Hinesburg Village Steering Committee

Meeting Minutes – June 9, 2008

Members present: George Dameron, Rolf Kielman, Karla Munson, Donna Walker

1. Minutes of last meeting not yet approved.

2. RK read to the VSC the text of Roger Kohn’s letter to the Select Board and Planning Commission regarding the proposed zoning regulations revisions.

3. Discussion regarding VSC advisory comments on proposed village zoning revisions. Open public meeting on proposed revisions will probably take place in July. RK produced a draft of a letter to be sent to the Select Board and Planning Commission that incorporated the consensus of committee members. The VSC approved the first recommendation and approved the second and third clauses with slight changes in the language. Regarding the fourth clause, RK agreed to check with Alex Weinhagen as to whether the Commerce Street district is indeed zoned within the village and subject to the zoning revisions.

The VSC also agreed to include in the letter the strong concern that current sidewalk projects do seem to be moving forward.

RK will send another draft of the letter to VSC members for comment before it goes to the Select Board and Planning Commission.

4. The VSC reiterated its strong opinion that the official map should be completed whenever the zoning revisions take effect.

5. The VSC expressed concern about the current state of the sidewalk projects (nothing seems to be going forward). The VSC decided to request 1) information from the Select Board as to their current status, and 2) where appropriate, to press the Select Board to move forward to complete them as soon as is feasible.

6. Other items of concern to the VSC, which may be brought to the official attention of the Select Board:

   –The need to slow down traffic on town roads that intersect 116 in the village (for example, Charlotte Road). The VSC expressed concern about the speed by which cars and trucks are entering the village.

   –The need to ban air brakes (by trucks) in the village, which need to include the posting of signs and the policing of the ban.

   –The continued absence of village gateway signs.

The VSC also reiterated its commitment to generate a walking tour of the village (by GD) and the creation of attractive signs for the historic houses in the village (designating dates of construction). RK will ask Rocky Martin and Alex Weinhagen whether it is possible to apply the annual allocation of the VSC ($500) for some of the cost of the signage (using the same sign maker who did the Town Hall sign).

The VSC will also explore approaching local businesses for donations for “flowers in wheelbarrows” to embellish the village.

The VSC will coordinate these initiatives with the Hinesburg Historical Society, which is re-organizing later in June.

7. Adjournment. There will be no July meeting, and the August meeting is pending.

Respectfully submitted,

George Dameron (acting secretary)