HINESBURG DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD
MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 29, 2005
Members Present: Tom McGlenn, George Munson, Howdy Russell, Robert Gauthier, Lisa Godfrey, Jessica Barber, and Clint Emmons. Also Peter Erb, Zoning Administrator.
Members Absent: Ted Bloomhardt and Greg Waples.
Members of the Audience: Sheryl Work, John & Carol Muller, Darlene Ruggles, Tom Hackett, Sandy White, and Paul Wieczoreck (Hinesburg’s Tree Warden).
1. MINUTES - Howdy Russell made the motion to approve the minutes of March 1, 2005 as corrected. This motion was seconded by George Munson and passed with Clint Emmons, Lisa Godfrey, and Jessie Barber abstaining from the vote.
2. ACTION ITEMS
1 Fortin Conditional Use Howdy Russell made the motion to grant Michael and Linda Fortin a conditional use permit with conditions to establish a doggy daycare and boarding facility in an existing detached building on their property on the south side of the Shelburne Falls Road. This motion was seconded by Robert Gauthier and passed.
2 Bissonette Sketch Plan Tom McGlenn then made the motion to grant Wayne and Barbara Bissonette a six month extension of their sketch plan approval for a 6-lot subdivision located on the west side of the Gilman Road. This motion was seconded by Howdy Russell. All in favor is unanimous.
3. BROWN – CONDITIONAL USE David Brown was first on the agenda for a continued public hearing on his request for a conditional use permit to construct a garage as an attachment to a pre-existing non-complying structure. This would be on property he and his wife Kelli own on Pine Shore Drive. David distributed new plans and Peter Erb had done a new memo on this proposal. David explained the following issues in connection with this project:
a) The proposed new garage will be 28’ x 28’ and they have not yet determined the size of the entryway between it and the house.
b) The garage will now be setback the same distance as the house from the center line of this private road (approximately 45’)
c) The sideyard setback to the Johnsons on the south will be 20’.
d) They had submitted a letter from Spencer Harris, a site technician, that the exact location of the septic tank and pump is not know and they may have to be moved to locate the new garage.
e) There will be a family room on the second story of this garage.
f) They may have to cut down 3-4 trees on the south side. There was concern that this excavation and construct could damage the trees that serve as a screen on that south side.
g) David was not sure on the degree on the slope from this new structure to Pine Shore Drive. There was concern about vehicles backing up onto the road.
h) He estimated that the new garage would be 8 – 10’ above the roofline of the existing house but they had not decided on the actual height.
Tom McGlenn summarized that the issues of concern are the elevations and heights of the building, whether the septic system has to be moved, preserving or replacing existing trees to the south, and the slope/grade of the driveway.
Tom McGlenn made the motion to continue the Brown public hearing on a request for a conditional use permit to April 5, 2005 in the Town Hall and direct staff to draft conditions of approval. This motion was seconded by Robert Gauthier and was a unanimous decision.
4. DAVIS – VARIANCES
Tom McGlenn made the motion to continue public hearing on a request by Jeff and Jean Davis for variances to construct a garage on their property on the south side of Shadow Lane to April 5, 2005 in the Town Hall. This motion was seconded by George Munson and was a unanimous decision.
5. IROQUOIS MANUFACTURING – CONDITIONAL USE AND SITE PLAN Steve Vauk, an engineer from Civil Engineering Associates, was next on the agenda with Shawn and Todd Lyman; owners of Iroquois Manufacturing Company, Inc. This was a continued review and Steve explained the following aspects of their plan:
i) They have changed the location of the sewer and water lines after talking to Rocky Martin, public works director.
j) They will put a plastic strip in the chain link fence to help screen this building. This will be gray and can withstand temperatures to 20 degrees below. It will be on the east side and the north/west corners of the property.
k) The hours for construction will be Monday – Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and only 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for blasting.
l) The back of the building will not be lit but the police chief would like to have the front lit.
m) They are not adding any new product lines for sale. It is understood that retail sales must be “accessory to the primary use” of manufacturing.
n) They agree to have a gate for the fire department and will give that department a key.
o) The snow will all be plowed to the back of this new building and will enter the storm water system and eventually the retention pond.
p) The Board had received an e-mail from Rob Farley, a member of the Conservation Commission. Iroquois has requested relief from the 75’ setback from a stream. Rob suggested that all the storm water be directed toward the retention pond. Steve Vauk explained that to install catch basins to do this, they would have to lower the pond. Lisa Godfrey was concerned about the gravel next to the access road. Steve explained this area would be used for storage and not vehicle traffic. He felt that grass there could erode into the stream.
Clint Emmons made the motion to continue the public hearing of the request by Iroquois Manufacturing Company, Inc. to construct a new facility on the north side of the Richmond Road to April 5, 2005 meeting in the Town Hall and to direct staff to draft conditions of approval. This motion was seconded by George Munson and was a unanimous decision.
6. TAILHOOK TOWING – CONDITIONAL USE AND SITE PLAN
Tom McGlenn made the motion to continue the public hearing of the request for a conditional use permit and site plan approval by Tailhook Towing to establish their business in the building currently owned by Alex and Phyllis Rose and located on the north side of Commerce Street to April 5, 2005 in the Town Hall. This motion was seconded by Robert Gauthier and was a unanimous decision.
