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| Village Growth Project |
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The 2005 Town Plan compels us to continue our serious look at Hinesburg’s sole designated growth center – the greater village area. Through the Village Growth Project, the Planning Commission is looking hard at ways to revise and rewrite the Town’s Zoning Regulations to lay the foundation for well planned development and future growth. We endeavor to:
Current Information - Village Growth Project SUCCESS! On May 4, 2009 the Selectboard formally adopted the Village Growth Area zoning changes that were developed and discussed over the last 3+ years of design charettes, public forums, work sessions, community dialogue, and public hearings. In addition to making revisions to the Zoning and Subdivision Regulations, the Selectboard adopted what is a new planning tool for Hinesburg, called the Official Map. This Official Map essentially shows the “master plan” for public facilities in the village growth area (e.g., future roads, sidewalks, parks, trails, etc.). It’s hard to overstate the importance and magnitude of this new growth center zoning framework. In fact, at a May 19 training session, our long-time Development Review Board chairperson (Tom McGlenn) quipped that this was the most comprehensive zoning change in his 29 years of service on the Zoning Board of Adjustment and the DRB. For a complete list of current Zoning Regulations visit the Zoning and Subdivision Regulations page. Past Action and Information Selectboard Hearing on Proposed Official Map and Revisions to Zoning & Subdivision RegulationsThe Hinesburg Selectboard held a public hearing on April 6, 2009 to receive public comment on the proposed changes – same language forwarded by the Planning Commission.Planning Commission Hearing on Proposed Official Map and Revisions to Zoning & Subdivision RegulationsThe Hinesburg Planning Commission held a public hearing at the Hinesburg Town Hall on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 to receive public comment on a proposed Official Map and proposed changes to the following regulations: Zoning Regulations, Town of Hinesburg, adopted November 7, 1972, as amended September 19, 2005; Subdivision Regulations, Town of Hinesburg, adopted September 4, 1979, as amended September 19, 2005.Official Map Explanation (2 page .doc file) Planning Commission Reporting Form for Municipal Bylaw Amendments - 12/22/08 (3 page .doc file) Planning for Public Spaces and FacilitiesIn response to feedback at the May 23, 2007 public forum, the Planning Commission is exploring what community spaces and facilities will be needed within the village growth area, and where they should be located. See the July 11, 2007 and July 25, 2007 meeting minutes for more details. Also check out the following list of public spaces and facilities that was worked out at the July 11, 2007 meeting.Public Spaces and Facilities List (.doc) Public Spaces and Facilities Map (.pdf) Planning Commission Proposal for Village Growth RezoningPresentation and 1st Public Forum, May 23, 2007, 7:30 p.m., Town HallAt a May 23 public forum, the Planning Commission (PC) laid out its proposal for significant village area zoning changes. These changes are designed to implement the community’s vision (as expressed in the Town Plan) for an expanded village growth area that can accommodate a substantial amount of Hinesburg’s expected growth over the next 20-30 years. Turn out at the forum was good (50-60 people), and the discussion following the presentation was excellent. Thanks were expressed to the PC for the work to date and the comprehensive nature of the proposal, while many constructive questions and suggestions for improvements were also made. The PC spent the next few months discussing the feedback and preparing a revised proposal to address some of the major concerns. See May 23 meeting minutes for a flavor of the issues raised at the forum. Public Discussion Sessions – February through April 2006Feb. 1 - Village Core & Southern ApproachFeb. 15 – Village Core & Commerce Park Mar. 1 – Ballard’s Corner & Route 116 North of Commerce Street Mar. 15 - Mechanicsville Road Mar. 29 – Municipal Projects & Development Plans Pending Re-Zoning Apr. 5 - Entire Greater Village Area (overall issues) Unlike the January 4 forum, we broke into small discussion groups so that everyone had a chance to share their input and be heard. Each meeting focused on ideas and issues for a particular area of the village. To spark discussion and generate specific feedback, each group was asked to discuss a series of questions related to the focus area for that evening. Maps and related material were made available at each session (see map links below). And as always, Planning Commissioners provided scrumptious desserts and drinks! See discussion summaries below: Discussion Schedule & Questions Past Discussion Summaries: Discussion Session #1 (2/1/06) Discussion Session #2 (2/15/06) Discussion Session #3 (3/1/06) Discussion Session #4 (3/15/06) Focus Area Maps (handed out at discussion sessions): Village Core and Southern Approach Village Core and Commerce Park Village North – Greater Hamlet Option Village North – Lesser Hamlet Option Village - Mechanicsville Road Project partners (consultant providing planning expertise): Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) Melanie Needle (staff planner) – providing technical assistance on build out projections and visualization Orton Family Foundation – providing access to Community Viz planning software ORW Landscape Architects & Planners of Norwich, VT Robert White (principal consultant) ORW is well known in planning circles for their work on the "Vermont Neighborhoods Project" in Addison County with the VT Forum on Sprawl (see www.vtsprawl.org/Initiatives/projects/tvn.htm). A picture is worth a thousand words, and ORW will be helping the Town produce conceptual layouts, designs, and architectural renderings to help community members visualize what is possible and how various zoning schemes might be built out in the future. Community Forum, January 4, 2006WOW! What an outpouring of interest from the community!! It was standing room only as we had approximately 140 people packed into the Town Hall for this forum. Very heartening to see so many people who clearly care so much about Hinesburg and our village area!Project consultant (Robert White of ORW) provided a review of growth ideas – primarily those generated at the Nov. 4th design charette. He also described how properly planned village growth can function with some zoning examples (house spacing, setbacks, etc.) and some design examples/pictures from other areas. Community members provided feedback on the issues important to them and some thoughts on the land use ideas presented. Big issues brought up by forum attendees: 1. Sidewalks, sidewalks, sidewalks – it’s time to make the village area walkable with safe, connected pedestrian/bike infrastructure 2. Need more area for increased economic activity and commerce 3. Want new development to be on the Hinesburg scale in keeping with our rural village 4. Want to preserve historic buildings and cultural integrity 5. Worried about impact of new development on traffic patterns, especially as it relates to pedestrian safety Village Design Charette, November 4, 200530 land use professionals from inside and outside of Hinesburg were invited to a ˝ charette or design workshop to brainstorm ideas for village growth. See the charette summary for details.Hinesburg Growth Center Charette |
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