreman.
·
There is an extensive deeryard at the top of this
property and a gravel pit on lot 2, which is pretty much depleted.
·
They have drilled a new well which has a yield of 25
gallons per minutes and which will be shared with lots 1 & 3.
·
He has a septic design on lot #3 with replacement areas
for lots 1 & 3.
·
Run-off from the shared drive, will go toward the
seasonal stream in back of the house on lot #1.
·
His plan is to enroll the larger lot in the State Land
Use Program.
·
There were concerns about the visibility of the house
on lot #2 and Tony agreed to hang a blue tarp in the general location of that
residence.
Tom McGlenn made the motion to close the public hearing on this St. Hilaire sketch plan review for the Board to take up this application in deliberative session. This motion was seconded by Ted Bloomhardt and passed unanimously.
4. NRG – SITE PLAN Dave and Jan Blittersdorf and their engineer Ian Jewks from Krebs
and Lansing next presented a plan for a new manufacturing and office building for their business Wind NRG Systems LLC. They are currently leasing a building in Commerce Park and have purchased the Riggs property on the east side of Route 116 north of the Park. This building will be located in Industrial District V. They did not feel that Board member, Clint Emmons, who is an adjacent landowner to the north, would have a conflict of interest. They then led a discussion with the Board members and explained the following aspects of this site plan (with several revisions submitted at the meeting):
· The building will be approximately 46,000 square feet in size and will have a large pond for cooling in front of it.
· The building will be a standing seam metal building with many windows and solar panels on the roof.
· The roof on the back side will be a white membrane with many sky lights. (in answer to Clint’s question, Dave said this roof could be another color, but it would not be as efficient in reflecting sunlight.
· There will be handicapped parking spaces with a ramp. Dave explained that they would encourage carpooling and not have a large parking lot.
· There are Class III wetlands near the west end of the parking lot and they are working with the State wetland coordinator.
· They currently employ about 43 people and with the construction of this facility could employ up to 90 people. As there is not room for expansion of this site, they may go to a second shift, in the future.
· There is a loading dock on the north/east corner of the building and there was some concern among the Board members if there is sufficient space there for large trucks to back and turn around. The road to this area is also quite steep.
· They do not have any retail space here, but do have most of their components manufactured off site and then assemble them here.
· It was very helpful for the Board members to see a photo of this property from the Mobil Station in Commerce Park with the new building superimposed onto it.
· There will be nine 12 x 13 solar panels around the perimeter of the pond. These would turn in the sunlight and absorb heat and not reflect it. They will not create glare onto Route 116 or off the property.
· There would be a path around the pond and they are trying to work with a landowner in Commerce Park to have an easement for a path there. There is a pedestrian easement along this new road out to Route 116 and eventually the Town may require sidewalks here.
· They will not have to go through the Act 250 process.
· There will not be testing towers on the roof.
· It was felt that there needs to be some more landscaping on the south side of the parking lot and along the south edge of the drive to the east side of the building.
· There is a road in back of the building for fire protection and snow removal.
· There will not be exterior continuous lighting, even in the parking lot, as all lighting will be motion detection.
· The sign would be up by the building, however, they are not requesting approval for one at this time.
· The Town has received plans for the commercial lot in front of this, and these applicants will work with them in coordinating the access, sewer and water plans.
· Rocky Martin has several issues with the water and sewer hookups and they will work with him on these.
· There will be radiant heat in the floors and they’ll heat with wood pellets.
Tom McGlenn made the motion that the Board close the public discussion of this site plan and take up this application in deliberative session in order to render a decision. This motion was seconded by Howdy Russell and passed.
5. DELIBERATIVE SESSION Tom McGlenn then made the motion that the Board go into deliberative session and this motion was seconded by Howdy Russell and passed. At that time, the Board rendered the following decisions:
[These motions of approval were not voted on by Wayne Burgess, who was absent from the March 4, 2003 meeting.]
5. The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Holly Russell, Recording Secretary