TOWN OF HINESBURG

DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD MINUTES

 

December 1, 2009

Approved December 15, 2009

 

DRB Members Present:  Kate Bissonette, Ted Bloomhardt, Dick Jordan, Tom McGlenn, George Munson, Zoë Wainer.

 

DRB Members Absent:  Dennis Place, Greg Waples.

 

Also Present:  Alex Weinhagen, Peter Erb (Zoning Administrator), Karen Cornish (Recording Secretary), George Bedard, Mike Bissonette.

 

The meeting began at approximately 7:30 pm.

 

Minutes of the November 17, 2009 meeting:

Zoë MOVED to approve the meeting minutes as amended.  George SECONDED the motion.  The motion PASSED 4–0, with Ted and Kate not voting.

 

Furno Design Consultants, LTD. for Sketch Plan Review of a 2-lot Subdivision of property located at 2908 Lincoln Hill Road.   [Tax Map #10-01-24.200]

*continued from the 11/17 meeting

Dick, Zoë and George commented on their site visits to the property.  Dick thought the house site and infrastructure were well placed, noting neighbors’ views (from the existing home and the Reynolds’ house, both to the west) would not be obstructed.  He suggested moving the driveway 15-20 yards to the west, away from the corner, to give a better sight line onto Lincoln Hill Road to the right and to decrease the overall size of the driveway.  He also suggested orienting the drive/garage to avoid shining headlights at neighboring homes.  George M. agreed with Dick’s comments.  George B. said he spoke with Mike Anthony regarding trees and visibility along the road; the reason for siting the driveway at that location was to maintain a good sight line to the east (toward Huntington).  Dick asked about deciduous trees and whether those would stay.  George B. noted ash and pine trees and an apple tree, stating it was possible to move the building envelope to the south in order to keep those trees out of the envelope and retain them.

 

Zoë said she had a good general impression driving up Lincoln Hill that the new house would fit in with the surrounding neighborhood in terms of its close location to the road and to other houses.  She noted that the land where the building envelope was seemed wet and also the potential for landscaping to keep the house screened from the road.  She also walked to the septic site and did not see any problems with that location.

George B. first proposed using a ditch and culvert on the existing property to address that wet area; later he and the group agreed that the best treatment would be to leave that existing ditch alone and take care of drainage on the new site by allowing stormwater to flow across a brushy, gently-sloped area to the more steep area at the back.

 

George B. noted Section 6.10.8 of Subdivision bylaws that addressed design standards, stating this project meets those requirements by keeping the house site to the front and preserving the wooded area to the back.  The location was also the best for septic and solar gain, did not interrupt scenic views and was in the least suitable ag soils on the property.  Peter Erb asked if the house would block the view from the Reynolds house; George B. said no, that it was low enough and also trees would buffer the view of the dwelling.  Zoë suggested adding landscaping to buffer the house at the north (by the road) and west of the home.  George B. discussed septic plans and agreed landscaping could be installed in those areas (north and west). 

 

The group discussed density issues, noting a recent, similar decision (Fritz) for a 2-lot subdivision – both projects allowed for lots with a good amount of road frontage.  The development pattern in the surrounding area was also discussed and the group generally agreed that the project was acceptable in terms of density and development patterns.  Peter Erb asked that the decision address the owner’s responsibilities for maintaining sight lines on Lincoln Road (by cutting brush) as a safety concern.

 

Tom MOVED to close the public hearing and direct staff to draft conditions of approval.  Zoë SECONDED the motion.  The motion PASSED 6-0.

Voted:  Kate Bissonette, Ted Bloomhardt, Dick Jordan, Tom McGlenn, George Munson, Zoë Wainer.

 

Hinesburg Auto Sales (MacClusky) for Revision to Conditional Use and Site Plan approval for property located on Route 116.   [Tax Map #20-50-03.000]

Alex explained that this application had been warned in error for the December 1st meeting and needed to be formally continued to the December 15th meeting.  There was a brief discussion of the history of the application, with Alex noting that the applicant is currently in violation of the previous site plan (this new application would address the violation issues).

 

Tom MOVED to continue the hearing to the December 15th meeting, with a site visit to take place the same evening at 6:30pm.  Zoë SECONDED the motion.  The motion PASSED 6-0.

Voted:  Kate Bissonette, Ted Bloomhardt, Dick Jordan, Tom McGlenn, George Munson, Zoë Wainer.

 

Tom MOVED to go into deliberative session to vote on the Hathaway and Bissonette / Champlain Oil applications.  Zoë SECONDED the motion.  The motion PASSED 6-0.



Other Business

Hathaway - Revision to a Site Plan, Conditional Use Review

The group voted to APPROVE the draft decision (approval) as amended, by a vote of 6-0.

Voted:  Kate Bissonette, Ted Bloomhardt, Dick Jordan, Tom McGlenn, George Munson, Zoë Wainer.

 

Hathaway - Sign Review

The group voted to approve the draft decision (APPROVAL) as amended, by a vote of 6-0.

Voted:  Kate Bissonette, Ted Bloomhardt, Dick Jordan, Tom McGlenn, George Munson, Zoë Wainer.

 

Bissonette / Champlain Oil 2-Lot Sketch Subdivision

The group voted to approve the draft decision (DENIAL) as amended, by a vote of 6-0.

Voted:  Ted Bloomhardt, Dick Jordan, Tom McGlenn, George Munson, Zoë Wainer, and Greg Waples voting in absentia.

 

The meeting ended at approximately 9:00 pm.  The next DRB meeting is scheduled for December 15th, with a site visit to take place at 6:30pm at the Hinesburg Auto Sales lot.

 

Respectfully Submitted:

 

Karen Cornish

Recording Secretary