HINESBURG DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

MINUTES OF APRIL 6, 2004

Approved 4/20/04

Present: Tom McGlenn, George Munson, Howdy Russell, Clint Emmons, Robert Gauthier, Ted Bloomhardt, and Greg Waples. Also Peter Erb, Zoning Administrator and Jessica Barber, newly appointed alternate to the Board.

Members of the Audience: Steve Utter

1. MINUTES Howdy Russell made the motion to accept the minutes of March 16, 2004 as corrected. This motion was seconded by George Munson and passed.

2. EMMONS – SKETCH PLAN The Board members had conducted a site visit to the Clint and Carlene Emmons property across from CVU High School prior to the meeting. The following items were observed at the time of that site visit:

• Water drains down this hill toward the Utter and Daggett properties. There was water on the Utter lawn from runoff.
• The building envelope is quite large and close to the Fortin property.
• There are significant hardwoods (especially some large maples) on the west side of the lot that should be preserved.
• There is a vegetated buffer now between this new lot and the neighbors that should also be preserved.
• There is an existing drilled well with an ample supply.
• There is a very steep area behind the existing large garage where the new house should not be located.

Steve Utter, who had attended the site visit with the Board members and lives below this proposed new lot, had strong concerns about the water run-off from this hillside at this time and also if an additional house is built here. From previous approvals there is supposed to be a 30’buffer zone around the existing drainage swale that shields his backyard some. He is concerned that in maintaining this swale, this vegetation will be removed. George Bedard explained that this ditch would not be deep and therefore not a lot of cutting would have to occur.

Tom McGlenn made the motion to close the public discussion of the Emmons’ sketch plan proposal and the Board take up this issue during deliberative session. This motion was seconded by Greg Waples and passed.

3. CONSERVATION COMMISSION The following members of the Hinesburg’s Conservation Commission (CC) met with the Board (DRB) to discuss areas in which they could be of assistance and also areas of common interest between the boards: David Hirth, Melissa Levy, Nancy Plunkett, Bill Marks, and Ted White. Commission Chair Ted White thanked the DRB members for their hard work and dedication and offered assistance from his commission.

The following ideas were brought up and discussed:

a) Development concerns in town such as the watershed area into the LaPlatte and Lewis creek and wetlands. It is a major goal of the Conservation Commission to protect the water shed area for the LaPlatte.

b) Permeable services in parking lots and driveways can be a method to protect from run-off.

c) It was agreed that it is difficult to connect between the Town Plan’s desires and philosophies and the Zoning Regulations that the DRB must follow. It was felt that CC could help the DRB in the areas such as water quality and wildlife habitat.

d) The CC is starting to work on researching and preparing natural resource maps that would be included in future Zoning Regulations. These maps would be overlay districts that would assist the DRB in reviewing projects and could include such things as wetlands, aquifers, wildlife corridors, ridgelines etc.

e) It would be helpful if these maps and this research was made available also to developers of properties in Hinesburg.

f) It is important that these maps be very accurate and scientifically prepared if they are to be useful.

g) Area-based zoning is another tool that is being researched.

h) The CC receives the packets for proposals before the DRB and has written suggestions to that board on several projects. It was felt that it is very helpful to also have a member of the CC at DRB meetings when a project that involves natural resource impacts is being reviewed.

i) It was also felt that specific information and concrete suggestions from the CC would be very helpful to the DRB.

DRB Chair Tom McGlenn then thanked the Conservation Commission members for attending the meeting and offering their assistance.

4. COMMUNITY SCHOOL SIGN Donna Hale, Principal at the Community School in the

village, then presented a proposal for a new sign in front of the White Building on Route 116. She explained the following aspects of that sign:

• This would be an announcement board to show activities and events occurring at the school. They have been given a $5000 donation for such a sign.
• The sign would be 4 x 6 feet in size and 7’6” high at the top. The letters would be 4 inches high and black in color with a white background. Other aspects of the sign would be dark green.
• This sign would be internally lit and therefore needs DRB approval Section 5.4.5 (1) of the Zoning Regulations and under that section ”Internally illuminated signs with dark lettering on light background are not preferred.” The Board had received a letter from Al Barber, the Fire Chief, expressing his personal opinion that this sign “appear to be cheap plastic advertising sign… and “it would be counter productive to allow a sign of this type at the school.” Tom asked whether they had researched different types of signs and Donna said that this seems to meet their objective of informing the public.
• This sign would only be lit when events are on at the school and not all the time.

Howdy felt that the design of the sign does not fit with the character and appearance of the very old White Building. Greg suggested that there be spotlights on the ground to illuminate the message board. Peter commented that Hinesburg has tried to control self-illuminated signs in town and Ted stated that to permit this sign would set precedence to the businesses in town. Donna felt that the school is only announcing events and not selling a product.

Donna said that she would look into other ways of lighting the sign and the Board members will observe a similar sign at South Burlington High School on Dorset Street. Tom McGlenn then made the motion to continue this sign review for the Community School to the Board’s May 4^th meeting. This motion was seconded by Ted Bloomhardt and passed.

5. ST. JUDE SIGN Roger Donegan, representing St. Jude Catholic Church in the Village, was next on the agenda to present a proposal for a new sign there. He explained the following aspects of this sign:

· This sign will be made out of “2” sign foam and have gold leaf letters carved into it with a black background.

· The sign will not be internally lit but have a soft-light on the ground to illuminate it.

· There is existing shrubbery where the sign will be located and that will be maintained. The church will be installing a new retaining wall in front of the vestry.

· There would be a timer on the sign so that it is only lit when the church is being used.

Tom McGlenn made the motion to grant approval to St. Jude’s Church to install a new

sign at the front of their property on Route 116 and direct staff to draft conditions of approval. This motion was seconded by Greg Waples and passed unanimously.

6. DELIBERATIVE SESSION Greg Waples made the motion that the Board go into deliberative session and that motion was seconded by Tom McGlenn and passed. The following items were then acted upon:

• Ted Bloomhardt made the motion to accept the submitted landscaping plan, which was a requirement of condition #2 of the site plan approval granted on 7/15/03 for the Hinesburg Animal Hospital in Commerce Park. This motion was seconded by Howdy Russell and passed

• Ted Bloomhardt made the motion that given the Findings of Fact to deny the request by Arthur and Hannah Robert for sketch plan approval to create one new lot at their property on the Swamp Road. This motion was seconded by Greg Waples and passed unanimously.

• After some discussion on the condition regarding a traffic study, Tom McGlenn made the motion to grant site plan approval with conditions to Jolley Associate to construct a 32’ x 48’ addition to the Mobil Station in Commerce Park. This motion was seconded by Greg Waples and passed unanimously.

• After inserting the traffic study language into the conditions of approval, Howdy Russell made the motion to grant site plan approval to Margo Belval for a Curves franchise in the building in Commerce Park currently owned by Mary McClements. This motion was seconded by Greg Waples and passed unanimously.

• Clint Emmons left the meeting at this time. Tom McGlenn directed the staff to draft conditions of approval for the Emmons sketch plan proposals based on submitted information, testimony by a adjourning landowner and the Board’s site visit. This motion was seconded by Greg Waples and passed. At this time, the Board received a letter from Brad Parker, who had not attended the meeting, in regard to the Asa Dagget property and concerns about this project. As the public discussion on this sketch plan had been closed, this letter will become part of the record for final plat review.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:45

Respectfully submitted,

Holly Russell

Recording Secretary