TOWN OF HINESBURG
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Approved April 16, 2003
Commission Members Present: Jean Isham (Chair), John Mace, George Bedard, Carrie Fenn, John Buckingham, Nancy Norris, Joe Iadanza.
Commission Members Absent: Will Patten, Fred Haulenbeek
Also Present: Alex Weinhagen (Town Planner), David Spitz (Planning Consultant).
The meeting began at approximately 7:35 p.m.
Minutes of the March 19, 2003 Meeting:
George MOVED to approve the minutes of March 5, 2003 as written. John Buckingham SECONDED the motion. The motion PASSED 7-0.
Announcements and Citizens
to be Heard
Carrie shared a draft of the CCRPC’s open space report. Alex shared copies of the final report from the VT Council on Agriculture Viability, which Wayne Bissonette provided, and which were made available at the March 25 town plan forum.
Town Plan Revision Project:
The Commission discussed the March 25 forum on Hinesburg’s rural areas. Alex indicated that approximately 80 people attended.
David discussed the plans for the April 8 forum on managing growth in the rural areas. This forum will be held at the Community Alliance Church. Other than the community survey results, we won’t do any poster displays for this forum. With that in mind, we’ll only allocate 10 minutes at the beginning for people to arrive, get refreshments, and chat. After a brief introduction, Brian Shupe from Burnt Rock Associates will give a multi-media presentation to explain some rural planning/zoning options. David will then break the audience into 4 groups (in different rooms), and each group will spend the bulk of the forum discussing 3 questions related to rural area issues and growth management. There will be a facilitator for each group, and these will be: David, Alex, Brian, to be determined (likely Dawn Francis per a recommendation by Faith Inglusrud, previous Town planner). David will ensure that Planning Commissioners are evenly distributed between the 4 groups. At the end of the forum, everyone will reconvene in the large meeting room, and a representative from each group will review their group’s discussions, conclusions, etc.
Attendees will put stickers on a Town map as they arrive at the forum, and David will use this as a tool to create the 4 smaller groups based on geographic clusters. The idea being to make “neighborhood” or area groups. Joe and Nancy will serve as greeters again. Jean will continue to handle refreshments. George will stand by the Town map with the stickers and help attendees place a sticker where they live. Nancy volunteered the use of her car/van for clean up at the end of the forum, as Alex needs to leave by 9:30pm in order to catch a plane the next morning. Alex will ask Jeanne Wilson about using her digital camera to get some pictures.
The Commission spent a fair amount of time discussing the format for the forum and especially the questions to be asked during the smaller group discussions. David will revise his proposed format and questions based on this feedback.
Jean asked David for his thoughts on the final April 29 forum. David said he has been focusing on the April 8 forum, and is open to suggestions for the final forum. John Mace said he’d like the final forum to get some feedback on the goals and objectives from the existing Town Plan. Alex said he’d like the final forum to focus on people’s overall vision for the Town, and to emphasize discussion rather than speakers or presentations. David said he will discuss this further with the Commission at the April 16 meeting.
Carrie and Nancy indicated that they will not be at the 4/16 Commission meeting. Alex reminded everyone that he too will be gone for the 4/16 meeting. David will be there to lead the discussion of the 4/29 forum; however, he will be there around 8:00pm.
Zoning Regulation Changes:
The Commission completed its initial (i.e., 1st pass) review of proposed Zoning Regulation changes. The following sections were discussed, based on a table of “additional recommended housekeeping changes” developed by Alex and Peter Erb:
3.4 & 9.1 – revise wording for consistency regarding multi-family units
2.3 – Alex will do some research to find good definitions for commercial and industrial structures/uses; these will be added to the definition section (9.1)
9.1, Lot definition – discussion whether to specify lot frontage be continuous or not; consensus was to leave it as is.
9.1, Structures – discussion whether to better define what constitutes an attached structure; Joe and George felt physically touching was fine; Jean wasn’t sure, and wanted more information from Peter Erb as to whether this was a big problem; no changes will be made at this time, and Alex will talk to Peter further.
9.1, Accessory Use/Structure – John Mace suggested inserting the words “set backs” where the current definition references “yards” (i.e., rear-yard).
Alex will compile the Zoning changes into one document (with deletions under strikeouts and additions underlined), and distribute to the Commission, the DRB, and Peter for further review and comments. Alex will do the same with the Subdivision changes. These will constitute the 1st or rough draft of the regulation housekeeping changes. Alex will try to have the Zoning compilation done and mailed out before he leaves for vacation on 4/9. Compilation of the Subdivision changes will likely have to wait until after he returns from vacation.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:45 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
______________________________ ___________
Alex Weinhagen, Town Planner Date