TOWN OF HINESBURG
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
May 4, 2010
Approved 5/18/10
Members Present: Tom McGlenn, George Munson, Dennis Place, Zoë Wainer, Dick Jordan, Ted Bloomhardt, Greg Waples
Members Absent: None
Also Present: Alex Weinhagen (Planning Director), Peter Erb (Zoning Administrator, Mary Seemann (Recording Secretary), Berthann Mulieri, Mark Naud, Patricia Carroll, Michelle Douglas, Jamie Carroll, Mac Rood, Joe Gannon, Nancy Ruben, Lynn Izzo, James Gibbons, Greg Rabideau, Sam Collins, David & Barbara Lyman. Jim Collins, Andrea Morgante, Alyssa Lasher, Jeff & Jean Davis, Ken Brown, George Dameon, Kate Schubart, Brett Grabowski, Michael Wisniewski, Carrie Fenn, Wayne Bissonette, Rolf Kielman, Carl Bohlen, Jerry Newton, and Rodman Cory.
Tom McGlenn called the meeting to order at 7:33pm
Minutes of April 20, 2010. After a correction Tom McGlenn made a motion to accept the minutes as amended, Dick Jordan seconded. A vote was taken - 7-0. THE MOTION PASSED.
Ruben/Maurer: Development on a private right-of-way
Board: Tom McGlenn, George Munson, Zoë Wainer, Ted Bloomhardt, Dick Jordan, Dennis Place, Greg Waples
Joe Gannon gave a recap of the application to date. He showed where the new drive would be located saying there would be no additional road cuts, it will be hidden from the main road, and would split into two driveways servicing both houses. The old driveway would be returned to pasture land. Joe said he felt this design was the best plan with the least disturbance to any natural feature and it would miss the northwest corner of the property where there are wetlands. Joe thanked Alex and Peter for all their help with his application.
Zoë W asked if they would be keeping the northern portion of the drive. Joe explained that they do need to keep the northern section for access to power and emergency vehicles.
Tom M asked if there were any questions.
James Gibbons (an abutter) thanked Alex Weinhagen for keeping him informed through email and asked if there had been any changes from the last email. Alex said there had not. James said he was fine with this application.
Tom M stated that Peter had drawn up a Draft Decision and asked the Board to review it for any corrections or changes which they proceeded to do.
Zoë Wainer made a motion to close the meeting to the public and approve the draft as amended. George Munson? seconded the motion. Greg Waples abstained. A vote was taken - 7-0. THE MOTION PASSED
Green Street: Amendment to an existing permit.
Board: Tom McGlenn, George Munson, Dennis Place, Greg Waples, Zoë Wainer, Dick Jordan, Ted Bloomhardt
Mac Rood gave a narrative of the changes he would like for this application. Mac said after talking to the Fire Marshall he wants to remove two units and configure the remaining units with more space between buildings, and connect the top and bottom walkways with an ADA approved sidewalk. He said the setback from the road would remain the same as would everything else that was previously approved. Mac also stated that all buildings have to potential for an elevator.
Tom M asked if there were any questions – no questions were asked.
George M made a motion to close the public hearing and approve the draft decision. Zoë W seconded the motion. A vote was taken – 7-0. THE MOTION PASSED
Carroll: Conditional Use Camp Conversion
Board: Tom McGlenn, George Munson, Greg Waples, Dick Jordan, Dennis Place, Ted Bloomhardt
Zoë W. abstained as she was not present at the last meeting for this application.
This application was continued from the April 20th meeting. Jamie gave a short narrative of his application, showing the location of the new house. Jamie brought Marc Naud an environmental attorney with him this night. Jamie said the new house will use the existing well, and the existing paved drive will be relocated. Ted B asked if he planned on putting the new mound system over the existing one and Jamie said there would be a little overlap. Greg W said for him there was a legal issue whether this is an enlargement of an existing nonconforming structure or a tear down and reconstruction on another part of the lot and that was why he was encouraging Jamie to think about ways he could build as much as he could around the footprint of the existing house site. Jamie said the new septic field setback requirements did not allow any overlap between the footprints. Tom M asked if the existing system had failed and Jamie said in order to do a new one he had to say it failed.
George M asked Jamie since he was putting in a new pump station why the pump station couldn’t be moved to the rear of the lot. Jamie said it could be shifted around some.
Ted B said if possible, Jamie could move it down the hill and not have a full basement as this is a big house being proposed on a small “shoehorn” lot. Ted said the house was still pretty big to be called an addition to a pre-existing non-conforming structure.
Jamie said as for the size and height he is proposing for his house, he looked around the neighborhood and his house would not be any taller than neighbors. He pointed out one particular house stating that it was 24’ tall. Peter E said yes it was but this landowner was not allowed to raise his house to get a basement.
Tom M opened the meeting to the public.
