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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Planning Commission - 07/18/2023SOUTH BURLINGTON PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES 18 JULY 2023 1 The South Burlington Planning Commission held a regular meeting on Tuesday, 18 July 2023, at 7 p.m., in Community Room of Allard Square, 148 Market Street, and via Zoom. MEMBERS PRESENT: J. Louisos, Chair; M. Mittag, D. MacDonald, P. Engels, L. Smith, F. McDonald ALSO PRESENT: P. Conner, Director of Planning and Zoning; K. Peterson, City Planner 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: No issues were raised. 4. Planning Commissioner announcements and staff report: Members reviewed the procedure for the upcoming listening sessions. Mr. Smith noted Councilman Barnes’ concern with people being able to afford energy requirements. He suggested adding something to the City Plan relative to finding fund for equity and making sure that meeting requirements is available and affordable. Ms. Peterson sad that is implied. Mr. Mittag noted a recent meeting in South Hero where they are grappling with issues that South Burlington has been working on for 3 years. They are specifically concerned with the building of a new facility that could pollute the Lake. Mr. Conner noted that tomorrow Mr. Bresee and Mr. Atherton will be making a presentation to staff on the first “dive” into the government part of the Climate Action Plan. SOUTH BURLINGTON PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES 18 JULY 2023 2 Mr. Conner noted that in the Legislature’s override of the Governor’s veto of S-100, the implementation date was advanced from 2024 to July 2023. Staff is now working on interim guidance to make this a high priority for the City Council. Mr. Conner also noted that the new bike-share program has bee4n launched. There are no “hubs.” A borrower can bring a bike to any safe location. 5. Election of Planning Commission Officers and determination of meeting dates/times: Mr. Conner presided over the election of officers. He opened the floor for nominations for Chair. Mr. D. MacDonald nomination Ms. Louisos. Mr. Smith seconded. There were no further nominations, and Ms. Louisos was elected with all present voting favor Ms. Louisos then nominated Mr. Duncan MacDonald for Vice Chair. Mr. Mittag seconded. There were no further nominations, and Mr. MacDonald was elected with all present voting in favor. Mr. Mittag nominated Mr. Engels for Clerk. Mr. D. MacDonald seconded. There were no further nominations, and Mr. Engels was elected with all present voting in favor. Ms. Louisos then moved to keep the meeting schedule as the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month unless modified by the City Council. Mr. Mittag seconded. Motion passed with all present voting in favor. Mr. Mittag asked that agendas be created to end by 9 or 9:30 p.m. Members suggested that the Clerk keep track of time. 6. Review of Draft of City Plan: Members reviewed the prepared draft of the City Plan that will be presented at listening sessions. Comments and amendments included: a. Addressing sidewalk maintenance: Mr. Conner said there is a budget related to rec path maintenance. It was $30,000 last year, all of which was covered by one improvement. This year’s budget is $40,000. Budgeting is always an annual SOUTH BURLINGTON PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES 18 JULY 2023 3 decision. Ms. Peterson suggested adding sidewalk maintenance to the section under Transportation which relates to maintenance. Members agreed. b. Members agreed to move the section which includes the city’s Abnaki heritage to paragraph 2. c. Mr. Mittag questioned the removal of the paragraph related to conversion of passive recreation lands. Ms. Peterson said it was removed because the line between passive and active can be very uncertain, and it could all be one property. Mr. Mittag said he didn’t want to see natural areas converted to parks as the city’s parks are not protected. Mr. Smith asked if that would allow the path in Hubbard Park. Mr. Mittag said it would not. Mr. Conner said city-owned lands do not have designations. Mr. Mittag moved to put the original language back in. There was no second to the motion. d. Ms. Louisos asked about planning for hazard and emergency preparedness. Mr. Conner explained that the city has an All Hazards Emergency Plan. Mr. Smith suggested language that would plan for “nimble recovery of housing and other buildings following natural disasters or emergency (e.g. homelessness).” Members agreed to that language e. Ms. Peterson noted the inclusion of Mr. Engels’ language under the Community Service Goals. f. The language regarding continuing to work with UVM on long-term land use goals was made an action item. g. Mr. Smith asked to change the language that “South Burlington school system is facing changes…” to “….will continue to face changes.” This was agreed to. h. Under Water and Utility Goals, Mr. Conner noted that the second bullet point is a massively complex goal. i. Under Wastewater, Mr. Smith asked if South Burlington has similar issues to those in Burlington. Mr. Conner said it does not. He reviewed the history of the portion of the city that used to be sewered by Burlington but is now under South Burlington at lower cost to both cities. SOUTH BURLINGTON PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES 18 JULY 2023 4 j. Mr. Smith noted that geothermal could heat all of the homes in the Bartlett Bay Treatment Plant area at a huge energy savings. Members agreed to add “Complete generational upgrade to Bartlett Bay (official name) and continue to explore options.” Mr. Conner said staff can work with Public Works regarding general language for treatment plan upgrades. k. Mr. Smith asked what control the city has over restricted packaging, specifically plastic. Mr. Conner said that unless specifically allowed by the State, the city can do anything. The following sentence was then added: “Explore and advocate for reduction in single-use plastics and plastic packaging.” l. Mr. Smith said the language in the Land Use section sounds aspirational but is not what he sees happening. He cited the O’Brien development and potential development of Hill Farm. He suggested changing the language to: “…has made an effort to shift the focus…” instead of “has shifted the focus.” Members agreed. m. Members asked to indicate the location in the City Plan of the Land Use Map in the Land Use section. n. Added to the land use goals was the following: Explore multi-family husing at a similar scale as single family and duplexes to support thriving neighborhoods.” Ms. Peterson will work on exact wording. o. The word “encouraging” was added before “infill” in the second bullet under Low Scale Actions. p. Mr. Mittag noted language that says the city’s parks are conserved. That is not true. The language was removed. q. The following language was added: Maintain farmland open and available for agricultural use, principally food production. r. Language regarding the creation of a village green in the downtown area was agrred on. Ms. Peterson will provide the exact language. s. In the southwest section, it was suggested to add “protect, conserve undeveloped shoreline.” Mr. Conner noted that the Official City Map proposes acquisition of that land. It includes a small beach. SOUTH BURLINGTON PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES 18 JULY 2023 5 t. Mr. Smith expressed concern with safety on Queen City Park Rd. after the bridge and on Central Ave. He noted these areas are not part of the existing scoping study. u. The words “green recreation space” were added to the Farrell Street area. v. Mr. Mittag questioned “at this time” referring to zoning in the Airport area. Ms. Louisos noted that land is now zoned R-4, and there could be a community process to address/change that. w. Mr. Mittag questioned the keeping of Exit 12B reserved space. Mr. Conner noted the City Council said it didn’t want to build it, but it didn’t want to take it off the map. Mr. Smith said some of that land could be for farming. He also noted that gems of open space could be connected for farming. x. Members agreed to move the Energy Plan Equity Assessment up toward the front of the Plan. 7. Meeting Minutes of 13 June 2023: Mr. Mittag moved to approve the Minutes of 13 June 2023 as written. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed with all present voting in favor. 8. Other Business: No other business was presented. As there was no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned by common consent at 9:50 p.m. ___________________________________Clerk