HomeMy WebLinkAboutSD-18-28 - Supplemental - 1580 Dorset Street (44)1
Marla Keene
From:Karen Cubino <karencubino@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, September 27, 2018 6:04 PM
To:Marla Keene
Subject:JJJ and Cider Mill Rd extension
Marla & DRB members,
While the DRB has yet to issue a formal decision on the Cider Mill Rd extension—meaning construction of the road is
required as part of JJJ’s final plat or set aside for a future date—I would like to note my disappointment with the
process.
With JJJ’s monetary contribution towards construction of the extension and the DRB apparently satisfied they had
something to put in escrow, homeowners requesting relief from the almost 80% traffic increase from this development
appear to be set aside should the road not be built until sometime in the future.
Yet, it is interesting to note that it was homeowners who created the pressure on the developer (not the DRB) so that
the DRB could more easily obtain a contribution from JJJ for road construction. It was homeowners who hired a traffic
engineer to review the developer’s traffic data, challenged assumptions that encouraged the DRB to seek an
independent technical review, presented neighborhood petitions for the Cider Mill road extension and challenged the
developer in environmental court.
Homeowners set the table and SB collected money for road construction.
I now better understand the DRB process: The developer earns millions at full build out of Cider Mill 2, South Burlington
collects millions in new taxes and Winesap/Braeburn become “through” streets because no one wants to part with the
estimated $700,000 to build the Cider Mill road extension that we all know should be built—now, not in several years.
I firmly believe DRB members, who kindly volunteer time and effort, try to balance all interests as they respectfully hear
all voices and review information. But with millions of dollars at risk between SB and a developer there is tremendous
pressure on the DRB to waive, alter, grant and exempt a developer from South Burlington’s LDR and Comprehensive
Plan regulations. One can appreciate how frustrated homeowners might view the DRB’s relationship with a developer as
they bear the burdens of a new development and are unable to obtain relief in the DRB process.
I respectfully conclude that DRB members are good people who strive for transparency in a process they didn’t design
and it is up to homeowners to understand that the location of millions of dollars will most likely have the loudest voices
they must please with each new application.
Thank you for hearing my voice on this DRB process, regardless of your final decision. It has been very enlightening.
Best,
Karen Cubino