***** Board member Howdy Russell left the meeting at this point *****
7. NORRIS – SITE PLAN, PRELIMINARY PLAT, AND CONDITIONAL USE David Burke, engineer from O’Leary-Burke Civil Associates, PLC, was present with Alan Norris to explain Alan and Nancy Norris’ plan to construct two apartment buildings on their property on the west side of Silver Street. This review was under the site plan, preliminary plat and conditional use (due to the location of the property within a flood hazard area) requirements of the Zoning and Subdivision Regulations. Dave explained the following aspects of this request:
q) The plan no longer shows a pedestrian crosswalk from this property directly across Silver Street to the school property. They plan to tie in with the changes proposed by the State to the intersection of Route 116 and Silver Street and have pedestrian crossing in that location. The State, at this time, is proposing having a “T” configuration.
r) There will be a sidewalk in front of the apartments along Silver Street. There was discussion of whether this should be built by the applicant or money put in an escrow account.
s) They meet the requirements of the Zoning Regulations as to the required number of parking spaces, however there is only one additional space for guests. It was suggested there could be additional spaces along the access drive or where there is a gravel turn-around area. They will not allow unregistered vehicles, boats, R.V.’s etc. to be parked in this lot. They will do some fill between this parking lot and the bank for the property owned by Emilio & Jean Rodriguez, where Tom Hackett lives.
t) The pump station will be below the 328’ elevation for the 100 year flood line, however this will be sealed and protected.
u) It has now been determined that this property is a class 3 wetland and not class 2.
v) There are catch basins and drainage swales to control the storm water runoff, and curbing along the front of the units. There will be a swale along the south side, which will better control the water from Silver Street and keep it off the front and rear of the Darlene Ruggles property. There is a large ash tree on Darlene’s north side that may be disturbed with the construction of this swale. Sandy White was concerned about run-off of pollutants from the parking lot into the wetland and the LaPlatte River.
w) They have submitted elevations of the buildings which will be 2-story with walkout basements in the back.
x) There will be shoebox lighting fixtures in the parking lot and they will not spill off onto adjacent properties. The exterior entrance lights for each unit will be recessed under the porches.
y) They now have a letter from Karl Jurentkoff, the former State Flood Hazard coordinator, and are waiting for one from the person that now holds that position. Darlene Ruggles had submitted a picture of flooding on the back of her property which is to the south and it was explained that this is actually below the 328 foot elevation for the 100-year flood line. The Norris property where the building will be located is above this line.
z) The plan shows street trees along Silver Street. Paul Wiecsoreck, the Town Tree Warden, questioned whether the Town would be given an easement to maintain these trees. He also wondered if they could be planted closer together to provide a canopy as screening. There are no plantings or landscraping around the actually buildings. One reason for this on the front of them is because of the easement for the Town’s main sewer line, which crosses this property.
Peter Erb commented that this property is maxed out with this number of units and although he is not suggesting that a new plan should be considered, he does feel that there are some site plan issues that are being skimped on. In answer to Carol Mullers’ question as to whose responsibility these issues would be. Peter explained that to enforce these drainage and other issues, there should be specific conditions of approval addressing them.
Tom McGlenn made the motion to continue the public hearing for site plan, a conditional use permit and preliminary plat review of the request by Alan and Nancy Norris to construct two apartment buildings on their property on the west side of Silver Street to the Board’s April 19th meeting. This motion is to also direct staff to draft conditions of approval. The motion was seconded by Robert Gauthier and was a unanimous decision.
8. ROBINSON – SKETCH PLAN Jay Robinson then presented a sketch plan to create 3 new lots from property owned by he and his wife Carol on the east side of the Magee Hill Road. This subdivision would consist of lot A which would be 6.6 acres in size and is where their existing house, garage with apartment, and barn are located. Lot B would be 4.4 acres and Lot C would be 4.2 acres in size and these 2 lots would share a common roadway with lot A. Jay is proposing that lot D have a new separate road-cut and be 6.8 acres in size. Jay then explained the following aspects of their proposal:
a) The house locations are indicted on the plan and they have tried to have them located so that they have a minimal impact on the neighbors.
b) Mike Anthony has made a preliminary review and approval of the new road-cut to lot D.
c) There is a spring near this proposed new driveway that is the main water source for the Work’s across the road.
d) Locations for septic disposal have been located for lots B and D. Lot C already has a designed and approved septic system.
e) There is a wetland on the south corner of lot D and Jay has contacted Kathy O’Brien, a wetland consultant of this.
Sheryl Work, the neighbor across the Magee Hill Road, then voiced several concerns with this sketch plan proposal:
a) Her family’s spring is very shallow and could be affected by runoff down this steep hill and therefore could potentially be polluted by septic systems, driveway maintenance, lawn chemicals, etc. This is the only source of water for her family and livestock.
b) There are unique plants at this wetland on lot D.
c) She stated that the lower part of lot C also floods.
d) Including the Robinson apartment, this subdivision will actually mean 5 living units on this hillside. She also questioned whether the Robinsons had sufficient septic for lot C. As they currently only have 2 bedrooms in their house and one in their apartment, they do have.
e) She also asked whether the new driveway on lot D would affect the stream that crosses the property. Jay responded that this is a seasonal stream and they will install the necessary culverts.
Carol Muller, an adjacent landowner to the south, asked where the location of the septic system for lot D would be located
Tom McGlenn made the motion to continue the sketch plan review of the Jay and Carol Robinson request to the Board’s May 3, 2005 meeting and that the Board conduct a site visit to the property on the east side of the Magee Hill Road at 6:00 p.m. that evening. This motion was seconded by Robert Gauthier and was a unanimous decision.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:15.
Respectfully submitted,
Holly Russell
Substitute Recording Secretary