Jerry Newton stated he lives east of Jamie’s mound system and the way it looks it is 12’ from the mound to his house and less footage to his mound system. His concern was what impact Jamie’s mound would have on his system.
Marc Naud, an environmental/land use lawyer came to the meeting with Jamie. Marc said he told Jamie that he would help develop the proposal to find an appropriately conditional approval from the Board for what he would consider a reasonable development on the small lot. Marc said he attended the site visit before the nights meeting and he had also attended the last meeting and wanted to respond to some concerns he had heard at both meetings.
Berthann Mulieri questioned Jamie about the foundation height and the drainage.
Tom M made a motion to continue the application to the June 1st meeting with the applicant encouraged to address with a modified plan some of the issues that had been brought up. George M seconded the motion. A vote was taken – 6-0. THE MOTION PASSED.
Lyman/Milot – Kinney Drugs: 2-lot subdivision
Board: Tom McGlenn, George Munson, Dennis Place, Dick Jordan, Zoë Wainer, Greg Waples, Ted Bloomhardt
Greg Rabideau showed new plans for the development. Some changes were: 9 buildings (mixing residential and commercial), different parking configuration, a friendlier parking situation, and open spaces for community use. Greg showed the 92 parking spaces and gave a breakdown of how they were configured: Kinney with 22 spaces, residential being 15 units @ two spaces per unit/30 spaces, the remaining would be used for the commercial/public parking. He went on to say the breakdown averages out to be 15% of the property covered by buildings, and 28.9% is pavement coverage. Greg explained they plan on having LED lighting fixtures, on the Craftsman style which will energy efficient. As for the landscaping he said they were looking at trees such as: maples, river birch, gingko, white spruce, katsura, oak and perhaps some flowering crabapple trees. The landscaper is also looking at shrubs such as; dogwood, burning bush, hydrangea, juniper, rhododendrons, and lilacs. There is no definite decision on which they will use. Zoë W pointed out that some of the suggested trees and shrubs are not allowed per the Towns regulations as they are considered invasive and are on the “watch list”.
There was continuing discussions in regards to ceiling height, height of the buildings, open spaces, parking on Farmall Dr., affordable housing, time of construction; will it all go in at one time or in increments, and grade changes for storm water runoff. Greg W said he was still no comfortable with having an 11,000 sq. ft. building. Zoë W agreed with Greg W saying the breakup of the buildings tends to make Kinney’s seem bigger.
Brett Grabowski said he has been working with Housing Vermont, who is very interested in the project but does not have a commitment from them yet. Zoë W asked about the Master Plan if the new plans changed the way they integrated the space around lot 32. Brett Grabowski said nothing had changed.
Tom asked if there were any representatives from other Boards or Committees present with questions. Carl Bohlen from Affordable Housing said that his committee was very supportive of the housing being proposed as Hinesburg needs affordable housing. Carl said it was a very good plan and has lots of merit. Carl also said the “mixed use” was good and Affordable Housing is willing to work with Brett any time he wants help or suggestions.
Rolf Kielman (Village Steering Committee) said he feels the scale of the structure is still too big, that the gables they are suggesting are too big and he would like to see it improved as it is a “Gateway” to Hinesburg. Rolf said he still likes the idea of on-street parking on Kailey’s Way but parking at a 90° angel will not work. He also felt that the landscape plan was poor and they should consider shaping certain areas with plants.
Alyssa Lasher (Creekside resident) stated she was concerned with the privacy aspect and when will they be discussing the impact this development will have on the neighbors once it gets underway. She is concerned mostly with the noise, dust, and truck traffic this will bring.
Ken Brown agreed with Rolf for the parking on Kailey’s Way and wanted to compliment Greg R on the placement of Kinney’s store. He gave Greg R a suggestion that he could decrease the size of the footprint and make this the "Jewel” of the Kinney’s stores.
Michael Wisniewski said he is encouraged with the new plans but still depressed with the parking. Mike said he felt Farmall should have parking as well as Kailey’s Way and asked if they planned on paving or painting on the crosswalks. He said he is working on an 18,000 sq.ft. building and the way he made it look smaller was to have space between the gables.
Wayne Bissonette said he has the project north of this one and there will most likely be a road that connects both projects, with this in mind they should leave the parking alone there is no need to increase it.
Andrea Morgante feels like the parking dominates the space still but supports parking on Kailey’s Way on both sides of the street. She asked Greg and Brett to consider open spaces that the public can/will use.
Jim Collins suggested moving the building back on the lot for more green space and parking on Farmall would be a good idea.
Tom M agreed that the plan has come a long way and he is in favor of closing the public hearing and going into deliberative session to discuss this application further. George M seconded the motion. A vote was taken –7-0. THE MOTION PASSED.
Tom closed the meeting at 9:40pm.
Next scheduled meeting: May 18th.
Respectfully Submitted
Mary Seemann
(Recording Secretary)