TOWN OF HINESBURG

DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD MINUTES

 

October 21, 2008

Approved November 18, 2008

 

DRB Members Present:  Ted Bloomhardt, Lisa Godfrey, Tom McGlenn, Dick Jordan, George Munson, Dennis Place, Zoë Wainer, Greg Waples.

 

DRB Members Absent:  None.

 

Also Present:  Alex Weinhagen (Director of Zoning and Planning), Peter Erb (Zoning Administrator), Karen Cornish (Recording Secretary), Landon Dennison.

 

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

 

Minutes of the October 7, 2008 meeting:

Zoë MOVED to approve the meeting minutes as amended.  George SECONDED the motion.  The motion PASSED 7–0, with Dick not voting.

 

Final Plat Review – 2-lot Subdivision – Leavensworth Road – Applicants: Landon and Allison Dennison

Landon Dennison reviewed the proposal.  He said the building envelope has been reduced in size to address concerns raised at the last meeting.  He said deed language will include a septic easement over Lot 1 to benefit Lot 2.  Alex confirmed the easement was acceptable.  Landon said he received permission from Mike Anthony to cut brush around the road cut.  There was some discussion regarding a future owner’s right to cut brush on their neighbor’s property (to maintain visibility around the road cut).  Alex said the area can be maintained with or without the property owner’s permission as it technically sits within the town ROW.

 

Alex said he spoke with George Bedard who said he would provide tie lines around the whole building envelope (lines from a survey monument to a corner on the building envelope).  George Munson asked about blasting hours, suggesting a shorter window for blasting limited to weekday hours.  Landon said he did not anticipate the need for blasting anyway. The board decided to change the hours to Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.

 

Peter asked about the location of the road cut.  Alex asked if paperwork recently received by the Zoning Office reflected the same road cut location as shown on the final plat.  Landon said it was the same.  There was further discussion of the location of the cut, whether it lined up with the Estey’s driveway or was sited to the west of it.  Ted suggested changing Order #1 to reflect the correct location.

 

Landon asked about language related to the building envelope, specifically whether a barn could be built outside the building envelope.  Peter clarified VT state regulations regarding ag-exempt structures, stating Hinesburg zoning would not apply to a certain list of structures as determined by state criteria.  He recommended keeping all structures clustered within the building envelope in the event that a farm use would be discontinued (and thus the structure would lose its exempt status).  Greg explained if a structure were put to a different use, a future landowner might use it in a way that is non-conforming and may be asked to take it down.  Alex said keeping a minimum of 4 horses qualified a horse barn for the state exemption.  He said the intent of the board was to create a building envelope large enough for more than one building.  Alex said the presence of ag soils as well as rural area design standards prompted the board to keep the building envelope smaller.

 

Zoë MOVED to close the public hearing and approve the draft decision as amended (approval).  Greg SECONDED the motion.  The motion PASSED 7-0.

 

Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan Review for a larger home occupation – Silver Street - Applicants:  Robert Bast and Laura Carlson

Greg asked whether home occupation guidelines required a site plan review, noting some contradiction between the two processes.  Peter said both may be reviewed together.

 

Rob said the barn on his property has its own address.  Peter explained that it did because the barn had a separate phone line.  Tom asked if there was any plan to enlarge the barn; Rob said no.  Ted asked about hours of operation.  Rob said most client visits are off-site.  He noted three sign locations.  Greg asked if the company was at the maximum employee number; Rob said no.  Greg questioned the description of available parking but said the aerial photo looked as though parking was sufficient.  Rob said there were 5 employee parking spaces, above and beyond those used by his family.

 

Peter suggested amendments to the draft decision to address the dual home occupation and site review hearings.  Amendments would effectively combine the two reviews into the decision.

 

Zoë MOVED to close the public hearing and approve the decision as amended (approval).  George SECONDED the motion.  The motion PASSED 7-0.

 

Other Business

The Board voted to go into deliberative session at this time (8:15 pm).  Greg left the board and Dick joined the board at this time.

 

Emmons Subdivision

Zoë MOVED to approve the decision as amended.  Dennis SECONDED the motion.  The motion PASSED 5-0 with Ted, Lisa and Greg not participating.

 

Kelley Sketch Plan

Zoë MOVED to approve the decision as amended.  Dennis SECONDED the motion.  The motion PASSED 5-0 with Ted, Lisa and Greg not participating.

 

The meeting ended at approximately 8:55 pm.  The November 4th DRB meeting has been cancelled.  The next DRB meeting is scheduled for November 18th.

 

Respectfully Submitted:

 

Karen Cornish

Recording Secretary