TOWN OF HINESBURG

PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES

 

January 7, 2004

Approved January 15, 2004

 

Commission Members Present: Jean Isham (Chair), Joe Iadanza, John Buckingham, Carrie Fenn, Deb Howard, Fred Haulenbeek, John Mace, Nancy Norris, George Bedard.

 

Commission Members Absent: none.

 

Also Present: Alex Weinhagen (Town Planner), George & Karla Munson.

 

The meeting began at approximately 7:35pm.

 

Minutes of the December 3, 2003 Meeting:

George Bedard MOVED to approve the December 3, 2003 meeting minutes, as amended.  Carrie SECONDED the motion.  The motion PASSED 9-0.

 

** NOTE – The December 17, 2003 meeting was cancelled due to inclement weather. **

 

Announcements and Citizens to be Heard:

Carrie announced that she is stepping down as the Town’s alternate to the CCRPC.  She described the alternate’s responsibilities and encouraged other Commission members to talk to Jeanne Wilson and the Selectboard about the position.

 

Town Plan Revision – Noise & Light – Draft 1 Recommendations:

Deb said the existing Town Plan has little to no language specific to noise and light concerns.  Deb, Joe, and Carrie felt the Plan should include a recommendation to investigate options to control noise, especially at unreasonable hours (e.g., ordinance, zoning, etc.).  Carrie and Deb suggested adding language that also recognizes the value of the night sky as well as privacy with regard to excessive light from adjacent properties.  Nancy, Fred, and John Mace expressed concern about the implications of a noise ordinance.  Nancy said that noise ordinance was problematic, and that she would be unlikely to support one.

 

Town Plan Revision – Culture – Draft 1 Recommendations:

Carrie described her suggested language for a Town Culture section of the Plan (see attached).  This would be a descriptive section for the beginning of the Plan to dovetail with an introduction or history section.  Carrie said, she’d also like to have language that recognizes the importance of Hinesburg’s main street (Route 116 from Cheese Factory to Silver Street).  She feels this is an important cultural resource for the Town.  Jean suggested language that recognizes the Town’s historic structures, and encourages the Town to seek ways to help landowners preserve or refurbish these structures.  Alex will update Carrie’s language and forward it to David Spitz.

 

Town Plan Revision – Towers – Draft 1 Recommendations:

Deb suggested using the Town of Charlotte’s broad Plan language that enables telecommunication towers so long as certain community values aren’t negatively impacted.  Deb said she wants a recommendation that the Town develop wind tower regulations that are distinct from telecommunication tower issues, since the 2 are very different.  Deb said the Plan should have language regarding wind energy facilities (which cannot be regulated by local zoning), so that the Public Service Board (PSB) will consider this during their review of these wind “farms”.  She said that regulations for individual wind towers (for personal use) could be written into our Zoning.  There was general consensus that the Plan should include language to enable the Commission to explore Zoning Regulations with regard to individual wind towers.  Joe said that rather than having specific language in the Plan on larger wind energy facilities, we could simply have general language about the value of our ridgelines and viewsheds.  John and Deb pointed out that section 4.4.3 of the existing Plan does speak to this, and is likely sufficient to give the Town a basis for participation in any PSB review of a wind “farm”.

 

Town Plan Revision – Village Issues – Draft 2 Recommendations:

Alex asked the Commission to take a third look at the Village area goals and recommendations.  Alex said that the Commission may want to revise some of these in light of the Commission’s desire to expand the greater village area along the west side of Route 116 north to Shelburne Falls Road.  Fred, Jean, and George Bedard suggested softening the recommendations under goal #1 with regard to expanding the village growth center.  They recommended minor word changes to allow the Commission to explore the options listed, instead of indicating that the Commission “will” make those changes.  Fred also suggested new language related to the west side development concept, in order to direct the Commission to consider zoning changes in this area.  Fred and Alex also recommended adding a 4th recommendation under goal #1, which would encourage the Selectboard to prioritize sewer allocations for the village core and likely expansion areas (e.g., west side area, Mechanicsville Rd).  This could be easily accomplished by reserving a certain percentage of the residential and commercial/enterprise sewer allocation for projects in an area in and around the village core (this area would need to be delineated).

 

The Commission discussed the remaining Village goals and recommendations.  Broader language was suggested for the recommendations under goal #3 with regard to open space preservation at the village edge.  Deb also recommended clarifying recommendation 4c with regard to improving lighting along the main portion of Route 116 in the Village.  She would like the language to clarify that improved lighting refers to more attractive and safer pedestrian-friendly lighting as opposed to traditional tall street lights designed primarily for traffic.

 

Texas Hill Road Survey:

Deb explained the results and implications of the Texas Hill Road Survey that she and a couple other Texas Hill Road residents recently completed.  The survey focused on the question of paving sections of Texas Hill Road.  It was distributed to 92 households that are either on or accessed by Texas Hill Road.  Deb said she was impressed by the high return rate (74%), the level of apparent interest in the topic, and the breadth of the responses.  Deb has presented this information to the Selectboard, and they appear willing to hold off on any Texas Hill Road paving for the time being.  Deb clarified that the survey was not done under the Planning Commission’s umbrella.  The survey itself and her presentation to the Selectboard were done as a resident, with no presumption of Planning Commission endorsement.

 

The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:45pm.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

______________________________            ___________

Alex Weinhagen, Town Planner               Date