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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZB-88-0000 - Decision - 1710 Shelburne RoadI PLANNING COMMISSION 5 JANUARY 1988 The South Burlington Planning Commission held a regular meeting on Tuesday, 5 January 1988, at 7:30 pm, in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present Peter Jacob, Chairman, William, Burgess, Catherine Peacock, Judith Hurd, Mary -Barbara Maher, John Belter, Ann Pugh Others Present Jane Lafleur, City Planner, Sid Poger, The Other Paper; Connie Weems, Dorothy Lovering, David Spitz, Cathy Frank, Al Liguori, Ronald Savitt, Mary Kenny, Deborah Sherman, Susan Dimick, Greg Rabideau, Herbert Durfee, Gary Farrell, Peter Collins, Colin Lindburg, W. Edwin Cosman, Gerry Kittle, Nancy Knox, Paul Marquess, Harley Brown III, John Karash, Sandra Dooley Minutes of 8 December and 15 December 1987 Mrs. Maher moved the Minutes of 8 December be approved as written. Mr. Burgess seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Ms. Hurd noted she had not been present at the 12/15 meeting. Mrs. Maher moved the Minutes of 15 December be approved as amended. Mr. Burgess seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 2. Continue Public Hearing: Request of John Larkin for amendment to approval motion to build Phase II of the Howard Johnsons motel prior to the announcement of widening schedule for Rt. 7, 1710 Shelburne Road David Spitz said they had put out the traffic counter for 2 full days and parts of 2 others. At Harbor View Rd., it is virtually impossible to turn left in busy hours, but there is still not enough traffic to warrant a signal. With all the approved and potential uses (a 20,000 sq. ft. office building, the community care home, carwash, 2 unplanned lots, the 200 room hotel, and 13 residential units), there will be enough traffic to meet signal warrants. Mr. Spitz recommended monitoring the situation to see when the warrants are met. As for the hotel, if a signal is there, there is a clear advantage to routing traffic toward Harbor View Rd. Mr. Spitz's figures show 74 exits during the peak hour, including the restaurant and hotel. He estimated 25 would turn left and 29 right. For all uses, the estimate is 129 exiting cars at the pm peak. If southbound exiting hotel traffic is not directed to Harbor View exit, the pm exiting volume would be 104. Mrs. Maher asked how to count What's Your Beef when it opens. Mr. Spitz said it would not add much traffic during the peak hour. He added that they had used a higher number to include normal conference PLANNING COMMISSION 5 December 1988 page 2 activity, the restaurant, etc. Mr. Liguori said he is concerned with traffic being routed through Harbor Heights to get to Spear Street. There is no traffic control through that area, and there are many young children. He said he was also concerned if there is a traffic light on Harbor View, it would encourage more traffic through the development. He requested a sign at the back of the hotel saying "no left turn" so cars would have to go to Shelburne Rd. not through the residential area. Mr. Jacobs replied that the problem in the City is there are no east -west roads. He said the road had been specifically planned to take traffic through Harbor Heights. Another resident said there is no traffic control such as stop signs. Mr. Jacob recommended asking the City Council to speed up installation of signs. Mrs. Lafleur will look into this. Residents could not see the philosophy of routing cars through the residential district. They stressed problems with cars speeding through there, often endangering residents who are at their mailboxes. Mr. Savage said the traffic problem is critical. He felt the taxpayers were being asked to pay for Mr. Larkin's mis- calculation as to the hotel's size. Mrs. Maher emphasized that the expansion was not due to an oversight on the developer's part and had been part of the original plan. She asked what time frame was envisioned when the stipulation had been made. Mrs. Lafleur replied the design was to be in 1986, right-of-way acquisiton in 1987 and construction of the road in 1988-89. The design is still going forward, but there is no right-of-way and no construction program until at least 1991. Mrs. Maher then asked what a possible compromise might be. Craig Leiner felt a signal was not warranted now but felt a left turn at Harbor View was safer than at the hotel driveway. He also felt that by requiring the development to exit to Harbor View, it would push the Harbor View signal closer. Mr. Leiner also noted that if this developer and other pay into a fund for the signal, it might bring the signal closer. Mrs. Lafleur said she agreed with Mr. Leiner's assessment. Mr. Liguori noted the number of trucks that go through their development. Mr. Jacob suggested having the City Council ban truck traffic as they have done on Spear Street, Shunpike Road, and other streets. Mrs. Hurd questioned whether this expansion wasn't too much too soon, with no signal at this location and no signal yet at Allen Road. PLANNING COMMISSION 5 January 1988 page 3 Mr. Burgess moved that the Planning Commission amend the approval motion of LTH Associated for construction of a 200 room hotel at 1710 Shelburne Road to allow construction of the last 80 rooms prior to the announcement of the Route 7 widening schedule under the following consitions: 1. The applicant will contribute toward the installation of a traffic signal at the Harbor View Route 7 intersection. The amount shall be determined based on a plan prepared by the City Planner. The intent is to fund the full cost of the signal by assessing the hotel and future development that has access onto Harbor View Road. The signal will be installed as soon as possible after the State gives approval. 2. When a signal is installed at Harbor View Road, all hotel and restaurant southbound exiting traffic shall be routed through to Harbor View Road. The applicant shall install proper signage at the hotel's main exit, the lower exit to the upper parking area, and the hotel's upper exit onto Harbor View Road. 3. All other conditions in the May 13, 1986 approval motion shall remain in effect. Mr. Belter seconded the motion which passed 4-3, with Commissioners Maher, Pugh, and Hurd voting against. Mrs. Maher said she voted against the motion because she felt it was dangerous with a 2-lane road in front of the hotel. She added that this developer was responsible for most of the construction from this location through to Spear Street and felt he should pay for the Harbor View Rd. traffic signal. 3. Continue Public Hearing: Final plat application of Hospitality Inns for construction of a 90,615 sq. ft. addition footprint to the Sheraton Inn, 870 Williston Rd. Mr. Lindburg said they have lowered the height of the buildings to an average of 42 feet. This reduces the need for fill and grading changes. The highest point from grade is 50 ft. The footprint in increased from 15% to 19%. The dumpster has been put inside. Mr. Burgess said he did not see this as a minor change, noting it is a 21% increase which may impact traffic and other things. Mr. Lindburg said they are well within the Ordinance and haven't changed the number or size of rooms. Only the kitchen has changed in size.