HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Planning Commission - 08/23/2022SOUTH BURLINGTON PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
23 AUGUST 2022
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The South Burlington Planning Commission held a regular meeting on Tuesday, 23 August 2022, at 7:00
p.m., in the Auditorium, City Hall, 180 Market Street, and via Zoom remote technology.
MEMBERS PRESENT: J. Louisos, Chair; T. Riehle, M. Ostby, D. Macdonald, P. Engels
ALSO PRESENT: P. Conner, Director of Planning and Zoning; L. Murphy;
1. Instructions on exiting the building in case of an emergency:
Ms. Louisos provided instructions on emergency exit from the building.
2. Agenda: Additions, deletions or changes in order of agenda items:
No changes were made to the agenda.
3. Open to the public for items not related to the Agenda:
Mr. Murphy followed up on his request from the previous meeting and asked that it be on the
Commission’s agenda as a zoning amendment as soon as possible.
4. Planning Commissioner announcements and staff report:
Mr. Riehle noted that a town in Indiana has 102 roundabouts and only one traffic light.
Ms. Ostby reported that on NPR there was an item regarding financial value of natural resources. She
also noted that the White House is creating a “natural capital account.”
Mr. Conner: advised that last week the Council had a first reading of an ordinance to require that 85%
of principal heating systems be from a renewable source. Backup systems can be gas. There will be a
public hearing on 23 September. He also noted that the Climate Action Task Force has presented this to
the Council as a priority.
Artie Gillies, UVM graduate, has joined the Planning Department. Kelsey will be
returning in September. This will bring the department back to where it was 2 months ago.
The anticipation is that the Tesla request will be on the next agenda.
Mr. Engels asked what “retrofitting” is. Mr. Conner said it is a tool that many communities use to allow
for “adaptive reuse” so that a building could have an activity that might otherwise not be allowed. This
is the concept that Mr. Murphy is presenting.
Mr. Riehle asked whether the Commission would grant a “fast track” to a citizen who came with a
request. Mr. Conner said the schedule is up to the Commission. He stressed that a zoning change
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consideration must always look at the wider context, not just one property. Ms. Louisos noted that the
Commission does have a written policy regarding requests.
5. Discussion of each Planning Commission member’s vision for the City:
Mr. Riehle: Likes the vision in the existing Comprehensive Plan with the addition of bus ridership,
having the city known for something unique, people clearly realizing they are in South Burlington, more
creative housing types, an overabundance of trees, respecting the qualities of existing neighborhoods, a
city public pool, and an increase in housing city-wide.
Mr. Engels: Not a happy vision: Cider Mill becoming a tenement with clotheslines between houses,
a continuing wave of people needing housing, no Airport because planes will be too expensive and
destructive to the environment, rainfall below average creating a water problem.
Ms. Ostby: A focus on “dignity” with everyone getting a good night’s sleep, moving without a car.
She noted Los Angeles has a 9-point plan “Design for Dignity” one goal of which is to promote
architecture, creativity, safety, and the ability to age in place. People should want to live in the houses
that are being built…not hearing motorcycles racing on Shelburne Road at 4 a.m.
Mr. MacDonald: Climate change and housing are the biggest issues. He would like to see the city
be a leader in infill housing. He felt there will be some development in green areas which he hoped
would be very "smart.” Parks should be very important. Public transit should be such that people will
want to use it. He didn’t want South Burlington to become an exclusive place to live. He wanted his
children to be able to afford a home.
Ms. Louisos: An increased quality of life, more resilient to drought, more bike and walking space,
with fewer cars going through the city. Sufficient parks and connections between neighborhoods.
Protection of natural areas and farms.
Mr. Riehle saw the possibility of more farms to replace Midwest farms where they are unable to feed
their cattle, etc. He also want to see equal access to services.
Ms. Ostby said they will have to decide if R-1 zoning is appropriate anymore.
Mr. Conner noted that planners use a 20-year planning horizon because it can be conceived of.
However, it is also possible to look 50 years into the future, especially in areas where things are now
changing. He added that the Comprehensive Plan is the place to look for change in the city regarding
future regulations. It should set the vision first.
Ms. Ostby questioned the possibility of streets with “multiple zoning” so that if an industry moves out, it
would not necessarily have to be a similar use coming in.
