TOWN OF HINESBURG

DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD MINUTES

March 4, 2008

Approved March 18, 2008

DRB Members Present: Ted Bloomhardt, Dick Jordan, George Munson, Dennis Place, Zoë Wainer.

DRB Members Absent: Tom McGlenn, Lisa Godfrey, Greg Waples.

Also Present: Alex Weinhagen (Director of Zoning and Planning), Peter Erb (Zoning Administrator), Karen Cornish (Recording Secretary), George Bedard, Alan Belcher, David Carse, Joseph Fallon, Peter Baldwin, Matt Baldwin, Pat Mainer.

The meeting began at approximately 7:35 p.m.

Minutes of the February 19, 2008 Meeting:

Zoë MOVED to approve the meeting minutes as amended. Dennis SECONDED the motion, with George abstaining. The motion PASSED 4–0.

Site Plan Approval – Lighting for existing sign – Charlotte Road – Applicant: David Carse

Dave Carse said he had received building and sign permits last year for a family farm stand on Charlotte Road. The sign was put into place and lights added to it later, to improve visibility during winter early evening hours. He said the lights are on a timer and come on from 4-8pm in the evening and also at 7am; he said the lights will be turned off in the summer. Peter said he thought the light could be re-directed; David said he had already changed the orientation of the lamps, turning them down. Ted read the proposed permit language. The group agreed to add wording to Con. #2 “…light source is not visible from the road” and also to Con. #4 “…no later than 9pm and come on no earlier than 5am”.

Zoë MOVED to close the public meeting and approve the draft permit as amended. Dennis SECONDED the motion. The motion PASSED 5-0.

Final Plat Review – 3-lot Subdivision – Burritt Road – Applicant: Suki Flash

George Bedard spoke on behalf of the applicant. He said she is creating one 4-acre lot for herself, one 1-acre lot for sale and one 10.6-acre lot to remain as undeveloped open space. He said she has complied with everything as requested by staff following the preliminary plat hearing. He discussed the drainage plan and said there will be no culvert; instead a swale will direct water away from the road. He noted drainage areas and said he observed drainage patterns over the winter during several thaws. He said the driveway will be 12 feet wide with a pull out about half way down, widened for emergency vehicles. Power will be underground to the house site. George pointed out septic easements and replacement septic areas.

Dick asked about Lot 1, noting that the building lot was at a low elevation. George said the site was low but comes back up enough away from any water. He also asked about a drainage swale coming close to the building envelope; George said it would be re-directed during construction. Dennis asked if Lot 2 would remain undeveloped; Peter said it would remain open space as part of a PRD and said wording on the plat was correct.

Pat Mainer, an adjoining neighbor, asked whether sewage would be pumped uphill; George said yes. She also asked whether there would be any impact on a wetland area near the Johnson property; Peter said no.

Zoë MOVED to close the public hearing and direct staff to draft conditions of approval. Dennis SECONDED the motion. The motion PASSED 5-0.

Sketch Plan Review –Subdivision – Baldwin Road – Joint Owners: Peter Baldwin and Andrea Baldwin Haulenbeek

Joe Fallon spoke as the applicant, on behalf of the Baldwin/Haulenbeek families. He said they wished to divide a large jointly-owned parcel into two parcels, with no request for developable lots at this time. Joe described the proposed division lines and said they had received a setback waiver from the state regarding existing agricultural structures.

Alex explained such structures are exempt from local zoning by state statute and do not need to meet setback requirements. He said the structure to the north will meet setbacks but the structure to the south will not. Dick asked if streams, used in the proposal to divide the parcel, were reliable property boundaries. Alex said regulations encourage the use of natural features as dividing lines, and added the surveyor will determine a way to make lines definable. Dick asked about a “notch” area on the west side of Lot 1, whether a division there created an odd-shape. Matt Baldwin explained the division followed a fence out to the west that separates two distinctly-featured land areas. Ted noted this subdivision will bring existing homes into compliance, placing one principle structure per lot. Peter said if the agricultural structure ceases to be in agricultural use, the exemption would no longer apply and the structure would become non-complying; he just wanted to make sure that was understood. Alex added a non-complying structure would require DRB approval for any future additions.

Zoë MOVED to close public hearing and direct staff to draft conditions of approval – George SECONDED the motion. The motion PASSED 5-0.

Alex noted that ESNID application hearing (scheduled on the evening’s agenda) would be moved to a different meeting, due to poor travel conditions for the applicants.

Other Business

Riggs subdivision: Dennis recused himself from the board. Ted asked if it was possible to have future development on the remainder of the property. Peter said he did not think it was possible, but if it became possible, then Order #5 would be in place to address a road association. Ted MOVED to approve the draft decision as amended (approval). Zoë SECONDED the motion. The motion passed 4-0, with George abstaining and Greg voting in absentia.

Reid sketch plan – Zoë said Conclusion #1 (“a”) should be changed to say “contiguous”. Zoë MOVED to approve the draft decision as amended (approval). Dennis SECONDED the motion. The motion PASSED with George abstaining and Greg voting in absentia.

The next DRB meeting is March 18. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted:

Karen Cornish

Recording Secretary