Town of Hinesburg

Developmental Review Board

February 16, 2010

Approved March 2, 2010

Members Present: Tom McGlenn, Dennis Place, Greg Waples, Dick Jordan, Zoë Wainer, Kate Bissonette, Ted Bloomhardt

Members Absent: None

Also Present: Alex Weinhagen (Director of Planning and Zoning), Peter Erb (Zoning Administrator), Mary Seemann (Recording Secretary), Greg Rabideau (Architect), Brett Grabowski (developer), Greg Maglaris, Bobbi Jo Maglaris, Rodman Cory, John Lyman, David Lyman, Douglas Olufsen, Greg Tomczyk, Dorothy Pellett, Jim Collins, Brian Hinto, Paul Wieczoreck, Chuck Reiss, Carrie Fenn, Phil Pouech, Alyssa Lasher, Kate Schubart, Carl Bohlen, Michael Wisniewski, Natacha Liuzzi, Joseph Tomko, Karen Cornish, Kristy McLeod, Michael Fay, and Andrea Morgante.

Tom called the meeting to order at 7:32 pm.

Minutes from 2-2-10: Greg motioned to accept the minutes from the 2-2-10 meeting as is, Zoë Wainer seconded, Dick Jordan abstained. The motion passed 5-0.

Lyman/Milot –Kinney Drugs-2-Lot subdivision preliminary plat

Greg Rabideau started the evening with a 3-D slide show for the re-designed proposed Kinney Drug store, the proposed medical building and the two buildings that may be built in the future. He stated that there had been significant changes in the Kinney Drug building such as; making the dormers true dormers, the mechanicals will be tucked in the back northwest corner of the building, showed where solar panels could be set on the roof to help defer costs and make it more energy efficient, showed around the perimeter the planting of Gingko trees, which was suggested by Michael Lawrence the landscaper, and addressed the issue of grading showing that the elevation had been dropped down 1-½ feet which will reduce the fill needed. Greg showed that the drive-thru window has been moved closer to the front of the building and showed locations where additional landscaping was added.

Ted asked if the materials had changed and Greg said that the roof was asphalt, the windows are aluminum casing and it is cement clapboard siding with stone on the bottom of the drug store. Ted then asked about winter landscaping in order to keep some greenery and Greg showed where there had been a row of evergreens put in to help with the winter scene.

In the slide show a red barn was used to indicate where one of the future buildings would be located. This led to some confusion and discussions on what the building would be used for and how would it look. Greg said they put the red barn in to show where the building would go but right now there are no plans for the building, and no design as to what it would look.

Ted asked about sidewalks and Greg showed where they were on the map. Ted asked if they would be continued in the construction of the property and Greg said that was the plan.

George asked about the lighting in the parking lot and around the property for safety. Greg showed on the building where porch lights would be, showed in the parking lot and around the buildings where the pylons lights and the lights between the buildings were.

Tom opened the discussion to the public.

Doug Olufson asked if the Town was going to take over plowing the sidewalks. Michael Fay asked if there had been any traffic studies done to see the impact at 5:30 pm and asked if there was going to be a turn lane in place to ease this issue. Michael also said that the 3-D plans look good but the trees that are slated to be put in will not be as large as they show in the slide show. He asked if larger trees could be put in at the beginning. Greg said that any size tree could be purchased it all comes down to the budget. Zoë Wainer asked if the landscaping budget changed with the new plans and Greg said he wasn’t sure.

Carl Bohlen asked about bus service to the location, and asked the Board for a clear definition of what mixed use is.

Alyssa Lasher stated she was concerned for the safety of the children in the neighborhood and asked if there was a plan showing what the residents would be looking at once the buildings go up, especially the building where the red barn was and what kind of privacy was afforded to the homeowners at Creekside. She was requesting landscaping that would give privacy to the houses. Greg addressed the issue of safety for the children stating that there is adequate road design to control the flow of traffic so traffic into Creekside would be minimal, no turn-arounds in her driveway.

Chuck Reiss suggested that while the plans are still in the Sketch development perhaps a better scale of the building would be helpful as it was not balanced or interesting as presented. Chuck said this 11,000 square foot Kinney Drugs is much bigger that most of the existing retail stores in Hinesburg.

Phil Pouech asked if the project was LEED certified. He suggested that some of the lighting be put on sensor motion. Greg Rabideau said they are planning on getting the certificate.

Greg Tomczyk said that he was hoping that the project being proposed will not end up looking like Williston’s mall, that the Kinney footprint did not look like it had changed. He also wanted to know how the pedestrians would be impacted in their ability to walk the area.

Karen Cornish said that it was hard to imagine 5,000 square feet as stated in the site plan. She asked the Board if they approved the site with four buildings on it with only two being built out. Karen asked if both lots were owned by separate owners and was told yes and that any condition cited would be for both parties. She asked that the meeting stay open for two more weeks.

Andrea Morgante read to the audience and Board the Overall Concept on Planned Unit Development stating that the applicant was not creating a village center and she has not heard rationale of parking on Farmall. Greg Rabideau said that Kinney’s rationale is from the behavior of the patrons in their existing stores, that people want to park close to the front door. Brett Grabowski stated that studies showed people will not stop and shop if there is not parking by the front door. Jim Collins stated that he couldn’t think of any business without parking close to front door.

Kate Schubart asked about the village center, is there a shift to make this development the center. She stated she is hoping that the area will be more indigenous like Bristol not Williston.

Paul Wieczoreck made comments on the accuracy of the scale and said it was not a cozy feeling. He suggested that the size of trees to be put in should be around 3 ½ to 4” in diameter and he recommended that money should be used on soil improvements such as soil mixtures. He suggested in order to do this spend less money on trees and more on soil.

Tom motioned to move the continuation of this meeting until March 16th, Ted seconded; THE MOTIONED PASSED 6-0.

Baldwin 2-Lot Subdivision (Baldwin Road & Catchapaw Road)

Next applicant on the agenda was the Baldwin 3-lot subdivision on Baldwin Road and Catchapaw Road. Matthew and Daniel Baldwin explained that their father was not going to build on parcel A and wanted to subdivide only the parcel B, which met all conditions on sketch. The Board and applicants discussed how the parcel was going to be subdivided. After some discussion Zoë Wainer motioned to approve the draft decision as written and Dennis Place seconded. The motion passed 6-0.

Tom stated that the next DRB meeting will be March 2nd and the applicant before the Board will be Bissonette/Champlain Oil “Jiffy Mart”.

Board Members Elections

Last agenda item was the election of Board members. The positions: Chair, Vice-Chair and Clerk. Tom asked for nominations for Chair, Greg nominated Tom, Dennis seconded, voted and passed 6-0. Tom will remain as Chair. Ted nominated Zoë Wainer for the Vice-Chair position. The Board members explained what her duties would be and after some discussion she accepted the nomination. A vote was taken and passed 6-0. Zoë Wainer will fill the position of Vice-Chair. The clerk position was open and George said he would continue if no one wanted it. Zoë nominated George, Dennis seconded, a vote was taken and THE MOTION PASSED 6-0.

Greg motioned that the Board go into deliberative session, Ted seconded. Motion passed 7-0.

Meeting ended at 9:45 pm

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Seemann

Recording Secretary