HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 06_SD-20-20_1130 Airport Dr_Heritage Aviation_PP FP
575 Dorset Street South Burlington, VT 05403 tel 802.846.4106 fax 802.846.4101 www.sburl.com
TO: South Burlington Development Review Board
FROM: Marla Keene, Development Review Planner
SUBJECT: SD‐20‐20 1130 Airport Drive
DATE: September 1, 2020 Development Review Board meeting
Heritage Aviation, Inc. has submitted preliminary and final plat application #SD‐20‐21 to amend a previously
approved plan for an airport complex. The amendment consists of constructing a 24,674 sq. ft. addition to an
existing 17,660 sq. ft. hangar, reconfiguring the adjacent parking area, and related site improvements, 1130
Airport Drive. At the July 7, 2020 hearing, the Board heard the applicant and continued the hearing to allow
review of materials submitted between the time of packet publication and the hearing, and to accept additional
testimony on subjects described below.
WASTE DISPOSAL
The applicant has relocated the dumpster to be away from the airport perimeter security fence, and has provided a
detail indicating that the dumpster enclosure will be chain link with vinyl slats.
LANDSCAPING
On July 7, the Board directed the applicant to reduce the reliance on non‐vegetative elements and instead
provide landscaping that enhances the project, with required minimums beyond that required to landscape the
site to be provided off‐site in accordance with #MS‐20‐01.
The applicant provided a revised planting plan and detailed landscaping budget on August 10. The applicant
estimates the building cost to be $5,887,200. The required minimum landscape value is therefore $66,372.
The applicant has provided the following narrative pertaining to landscaping revisions made since July 7.
There was quite a bit of discussion about the landscape design and the appropriateness of accounting
for landscape and hardscape materials. The landscape design and corresponding budget has been
revised to what we feel the Board was requesting. The hardscape materials that were previously
included in the landscape budget (pervious brick picnic area, exposed aggregate surface at entry, and
gravel maintenance edge) are no longer being counted. The picnic area however, has been revised. It
will now be lawn space with tables, outlined with shrubs and ornamental grasses. We still feel that the
ornamental grasses along the building face are an important landscape element to the project
design. We chose to keep the ornamental grasses instead of the planting shrubs because they are more
drought tolerant in the existing sandy soils. We have continued to include these elements in our
landscape budget and have included a Plant Image Sheet to provide the board with a better visual of
the grasses that are being proposed.
As discussed during the meeting, we will be using a portion of our required landscape budget to build
out a portion of the Airport's Landscape Master Plan. We are proposing to install approximately 665 ft
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of decorative fence between Airport Drive and our project site. The cost of the installed fence is
estimated at $46,550. The limits of the decorative fence are shown on the attached Ornamental
Fencing Plan, sheet L101.
We have also made some revisions to the landscape design to address some project related decisions
related to transplanting. The attached Landscape Plan L100 and budget estimate have been revised to
reflect the appropriate planting revisions.
On July 7, the applicant’s plans reflected two 15‐inch trees to be transplanted from an existing parking lot
island being displaced by the building addition to a new parking lot island. In the current plan, these trees are
proposed to be removed entirely and smaller trees are proposed in the new parking lot island.
1. Staff recommends the Board ask the applicant why this change was made. Based on a site visit, the two
trees appear to be very healthy, and Staff considers it would be desirable to retain them if possible.
The applicant estimates the value of trees to be removed at $12,114.60, for a total minimum new and
replacement value of $78,486.60.
The applicant is proposing to install the following breakdown of landscaping features:
Type Value Totals
New Trees (including replacement trees) $19,373
New Shrubs $3,670
Trees and Shrubs Subtotal $23,043
Perennials $5,648
Grasses $5,225
Vegetation Subtotal $33,916
Fencing approved as part of MS‐20‐01 Airport
Overall Landscaping Plan
$46,550
Landscaping Total $80,466
The purpose of the landscaping standards includes the following statement:
The City of South Burlington recognizes the importance of trees, vegetation, and well‐planned green
spaces in bringing nature into the city and using these as a resource in promoting the health, safety,
and welfare of city residents through improved drainage, water supply recharge, flood control, air
quality, sun control, shade, and visual relief.
On June 7, the Board directed the applicant to revise their landscaping plan to better meet the purpose of the
landscaping standards, including installation of landscaping features consistent with the overall landscaping
plan approved in #MS‐20‐01.
Miscellaneous approval MS‐20‐01 includes the following stipulation.
The applicant shall be responsible for tracking both expended budget and progress on the plan, and
this information shall be submitted at the time of site plan application for individual projects. Should
the cost of an individual segment of this plan exceed the required minimum landscaping budget for a
project at the airport, the applicant may “bank” the excess to apply to a future project.
2. Staff recommends the Board require the applicant to comply with this condition of #MS‐20‐01 by providing
the expended budget if the current proposal is approved. Staff notes the Board closed #SD‐20‐21 on 1150
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Airport Drive on August 4 but has not yet issued a decision, so Staff considers the Board should require
compliance with this condition prior to issuance of a zoning permit, rather than as part of this application.
As discussed on June 7, there are perennial and grass planting beds located along the western edge of the
building which will be screened from view by the existing and proposed trees along Airport Drive, and are
located in an area neither accessible by or visible to users of the site. As noted in the applicant’s narrative
above, they have not made modifications to these beds. Staff estimates the value of these plantings, including
only those along the western face and not including those along the employee picnic area, to be around
$1,100. The applicant is proposing greater than this in landscaping value beyond the required minimum,
therefore Staff considers these plantings do not warrant further discussion.
3. The proposed snow storage areas are along the western boundary of the site, in proximity to three mature
trees. Staff recommends the Board ask the applicant the distance between these trees and the edge of
pavement, and if less than 10‐ft, recommends the Board require the applicant provide protection for those
trees in the form of landscaping boulders.
WATER SUPPLY
The South Burlington Water Department offered a number of comments which were included in the notes for
the July 7 hearing. The South Burlington Water Department reviewed the revised plans on August 14 and
indicated the comments had been addressed.
BICYCLE STORAGE
The applicant has added long term bicycle storage to the reception area.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Board discuss the project with the applicant and close the hearing.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________________________
Marla Keene, Development Review Planner