TOWN OF HINESBURG
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Approved May 21, 2003
Commission Members Present: Jean Isham, Fred Haulenbeek, Joe Iadanza, John Mace, John Buckingham, Carrie Fenn, George Bedard, Nancy Norris, Deb Howard.
Commission Members Absent: none
Also Present: Alex Weinhagen (Town Planner).
Minutes of the April 16, 2003 Meeting:
George MOVED to approve the April 16, 2003 meeting minutes as amended. Nancy SECONDED the motion. The motion PASSED 7-0 with Deb Howard abstaining.
Announcements and Citizens
to be Heard:
This is Deb Howard’s first Planning Commission meeting. She was appointed to the Commission by the Selectboard on April 21, 2003 to replace Will Patten, who needed to step down.
Carrie discussed a stream bank conservation publication and a 20-minute video that is available on this topic. She suggested that Planning Commission and the Conservation Commission have a joint meeting to view the video, and to discuss potential Conservation Commission involvement in the Town Plan rewrite. Jean suggested that we join the Conservation Commission at one of their regular meetings in early June to do this. Alex will follow up with Ted White on this idea.
Carrie noted that she will not be able to attend the Planning Commission’s July 2 and 16 meetings.
Alex encouraged Commissioners to check out a new website (www.vpic.info) for citizen planners, designed in part by our last planner – Faith Ingulsrud. Alex shared 2 Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) reports with the Commission. The Commission briefly discussed the CCRPC Regional Build-out Analysis report as well as the potential uses and limitations of the CCRPC Phase I Open Space report and database. Alex will distribute the Hinesburg-specific results of the build-out analysis to the Commission. Alex encouraged Commissioners to attend the May 19 Selectboard meeting at which 3 related items will be taken up: 1) public hearing on revised wastewater/sewer allocation policy; 2) CCRPC presentation on the Regional Build-out Analysis, with an emphasis on Hinesburg data and results; 3) discussion of how the build-out analysis could be used to help the Selectboard and Planning Commission re-define the sewer service area. Copies of the proposed wastewater/sewer allocation policy were distributed.
Town Plan Revision Project:
The Commission reviewed David Spitz’s summary of the final town plan public forum, and the results of the sticker (issue prioritization) exercise. The Commission also reviewed the schedule for rewriting the Town Plan as well as the schedule for completing work on the Zoning and Subdivision Bylaw “housekeeping” changes. The Town Plan should be rewritten by the end of the year. The Bylaw changes should be finalized and ready for the required public hearings by the end of July.
The Commission discussed the structure of the existing Town Plan, and determined that it needs substantial reorganization to make the message & recommendations more clear and to shorten the overall document. John Mace suggested we develop a preliminary table of contents, so that the rewriting work can be more easily divided amongst the Commissioners, Alex, and David. George suggested we first look at the required elements (as defined by statute and the CCRPC), so that we don’t miss any necessary sections. Alex will review the required elements and bring them to the next meeting, so that the Commission can work on the preliminary table of contents.
Deb and Fred suggested the following process for work on the Plan: 1) discuss elements, create rough table of contents, assign sections to Commissioners, staff, consultant; 2) each person will outline their thoughts, goals, recommendations for their section; 3) each person will present their outline to Commission for discussion; 4) once there is some consensus from the Commission, each person will work on the actual text; 5) actual text will be circulated to the Commission, and David will be responsible for putting all of it together in one cohesive document; 6) the Commission will review this draft and make changes.
John Mace mentioned that the existing Plan does not have a vision statement that sets the tone for the Plan. Alex said that section 2 (General Goals & Objectives) essentially serves this purpose. The Commission discussed the value of having such a vision statement. Commissioners will outline what such a statement should contain, and bring this to the next meeting for discussion.
Major topics for the next 3 meetings are as follows:
May 21 – Plan vision statement; Plan Table of Contents
June 4 – Plan responsibilities, assigning sections; Discuss with David Spitz; Preliminary Bylaw housekeeping changes, discussion of 1st compilation draft
June 18 – Bylaw housekeeping changes – in depth discussion of 1st compilation draft, feedback from others (DRB, Zoning Administrator, etc.)
Other Business:
Jean reminded everyone that the Commission’s July and August meetings will be back at the Town Office instead of the school. John Mace will look into reserving the Wainer Learning Center for Commission meetings once school is back in session in September.
Respectfully Submitted,
______________________________ ___________
Alex Weinhagen, Town Planner Date