HINESBURG DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

Minutes of February 17, 2004

Approved 3/02/04

 

Present:            Ted Bloomhardt, George Munson, Greg Waples, Clint Emmons and Howdy Russell.

 

Members Absent:            Tom McGlenn and Robert Gauthier                       

 

Members of the Audience:            Peter Mead, Art Roberts, Nick Nowlan, Barbara Walling, Pat Gilbert, Judy Driscoll, Tracy Applin, Gerry Livingston, Stephen and Lisa Carlson, Roger Kohn, Jody Ciano, Tim Brown, Sean Crumb, Alan Nyhan, Jerrilyn Miller, Tim Bortnick, Peter Mead, and John & Phyllis Cheeseman.

 

 

 

1.  MINUTES   Howdy Russell made the motion to accept the minutes of February 2, 2004.  The motion was seconded by Clint Emmons and passed unanimously.

 

 

2.  MEAD - FINAL PLAT.  Ted Bloomhardt re-opened the public hearing for the Mead 3-lot subdivision on the north side of the Richmond Road.  Peter Mead presented a minor revision to the plan, concerning the driveway cut off.  They will continue to use the right-of-way for his house.  There will be a roadway agreement between lots 2 and 3.  With no comments from the audience, Ted Bloomhardt moved to close the public hearing on this matter, and take up this application in deliberative session in order to render a decision.  The motion was seconded, and it was unanimously approved with the exception of Greg Waples who abstained from the vote. 

 

 

3.  ROBERTS - SUBDIVISION/DEVELOPMENT ON PRIVATE RIGHT OF WAY.  Art Roberts returned to the Board this evening with his attorney and his engineer Nick Nowlan after withdrawing his application earlier.  Art wanted clarification of lot shape and acreage requirements.  He stated his proposed lots were not irregular, but if they were he wanted to apply for a PRD with the swamp as common area.  A member of the audience questioned the validity of this proposal since she owned part of the swamp.  Ted Bloomhardt explained that PRD’s are at the discretion of the Board, and the DRB has not approved PRD’s if they are used to solve a zoning issue.    Tracy Applin, who lives on other side of the ridge, asked if this is a subdivision or development on a private right of way, because depending on what it was there would be road issues.  She felt wetlands should not be part of acreage.

 

Ted steered the discussion to the road in context of the subdivision.  There were many comments from members of the audience who lived in the neighborhood on both the Hinesburg and Richmond sides.   An audience member then noted that the Richmond DRB met last week to review Art’s subdivision proposal on the Richmond side of his land.   The Richmond DRB thought the Hinesburg application had been withdrawn.  He suggested the two towns communicate with each other, since Richmond may allow for further development on their side. 

Art’s attorney said that could not happen on a private road.   Audience members, Barbara Walling, Pat Gilbert and Judy Driscoll, expressed concern for the wildlife and beaver pond as well as runoff and trees dying as result of increased runoff and added fill in the area.

 

Art showed a different road cut than what he had proposed earlier.  The new road cut had a maximum grade of 11%, versus the prior grade of 15%.  Art added that there would be half the fill (about 2000 yards) to move.   Ted asked where the fill would go.  Members of the audience expressed concern about 150 dump trucks on top of a wetland, the loss of trees due to construction and increased runoff.

 

Ted suggested Art provide a sketch plan for subdivision.  If the DRB determines the subdivision does not meet the zoning requirements, then the DRB can review the proposal as development on a private right of way.  Art said he wanted a definition from the DRB of a legal lot before he submits a sketch plan.   A member of the audience requested that the DRB Roberts report of February 5, 2004 be made part of these minutes.

 

Ted Bloomhardt moved to continue the sketch plan review to March 2nd, and to take up this application in deliberative session.  George Munson seconded, and it was unanimously approved.