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Mr. Conner said that in Form Based Code, all uses are permitted unless specifically prohibited. If a
project can meet the standard (e.g., frontage, height, etc.), it can be built. Ms. Ostby asked how that
could be looked at in other areas of the city, possibly with a set of prohibitive uses that would kick in.
Ms. Ostby also noted that she is seeing more e-bikes, and she was concerned with safety on non-bike
path streets. She felt that part of the vision should be in ensure that all roads have room for e-bikes all
year.
Mr. Macdonald said he foresaw the city having more “climate refugees,” and he questioned how the city
will handle that and where. Mr. Riehle said people are already coming from Texas and California. He
felt South Burlington can’t handle it all but should do its part. Ms. Louisos added that jobs will be
important. She didn’t want to see big sprawling industrial things.
6. Commissioner idea session for Comprehensive Plan and City goals:
Mr. Conner suggested having all the major goals on one page, briefer and more “punchy.” He noted
that one goal of the CCRPC plan is that 85% of new development occur on 15% of the land area. Mr.
Riehle felt that makes sense. Mr. Conner noted that since 2015, 87% of growth has occurred in areas
designated for growth.
Ms. Ostby noted that Route 7 in South Burlington empties onto the Interstate, but as soon as it crosses
into Burlington, there are houses with trees, etc. He noted that South Burlington is trying to encourage
housing there but she didn’t know if it was being done well anywhere. She hoped the Comprehensive
Plan could help make that artery a place where people can live with dignity. Mr. Engels acknowledged
there are serious problems on Shelburne Road. There is too much traffic and no place for it to go. Ms.
Ostby felt a goal should be to make that corridor better.
Mr. Macdonald said the same is true for Williston Road. He felt there is an opportunity to get more
housing there.
Mr. Riehle felt there should be more trees on all roads coming into the city.
Ms. Ostby suggested a brainstorming session with architects: if there were no regulations, how would
you make these roads a place you would want to live in for the rest of your life?
Mr. Engels said streetscapes should slow traffic down.
Mr. Conner said staff’s intent is to take what they have heard from the Commission and from the
community and do a “first cut.” The question they will consider is how to make this more about people
than about land. He noted that in the future, the majority of people in South Burlington will not be
living in single family homes. The question will be how to reach the underserved part of the population.
7. Discuss Comprehensive Plan outreach plan:
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Mr. Engels suggested holding a public hearing first and then developing a plan based on what they hear
from the public. He felt this approach worked well with the Task Force on the Airport rezoning request.
He said the Commission needs to start recognizing neighborhoods and listening to people talk about
their neighborhoods. He wanted to see the 2016 Chamberlin Neighborhood Plan along with what other
neighborhoods want.
Ms. Ostby suggested that each members be responsible for a few of the city’s 40 neighborhoods. There
should also be a "go to" person in each neighborhood.
Mr. Macdonald asked how they would frame a discussion. Mr. Conner said people should be given
something to start with.
Mr. Riehle was concerned that other neighborhoods aren’t as engaged as the Chamberlin
neighborhood.
Ms. Ostby said Commission members should not take their own neighborhoods.
Mr. Engels cited the importance of publicizing this in the newspapers.
Mr. Conner noted the importance of people like firefighters, police, library workers who have a lot of
regular outreach and suggested the Commission speak with them. He added that the city’s Newsletter
reaches about half of the city’s residents.
Ms. Ostby suggested next steps include looking at Front Porch Forum to make sure that everyone is
covered and to initiate contact while the weather is still warm. She suggested the possibility of a
meeting in the park.
It was noted that the Champlain Housing Trust is hosting barbeques related to the Climate Action Plan.
Mr. Macdonald said that realistically they will reach people only once. Mr. Conner added that one
contact should relate to the top 4 or 5 goals.
8. Meeting Minutes of 8 August 2022:
Mr. Riehle moved to approve the Minutes of 8 August with one spelling correction. Mr. Engels
seconded. Motion passed 4-0 with Mr. Macdonald abstaining.
9. Other Business:
a. South Burlington BESS 1 LLC Proposed Battery Energy Storage Project 45 -Day Notice of
Section 248 Petition to be filed with Vermont Public Utilities Commission, Community
Drive:
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Mr. Conner showed an overhead with the location of the project on Community Drive. It would not be
visible from the road at all. Ms. Ostby cited the importance of keeping away from residential areas
where people are in the homes for many hours a day as there can be health issues.
As there was no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned by
common consent at 9:35 p.m.
Minutes approved by the Planning Commission September 13, 2022