TOWN OF HINESBURG

DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD MINUTES

 

October 7, 2008

Approved October 21, 2008

 

DRB Members Present:  Richard (Dick) Jordan, Tom McGlenn, George Munson, Dennis Place, Zo๋ Wainer.

 

DRB Members Absent:  Ted Bloomhardt, Lisa Godfrey, Greg Waples.

 

Also Present:  Alex Weinhagen (Director of Zoning and Planning), Peter Erb (Zoning Administrator), Karen Cornish (Recording Secretary), Carlene Emmons, Robert and Jeanne Burritt, Chuck Reiss, Maura Kelley, George Bedard, Michael Hennessey, Steven Utter, Val Beaudry.

 

The meeting began at approximately 7:30 p.m.

 

Minutes of the September 16, 2008 meeting:

Zo๋ MOVED to approve the meeting minutes as amended.  George SECONDED the motion.  The motion PASSED 5–0.

 

Minor Revision to a Final Plat – New South Farm Road – Applicant: Vermont Building Resources

George recused himself from the Board at this time.  Chuck Reiss explained his request for 3 different minor changes to the final plat:

 

1)      To include the adjustment of the boundary of a ROW on Lot #3 as well as add a ROW from Lot #1 over Lot #2.  The boundary adjustment had already been approved by the Board on March 6, 2008 but due to a missed filing date, needed to be approved again.

2)      To permit Lot#1 to share a water supply with Lot #2; Lot #1 would not have its own individual well as found in Order #16 the final plat approval.

3)      To replace Order #10 of the final plat approval with a revised statement regarding the nature and location of tree plantings.  The new statement would confirm the addition of 13 trees with at least a 1.5” caliper width and a mature height of 40’ to 50’, to be planted in the fall.  Five trees would be located at the lower portion of the development and eight within 20 feet of the back boundary.  The new locations are intended to provide better screening of the development; three of the trees would be planted on the Russell property.

 

Zo๋ asked if there was a requirement for a particular number of trees on Lot 8; Peter said no.  Peter said he would modify the draft decision to reflect that no varieties have been chosen but will meet the original criteria.

 

Tom MOVED to close the public hearing and approved the draft decision as amended (approval).  Zo๋ SECONDED the motion.  The motion PASSED 4-0.  George rejoined the board at this time (7:45 pm).

 

Subdivision Compliance Issue – Revised Stormwater Plan – Bittersweet Hill – Applicant: Carlene Emmons; Landowner: Robert Burritt

George Bedard spoke on behalf of the applicants.  He said an agreement has been reached between neighbors and the applicants regarding stormwater systems in the area.  He described details of the latest plan by McCain Consulting.  He said a culvert installed across the Fortin property has taken all the water in the 8” detention pipe into a ditch along CVU Road.  If it continues to function normally, no water from the 1st detention pond would flow to the east under normal conditions, and that a combination of old and new spreader trenches would take care of excess water in heavy rain conditions.  He said all of the water in section 2 and coming off the west side of the proposed house roof would go to a detention pond.  Dick asked about the spillway in section 2.  George said water coming from both the left and right would go into the ditch.  George said all the water going to the middle spreader trenches is taken away to the northeast.  He said neighbors decided not to do any reconstruction of ditches. 

 

George requested that this plan be accepted into the subdivision file, as a final document to be used to determine whether the actual stormwater measures taken are effective over time.  He said a maintenance schedule is included in the plan, that reporting will be done by the landowner and that every 3 years an engineer would do an inspection.  He explained that as this subdivision did not require a stormwater permit, reports don’t have to be filed with the state but can be filed with the town.

 

Dick asked if the pond and culvert were functioning.  George said yes, that the pipe was installed in the spring and much rain had fallen in the spring/summer to test it.  George then addressed staff report concerns (as listed by number in the staff report):

 

#3, re: the viability of Lot #5 – George said he submitted a letter to Alex from Peter Lazurchek remarking positively on the viability of building a house.  He said the owner of the lot has no plans to build the house now.

 

#4, re: stormwater runoff on Lot #5 – George confirmed that the responsibility to maintain runoff control systems fell to the owner of Lot #5.

 

#2, re: erosion control on all lots – George said around the first spreader, extra height was being added to the area outside the bank.  He gave details of the levels of dirt around various culverts and trenches.  Tom asked if there grass would be planted in the woods.  George said shade seed and straw matting/mulch would be put down.

 

#1, re: the removal of maple trees on Lot #5 – George said 3 of those trees were set back away from the road, with at least one showing signs of poor health.  Zo๋ asked about soil surrounding the base of the trees.  George said soil had not been disturbed close to the base of the trees, but more toward the drip edge of the trees.  He added that although the cedar trees required for placement around the Fortin property could be put in now, he would like to change wording to state they could be planted by next spring.

 

Steve Utter, an area resident, asked who would provide the proper stormwater system inspection form to the Burritt family; George said McCain Consulting would provide that form.  Michael Hennessey, an area resident, noted that the only work done this summer was the installation of the culvert, that no grass or matting had been put down yet.  He said although he agrees with the plan, he questioned whether it should be approved as some steps required by the plan had not yet been implemented.  He said he was worried about erosion over the fall and winter without them.  Tom said the inspections would be key to the success of the system(s); he asked whether the form would initially go to the DRB for their approval.  Alex said the form would go to staff, not the DRB. 

 

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

 

Sketch Plan Approval – 2-lot Subdivision – Baldwin Road - Applicants:  Jaime and Grace Ciffo, representing Andrea Haulenbeek - POSTPONED

 

Sketch Plan Approval – 2-lot Subdivision – North Road - Applicants:  Maura and Richard Kelley

Maura Kelley said she would like to divide off a 3-acre parcel from the larger 14-acre parcel; the new lot would include a small 32’ x 20’ log cabin built close to the tree line.  She said although part of the parcel is considered to have prime agricultural soil, she believes the soil to be quite rocky.  She said the cabin would have its own drilled well.  She said an existing driveway to the proposed house site has been approved by Mike Anthony.  She said the cabin would be well-screened from both North Road and adjacent neighbors.

 

Peter said no wetland or setback issues existed.  Maura said a 1-acre no-building zone between the existing and new house would be created and put into the deed.

 

Tom said this would be a minor subdivision, with two steps (Sketch and Final reviews).  Zo๋ MOVED to close the public hearing and direct staff to draft conditions of approval.  Dennis SECONDED the motion.  The motion PASSED 5-0.

 

The group voted to go into deliberative session at this time. (8:45 pm).

 

Other Business

The Board came out of deliberative session to vote on two matters:

 

Baldwin Haulenbeek Subdivision – The Board voted 5-0 to approve the draft decision as amended (approval).

Fenwick Appeal - The Board voted 5-0 to approve the draft decision as written (denial).

 

 

The meeting ended at approximately 9:00 pm.  The next DRB meeting is scheduled for Oct. 21st.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted:

 

Karen Cornish

Recording Secretary