HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Open Space IZ Committee - 10/01/2019South Burlington Open Space Interim Zoning Committee October 1, 2019
The Open Space IZ Committee held a regular meeting on Tuesday, October 1, 2019, at 7:00 pm, in the
second-floor conference room, Police Station, 19 Gregory Drive.
Members present: Vince Bolduc, Alyson Chalnick, Meaghan Emery, Duncan Murdoch, Allan Strong, and
Sam Swanson. Absent members: Bernie Gagnon, Amanda Holland, Sophie Mazowita, Betty Milizia, and
Tami Zylka.
1. Directions on emergency evacuation procedures from conference room:
Allan called the meeting to order and provided instructions on emergency evacuation of the
building.
2. Additions, deletions or changes in order of agenda items:
None were made.
3. Comments from the public not related to the agenda:
No comments were made.
4. Discuss list of priority parcels from Scenario 1:
Allan began with a question regarding parcels already permitted for development. Sam hoped that
they would still appear in the Committee’s final rankings. Meaghan and Vince agreed that the
Committee could submit a map showing where the different natural resources are. Members
discussed various different parcels and classifications: what to exclude, include, make lower in
priority, designate separately (like UVM lands). The question about parcels on which are found
individual homes or buildings arose, and members discussed the pros and cons of classifying them
separately. Allan raised a few other means to narrow the list: acreage, infrastructure, and so on.
Meaghan suggested looking at acreage and adjoining parcels in order to winnow down the list of 48
parcels in Scenario 1, as well as buffers. Duncan added connectivity to the list. Members coalesced
around the idea that the selection of 10 parcels need not be complicated since the data has already
been collected. Meaghan suggested using the terms short-term, medium-term, and long-term (to be
put on a watch list) headings in order to distinguish between the properties. Combining this last
process with putting UVM lands under a separate classification and excluding properties due to
pending development led to a list of 21 properties designated for short-term conservation interest.
5. Discuss consideration of parcels currently receiving regulatory protection:
Allan will seek clarification from Paul Conner on the different stipulations of the different
conservation regulations.
6. Discussion of format of final report:
Allan offered to describe the methods, and Vince has offered to write the introduction in order to
give context to the report. Allan will also sketch out a draft text covering the results: i.e., how
parcels were classified. Allan asked whether it was necessary to include a page per parcel in the final
report. Meaghan suggested including a section outlining parcels that could be of interest to
Recreation and Parks, Energy, and Dog Park Committees. Vince suggested a section outlining ways
to conserve property. Duncan named a few: own the land and donate the conservation easement,
donate the land, or sell the land.
Allan asked whether some parcels should be designated for partial conservation in the final report.
Sam suggested including some description in the introduction and/or methods. Vince suggested a
separate section that could include sensitive areas noted by Allan: the Great Swamp and the central
area of Potash Brook (the headwaters come out of Butler Farms), located on the stretch between
UVM property (Edlund, Martin, ropes course, Wittlesey) and Spear Meadows. Any development in
this area would have a massive effect on water quality. Duncan suggested that the report could
recommend further study on some areas. The Arrowwood Ecological Assessment (2004) includes a
section on the Great Swamp. Meaghan recommended that the City could more formally designate
this area on the official map. Allan also noted that the report should include future opportunities for
ecological restoration: how to restore a riparian forest, how to enhance buffers.
7. Approve Minutes of September 25, 2019:
Vince moved to approve the September 25, 2019 minutes, Duncan seconded, and they passed
unanimously. Minutes passed 6-0.
8. Adjourn:
The meeting adjourned shortly after 9:00pm. The next meeting is on October 23 at 7pm.