TOWN OF HINESBURG

PLANNING COMMISION

October 8, 2008

Approved October 22, 2008

Commission Members Present: Kay Ballard, George Bedard, Carrie Fenn, Fred Haulenbeek, Joe Iadanza, Jean Isham.

Commission Members Absent: Will Patten, Johanna White.

Also Present: Alex Weinhagen (Director of Planning and Zoning), Karen Cornish (Recording Secretary).

The meeting began at approximately 7:40 p.m.

Budget Discussion
Alex went over a written summary of current and future Planning Commission projects, and how they fit into the FY09-10 town budget. Budgeted line items include:

Town Plan update – Alex said he will apply for a planning grant to help update the Plan which must be readopted in June 2010. He described the details of his proposal including integrating the proposed Greenspace Plan into the Town Plan and creating an enhanced online version of the Greenspace Plan to include images, maps, charts, etc.

Growth Center designation –Alex explained that towns with a GC designation have additional flexibility to help developers with projects in that designated area by reducing some of the ACT 250 criteria and by providing an easier way to mitigate ag soils. A GC designation also makes the town eligible for grants with the establishment of a TIF district. Alex said the recent village rezoning effort by the PC primes Hinesburg for a GC designation.

Affordable Housing – The AF Housing Committee wants to undertake a more formal housing needs assessment. Alex agreed such an assessment would make it easier to pursue the right kind of housing projects for Hinesburg. Alex said he is also applying for a small planning grant to do wastewater evaluation and surveying of an 11-acre piece of land on the south side of Buck Hill Road East. He said Habitat for Humanity is interested in purchasing the parcel and subdividing it into (possibly) 3 lots.

Commuter and Employer transportation project – Alex said the $1280 line item is the town’s local match to leverage a $40K grant from the CCMPO. He said the SB reviewed this already and endorsed the project.

Alex reviewed the budget spreadsheet in general, noting a drop in the amount budgeted for permit and fees revenue due to a projected decrease in applications for building projects. He said he did not include a request for a town wide stormwater assessment, suggesting this may be a good project for an intern next spring.

Official Town Map

Alex said the SB was not likely to approve the zoning changes contained in the village growth center proposal without an Official Map. SB members had been given a draft public spaces and facilities map for review; Alex said that document would go a long way as a start. He also said a grant from state transportation officials has been obtained to help firm up the map. He said the Village Steering Committee was at the SB to review their concerns about the rezoning proposal and that several members of the VSC expressed a desire to be part of a map work group. Alex discussed the work group with Carrie and George and the need to have a public hearing to adopt the map. He noted that although the deadline for the SB to adopt the village growth center plan had passed, both the plan and the town map could be presented at a new public hearing this fall for approval.

Possible forum dates and remaining 2008 PC meeting dates were discussed. Alex said the wetland delineation consultants would like do their evaluation of proposed map sites soon; he said the work group meeting(s) would confirm what those sites should be. Jean asked if the official map becomes part of the zoning regulations; Alex said no, that the OM exists as an independent regulatory document.

Other Business

Alex said Richmond is holding a public hearing on October 15^th to discussed changes to their zoning and subdivision regulations. He offered a summary report to PC members to review.

Minutes of the September 24^th meeting

George MOVED to approve the minutes as amended. Fred SECONDED the motion. The motion PASSED 5-0, with Joe I. abstaining.

The next Planning Comm. meeting is scheduled for October 22, 2008. The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:25 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted:

Karen Cornish, Recording Secretary