TOWN OF HINESBURG

PLANNING COMMISSION

September 9, 2009

Approved September 23, 2009

 

Commission Members Present:  Tim Clancy, Fred Haulenbeek, Joe Iadanza, Carrie Fenn, Jean Isham, Ashley Orgain.

 

Commission Members Absent:  Tom Ayer, Will Patten, Johanna White.

 

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

 

Fall/Winter Work Plan & Schedule

Alex said the rural area rezoning options will be presented to the Select Board at their September 21st meeting.  The public forum to review the proposed regulation revisions (farm worker housing, telecommunications facilities, cemeteries, noise performance standards, lease permitting clarifications) will also take place at the same meeting.

 

Alex said the Select Board will review the Planning and Zoning department budget at their first budget meeting on October 12th; adding there will be time throughout the budget process (up through January) to adjust the budget as needed.  He noted some of the items the PC was working on this time last year, as they related to the current fiscal year’s budget:  the official map (completed); the rural area density project (ongoing); the Greenspace Plan (ongoing by the Conservation Committee).  Jean asked if the CC needed money to complete the GP; Alex said he would ask the CC, as the Greenspace Plan was requested by the PC, and was an important piece in the rural density project.

 

Alex then listed projects to consider in the new budget (fiscal year starting July 2010):

 

Town Plan Revision

-         SB must re-adopt by June 2010, with public forum between Jan. and June

-         PC must deliver to SB by Jan. 2010, with public forum between now and Jan.

-         Last discussed at the 4-22 PC meeting

Items to update, including PC members who will make the updates:

-         make statistical updates in demographic data, if they exist; Alex

-         recognize what happened with the Village Growth area; Fred

-         update the energy section; Carrie and Ashley

-         transportation updates; include the Route 116 scoping study, the two new traffic lights, additional sidewalks, etc.; Joe

-         village area land use

-         new town forest; Jean

The group discussed whether to update the language around rural area zoning.  Jean suggested, and the group agreed, that it was premature to change the language until the SB and public hearings had taken place. 

 

Alex noted two already-budgeted items related to the update effort itself – 1) the hiring of a web consultant to create a more accessible, interactive document once revised; 2) organizing a community event to let people know about the update effort, perhaps hiring a speaker to discuss a topic relevant to the plan.  There is $1500 in the budget for the event.

 

Rural Area Density regulation revisions

Alex suggested resuming work on this at the October 14 PC meeting, as the SB will have reviewed the proposal at their Sept. 21st meeting, along with the regulation revisions (mentioned above); Alex encouraged members to attend the SB meeting.  Fred suggested presenting the Clean Energy Assessment District concept to the SB at the same meeting.  Alex thought that meeting would be full, but recommended that members draft a letter to them describing the program.  The group discussed various community groups (focused on energy initiatives) whose work would tie into the program.  Tim said he wanted a better understanding of the financial implications of the program. 

 

Fred MOVED that the Planning Commission encourage the Select Board to consider and implement an Energy Assessment District program.  Ashley SECONDED the motion.  The motion passed 6-0.  Read here for more info: http://www.vnrc.org/article/view/24468/1/625/

 

Village Growth Area regulation revisions

-         Last discussed at the 5-27 and 6-10 PC meetings

Alex said he needed help with drafting language for the revisions discussed at the above two meetings, on these topics:

-         larger home occupations in Residential 1 and 2 districts

-         a master plan requirement for all development proposals

-         revising energy and green energy standards

-         adjusting the maximum residential development density; Joe will work on this one.

 

Flood Hazard & Fluvial Erosion hazard regulation revisions

-         August 2010 deadline for State acceptance of  revised regulations, in order to ensure residents’ continued participation in National Flood Insurance program

-         SB must submit revised regulations to State with adequate time for State review;
SB recommended date to adopt revised regulations is March 2010, with public forum between February and March

-         PC must deliver to SB by Feb. 2010, with public forum between now and Feb.

 

Alex said that FEMA will adopt new maps used for the National Flood Insurance program in August 2010.  As part of that process, all towns need to submit regulations to the state with language revisions and a reference those new maps.  He explained that although the Chittenden County maps will be revised, no new studies have been done in Hinesburg, as our maps were updated in 2004, i.e. Hinesburg data (elevations) on those new maps are not changing.  He said the state has model ordinance language that we can use, as well as people that can assist with the revisions.

 

Fred suggested letting residents know about the new FEMA maps; Carrie suggested including a notice in the Record describing the process by which residents may challenge their map designations (via a LOMA – letter of map amendment).  Jean asked if these revisions would affect the Town Plan revisions.  Alex said one of the TP maps shows the FEMA flood hazard areas.  Jean said she would work on this and would look for assistance from Andrea Morgante and Lisa Godfrey.

 FY 2010 – 2011 Budget Considerations

 

Growth Center Designation

Alex said this item had been eliminated from the budget last year, but could be resubmitted.  He said although the application process was intense, there are a number of benefits to having the designation and believed Hinesburg would qualify.  Alex said he hoped to get state match funds.  The group discussed the criteria for the designation; Alex said he could work on the grant application.

 

Comprehensive stormwater evaluation

Alex said the PC should consider adding this to the Hinesburg budget as the one source for funding (the VPIC Municipal Planning Grant Program) has been put on hold until further notice.  The group discussed whether federal Clean and Clear program money could be used in this effort, noting that an argument could be made that good planning could help protect the already-funded clean-up efforts (LaPlatte Headwaters project) underway in the town.

 

Recreation fields

Tim said he would like to include some direction for athletic fields in the revised Town Plan, as well as putting money in the budget for an assessment study of best locations.  Alex suggested partnering with Jen McCuin and members of the Recreation Committee for this. Tim and Karen will work on this.

 

Financial Resources

The group discussed how to tap into financial resources in general, including setting aside match money in the P&Z budget and seeking assistance from Bill Lippert as a way of accessing opportunities at the State level.  Alex said requesting funds for a stormwater study, while not technically one of the priority points included in the municipal grant program, could be justified as a way to support overall growth center planning.  The group agreed to include money in the budget for a grant match.

 

The group reviewed the Town Plan top-ten priority list.  Jean suggested members review overall Plan goals (pages 63-67) to see if there are any areas requiring funding.

 

Other Business

- The Recreation Committee will meet Tuesday, October 13th to talk about the athletic fields now shown on the official map.

- The Select Board will meet 7:00 pm Monday, September 21st to discuss zoning regulation revisions and the rural density options.

- Alex is helping with the VT Planners Association’s Fall Workshop event, to be held this year in Shelburne on Friday, October 16th.

 

August 26th Meeting Minutes

Commission members voted 5-0 to approve the August 26, 2009 meeting minutes as amended, with Joe I. abstaining.

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2009.  The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:05 pm. 

 

Respectfully Submitted:

 

Karen Cornish, Recording Secretary