 

 

4.  CARLSON SKETCH PLAN.  Roger Kohn, representing Stephen and Lisa Carlson, presented two different plans for a 2-lot subdivision on their land on Upper Access Road.  One lot would contain their existing home and cottage, the second lot would be for a new residence.

 

Plan A would expand the right of way of 15 feet to 50 feet wide using the existing road.  The issue is that the Carlson house would be too close to the newly expanded right of way.  Roger requested the DRB consider the current right of way as pre-existing.  (The Carlson house was built in 1983, and the road established in 1948.)   Plan B offers set backs and an access strip to Lot 2.  (The Carlsons prefer Plan A). 

 

Members of the audience, Jody Ciano and Tim Brown, who also live on Upper Access Road expressed concerns about the development:  increased traffic, changing character of the neighborhood, and the 50 foot right of way.  Letters from other neighbors who opposed the subdivision were also noted.  Peter Erb commented that there are lots of difficulties between neighbors and this subdivision may be an opportunity to clean up all the issues.  Roger agreed that having the land surveyed would be a positive for all, and the proposed subdivision would improve some conditions in the neighborhood.

 

Ted Bloomhardt moved to continue the sketch plan review to March 16, and take up this application in deliberative session.  This motion was seconded by Howdy Russell and passed.

 

 

 

 

5. JOLLEY ASSOCIATES SITE PLAN REVIEW.    Sean Crumb, representing SB Collins, described the proposed expansion of the Short Stop Station building.  The purpose of the expansion is to add more retail and storage space and improve the checkout area.  The current entrance would be moved to the center of the building and the new north side addition would mirror the existing south side in exterior appearance.   Greg Waples asked if there would be an increase in customers and traffic.   Sean explained that the expansion is to provide some needed storage room, and have more coolers.  Currently they can’t buy large orders of stock because there is no place to put it.  Also the number of gas pumps is not increasing, and that is what determines customer numbers.

 

There was a discussion of traffic flow entering and exiting the Short Stop on Commerce Street, and the impact of the development across Route 116.   The Hinesburg Conservation Commission had expressed in writing the need for more trees and bushes on the north side of the property between the stream and parking lot.  The increase vegetation would treat runoff better.  Howdy asked about snow removal and any impact it may have on drainage and stormwater runoff.  Lighting shields were also discussed, as was the 20' pedestrian/bicycle easement.  Peter suggested that Rocky Martin be involved in discussions of the 20' width.

 

Ted Bloomhardt moved to close the public discussion of this matter, and take up this application in deliberative session in order to render a decision.  George Munson seconded, and it unanimously passed.

 

 

6.  DELIBERATIVE SESSION Ted Bloomhardt then made the motion that the Board go into deliberative session.  This motion was seconded by Greg Waples and passed unanimously.

 

Ted Bloomhardt proposed a motion that staff update the Mead conditions to reflect the new driveway proposal, that language dealing with existing adjacent industrial zoning district be suggested prior to the next meeting, and to revise conditions for the 12 foot driveway after the shared portion.   The motion was seconded, and passed with Greg Waples abstaining.

 

Ted Bloomhardt made the motion to direct staff to draft conditions for approval for the Roberts proposal for development on private right of way with the caveat that if this is part of a subdivision it should be reviewed in conjunction with the subdivision, not as a separate private right of way.   The motion was seconded and approved.

 

Ted Bloomhardt made the motion that staff draft conditions of approval for the Carlson 2-lot subdivision.  The survey must show setbacks from the existing defined right of way, and that any improvement to width of roadway shouldn’t put the Carlson’s in a catch-22.   The motion was seconded and approved.

 

Ted Bloomhardt made the motion that staff draft conditions for the Jolley Short Stop expansion, and include in the conditions that the applicant shall participate in a traffic study and implement any improvements determined by the study and the Board.

 

Howdy Russell made the motion to accept the O’Brien Sketch Plan as revised.  This motion was seconded by Greg Waples and passed.

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 11:40 pm.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Sally Kimball, for Holly Russell, Recording Secretary