TOWN OF HINESBURG

PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES

November 2, 2005

Approved January 18, 2006

Commission Members Present: Jean Isham (chairperson), Joe Iadanza, Carrie Fenn, Nancy Norris (left at 8pm), Johanna White, George Bedard, Kay Ballard.

Commission Members Absent: Fred Haulenbeek.

*NOTE – There is 1 vacancy on the Commission due to John Buckingham’s resignation on 9/4/05.

Also Present: Alex Weinhagen (Director of Planning/Zoning), George & Karla Munson, Howdy Russell, Steve Button, Melissa Levy, Erik Perry, Bob Wood.

The meeting began at approximately 7:40pm.

Town Wastewater Capacity Expansion Options:

Alex reviewed the remaining municipal wastewater capacity, which is quite low. In fact, the residential portion of this capacity, for this fiscal year, will be gone once the Hinesburg Hillside development (Russ Barone’s project) requests its allocation, pursuant to its recent sketch plan approval. The remaining allocation is re-distributed between the institutional, enterprise (commercial/industrial), and residential each fiscal year. In other words, next year additional capacity will be allocated for residential uses; however, the overall pie is rapidly shrinking, with little leftover for enterprise and residential since the Selectboard holds out 10,000 gallons per day for institutional uses first.

The Commission then reviewed some of the expansion options described in a report completed for the Selectboard by the Yellow Wood consulting group. A variety of alternatives were mentioned, but Alex and Melissa Levy (from Yellow Wood) indicated that one of the more attractive options involved leaving the Saputo Cheese Factory lagoons where they are, and doing minor upgrades to their system so that the effluent could bypass the Town’s lagoons. They noted that the current effluent coming out of Saputo’s wastewater system is nearly clean enough to be directly discharged into the LaPlatte. This option would involve a new forcemain and pump station system to pipe the Saputo effluent to the Town’s discharge, ahead of the outflow pipe. It would involve minor upgrades to Saputo’s system as well as upgrades to the existing Town system.

Erik Perry, Saputo’s plant manager, said that he had 2 concerns. First, he felt that the Town should get feedback from the taxpayers since the less expensive alternative noted above would likely be more attractive to them than a likely more expensive option of relocating the Cheese factory’s lagoons to the Town lagoon location. Second, he wanted to recognize that Saputo is far and away the largest sole user of the Town’s wastewater system (accounting for approx. 127,000 gallons per day; over 50% of total capacity). He wants to make sure that the Town doesn’t unfairly tap Saputo to pay for upgrades. Erik also noted that the factory is no longer making feta cheese and is changing their process to produce lorraine (like Swiss) cheese instead. He said this change shouldn’t make much difference in the factory’s effluent discharge.

Alex noted that 1 reason for the discussion tonight is the potential impact on possible plans for a future “West Side Road” to connect from Charlotte Road to points north behind the Cheese Factory. He said that if the factory’s lagoons stayed in place, such a road connection would be difficult to impossible as earlier envisioned in the West Side Road feasibility study.

Joe said that Charlotte Road has approximately 2400 vehicle trips per day, and Route 116 north of Charlotte Road has approximately 12,200 trips per day. Mechanicsville Road has approximately 3000 trips per day. He felt that there was significant traffic on Charlotte Road, and that giving this traffic an alternate means of going north was important. Erik noted that Saputo will likely need room to expand in the future, and the West Side Road concept would likely be an impediment to this.

Joe reminded everyone that Hinesburg is currently a 1 road town, and that traffic congestion along Route 116 in the Village is only going to get worse. He felt the Town should be working to take some traffic off Route 116, especially traffic generated by future growth. Alex noted that the Town Plan doesn’t call for much growth in and around Charlotte Road. Joe said we still need to consider likely growth on Baldwin Road and in the towns of Charlotte and Monkton that will use that corridor. George noted that the traffic light at Charlotte Road and 116 (to be installed in 2006) will change the current dynamic and may help solve the congestion problems at this intersection.

Howdy felt that short term solutions to expand the wastewater capacity don’t necessarily preclude future changes, perhaps to allow a West Side Road at a later date. Joe countered that short term solutions still represent significant economic investments that will have staying power. Erik felt that the Town should not necessarily feel constrained by the LaPlatte River when it comes to West Side Road options and future village growth.

Howdy said that the 400,000 gallons per day capacity discussed in the Yellow Wood report appears to be the limit for the LaPlatte (per communications with the State), so this is a finite resource, and we need to plan for that eventuality. The group discussed other alternatives to go beyond a possible 400,000 gpd limit. Steve Button mentioned decentralized systems and irrigation options. Erik and Melissa talked about possible gray water recycling opportunities using the Cheese factory’s effluent.

George felt the Town needs to take a harder look at crossing the LaPlatte River to connect Charlotte Road to the West Side Road. He also suggested investigating “re-naturalizing” the LaPlatte by restoring it to a more natural course (less straight) further to the west of the Cheese Factory. He felt this might allow the West Side Road to go behind the Cheese factory’s lagoons.

Minutes of the October 19, 2005 Meeting:

George MOVED to approve the October 19, 2005 meeting minutes. Johanna SECONDED the motion. The motion PASSED 6-0.

Other Business:

CCRPC comments on Town Plan:

Carrie reviewed comments made by the CCRPC staff on the Hinesburg Town Plan. The CCRPC confirmed the plan, but did make some suggestions for improvements in the next go around.

Agenda Items for November 16 Meeting:

The main agenda item will be a review of the village growth design charette, hopefully with the consultant.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:40pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Alex Weinhagen, Director of Planning & Zoning