TOWN OF HINESBURG

PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES

 

January 5, 2005

Approved January 19, 2005

 

Commission Members Present:  Jean Isham (Chair), Fred Haulenbeek, John Buckingham, Joe Iadanza, George Bedard, Daniel Greller, Nancy Norris, Johanna White.

 

Commission Members Absent:  Carrie Fenn.

 

Also Present:  Alex Weinhagen (Town Planner), Peter Erb, Howdy Russell, Ted Bloomhardt, Tom McGlenn, Robert Gauthier, George & Karla Munson, Lynn Gardner.

 

The meeting began at approximately 7:35pm.

 

Local Permit Reform Legislation (Act 115) – Implications for Planning/Zoning – Training/Workshop:

Ian MacDougall from the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) presented information on how the new Chapter 117 State statutory language (created through the passage of Act 115 in 2004) will affect local planning, zoning, and development review.  He described the new requirements and the new opportunities created by this legislation, as well as the various deadlines for implementation.  He distributed a handout of the presentation, copies of the new Chapter 117 language, and copies of 10 information bulletins developed by the VT Land Use Education & Training Collaborative.  He also took notes on various questions, providing answers to some and promising to do more research on others.  He said the CCRPC will come back for a 2nd meeting in about a month to give additional information and provide answers to some of the questions posed at this meeting.

 

Minutes of the November 17, 2004 Meeting:

George MOVED to approve the November 17, 2004 meeting minutes.  John SECONDED the motion.  The motion PASSED 7-0 with Johanna abstaining.

 

Other Business & Announcements:

Selectboard work on Town Plan:

Jean gave an update on the Selectboard’s work to date on the draft Town Plan that the Commission delivered in October.  She handed out a summary of the proposed changes that have been suggested to date by individual Selectboard members.  She said that the Selectboard’s next task is to come to consensus as to which of these proposed changes should be made, if any.  They hope to complete this discussion at their January 17, 2005 meeting.

 

DRB work sessions & Selectboard employee restructuring:

Alex discussed the results and recommendations that came out of the DRB work sessions late last year.  He noted that the Selectboard is also developing new job descriptions and a new organizational chart for all town employees.  One likely outcome is that the Town Planner position will become a full time position, in order to provide more staff support to the DRB.  Jean said she has made it clear to the Selectboard that the Planning Commission doesn’t want such a change to reduce the level of Planning Commission staff support.  Alex said that the Selectboard has not finalized anything yet.  Jean said that the Selectboard will be circulating proposed job descriptions for the Planning/Zoning Department to both the Planning Commission and the DRB for feedback.  The Selectboard will likely discuss these at their January 24, 2005 meeting.

 

The Commission discussed the need to start having “all board” meetings again.  The Commission felt these were very useful, but noted that none have been held since 2002, during the NRG relocation/rezoning discussion.  The Commission felt an all board meeting should be held at least once a year, and that it could focus on updates from each board, or potentially on a particular topic with wide reach (e.g., Town Plan implementation, Village Growth Project, Regulation changes, etc.).

 

January 19 agenda items:

The main items to be discussed at the next meeting will be the Village Area/Growth project and mapping out a schedule for all the regulation revisions (chapter 117, housekeeping, town plan implementation, etc.).

 

The Commission also discussed the need to form a Village Steering Committee as recommended in the draft Town Plan.  Johanna recommended a 7-member committee, and the Commission discussed people who might be interested in serving.  Alex said he would discuss this with Jeanne Wilson and the Selectboard.  Johanna will write up a brief summary of what the Committee’s purpose is, what its tasks would be, and why it is needed.

 

The meeting adjourned at 10pm.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

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Alex Weinhagen, Town Planner               Date