HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 04_SD-21-09_1200 Airport Dr_Burlington Itl Airport_Terminal_SK#SD‐21‐09
Staff Comments
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CITY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD
SD‐21‐09_1200 Airport Dr_Burlington Itl
Airport_Terminal_SK_2021‐04‐06.docx
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & ZONING
Report preparation date: March 31, 2021
Plans received: February 16, 2021
1200 Airport Drive
Sketch Plan Application #SD‐21‐09
Meeting date: March 19, 2019
Owner/Applicant
City of Burlington/Burlington International Airport
C/O Mr. Gene Richards, Director of Aviation
1200 Airport Drive, Box 1
So. Burlington, VT 05403
Property Information
Tax Parcel 2000‐0000_C
Airport District
777.84 acres
Location Map
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Sketch plan application #SD‐21‐09 of Burlington International Airport to amend a previously approved
plan for an airport complex. The amendment consists of constructing an approximately 34,660 (gross) sf
two‐story addition to the south end of the existing airport terminal, 1200 Airport Drive.
PERMIT HISTORY
The most recent PUD amendment was to construct a small addition on the south side of the Beta
building, located south of the terminal. The PUD has also obtained approval to construct a hotel north
of the existing parking garage, a larger addition on the north side of the Beta building, and an addition
for Heritage Aviation, also south of the terminal. With the exception of the north Beta addition for
which a zoning permit is pending, all of these approved projects are on hold at this time.
The Board recently approved miscellaneous application MS‐20‐01 establishing an overall landscaping
plan for the airport which the airport agreed to draw upon when required minimum landscaping could
not be provided on site.
COMMENTS
Development Review Planner Marla Keene and Planning and Zoning Director Paul Conner (“Staff”) have
reviewed the plans submitted on 2/16/2021 and offer the following comments. Numbered items for the
Board’s attention are in red.
CONTEXT
The Project is located in the Airport district. Development within this district must be reviewed
pursuant to site plan provisions of Article 14, unless it otherwise triggers PUD or subdivision standards.
Until recently, the LDRs required all projects within this district be reviewed under PUD standards. Staff
considers as an expansion of a building on a property containing multiple buildings to trigger PUD
review.
As described by the applicant, this project is to support a reconfiguration of the internal operations
within the airport terminal building. The proposed addition is located in an area currently paved and
within the airport security fence. While the applicant is considering a long‐term larger terminal
expansion, which may have more impacts, Staff considers the impacts of the current proposal to be
limited.
1. Staff recommends the Board ask the applicant to describe what role this building addition will play in
terms of the appearance of the site and exterior of access and circulation.
ZONING DISTRICT & DIMENSIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Setbacks, Coverages & Lot Dimensions
The applicant has represented that the proposed facility will result in a 0.1% increase in total lot coverage
from 34.3% to 34.4%. The maximum allowable lot coverage for this district is 50%. The applicant has not
provided an estimate of building coverage for existing or proposed conditions. The maximum allowable
building coverage for this district is 30%. Staff considers it unlikely the building coverage exceeds the
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maximum allowable.
2. The building is proposed to be 36 feet high. Allowable height for a principal building in the airport
district is 35 feet. Staff recommends the Board ask the applicant how the proposed height will compare
to the height of the existing terminal and the adjacent parking garage.
6.02F Airport District Additional Standards
Airport District Standards pertain to impacts to airport operations. In their cover letter, the applicant has
indicated that the proposed height of 36 feet has been accepted by the FAA. Staff considers the nature of
the project requires close coordination with the FAA. Staff recommends the Board ask the applicant to
provide evidence of FAA coordination at the next stage of review.
6.05 Supplemental Standards for Industrial and Airport Districts
Supplemental standards for industrial and airport districts pertain to procedures for review, multiple
structures, parking location, and buffering from residential zones. Staff consider this project has no
impact to the PUD’s compliance with these standards.
SITE PLAN REVIEW STANDARDS
General site plan review standards pertain to relationship to the comprehensive plan, relationship
between structures and to the site, adequacy of planting, pedestrian circulation and parking, and location
of parking. Specific site plan review standards pertain to access to abutting properties, utility services,
disposal of wastes, landscaping, low impact development, and design of roadways, parking and
circulation. Staff considers the general site plan review standards and landscaping standards to be the
most critical for review of this project.
14.06 General Standards
B. Relationship of Proposed Structures to the Site.
(1) The site shall be planned to accomplish a desirable transition from structure to site, from
structure to structure, and to provide for adequate planting, safe pedestrian movement, and
adequate parking areas.
C. Relationship of Structures and Site to Adjoining Area.
(1) The Development Review Board shall encourage the use of a combination of common
materials and architectural characteristics (e.g., rhythm, color, texture, form or detailing),
landscaping, buffers, screens and visual interruptions to create attractive transitions between
buildings of different architectural styles.
(2) Proposed structures shall be related harmoniously to themselves, the terrain and to existing
buildings and roads in the vicinity that have a visual relationship to the proposed structures.
3. Staff recommends the Board ask the applicant to describe how they believe the above three criteria
are met. Staff recommends the Board consider the relationship to the existing terminal and the
existing parking garage when providing feedback on this criterion.
14.07 Specific Review Standards
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D. Landscaping and Screening Requirements. See Article 13, Section 13.06 Landscaping, Screening, and
Street Trees.
The airport PUD has historically found it challenging to meet the required landscaping standards without
conflicting with the functionality of the airport. Accordingly, the Board approved an overall landscaping
plan in #MS‐20‐01, which pre‐authorizes off‐site construction of landscaping improvements that can be
constructed in lieu of providing landscaping on site. That approval requires detailed design of off‐site
landscaping be provided at the time of approval for on‐site development. The applicant has indicated
they plan to submit an application for off‐site landscaping very soon. Staff considers the overall
landscaping plan does not work unless the applicant actually uses it, which the applicant has not yet done
despite receiving approval for three projects since the overall landscaping plan was approved.
4. Staff recommends the Board have a frank discussion with the applicant about whether the approved
overall landscaping plan remains a workable solution to landscaping at the airport.
At this time Staff has no concern about the on‐site landscaping proposed.
F. Low Impact Development. The use of low impact site design strategies that minimize site
disturbance, and that integrate structures, landscaping, natural hydrologic functions, and various other
techniques to minimize runoff from impervious surfaces and to infiltrate precipitation into underlying
soils and groundwater as close as is reasonable practicable to where it hits the ground, is required
pursuant to the standards contained within Article 12.
The stormwater section reviewed the plans on March 26 and requests that more information be provided
about the collection system for the area at the next stage of review. They also note that the erosion
prevention and sediment control plan does not appear to use appropriate measures for the location, and
recommends the applicant’s engineer work with the City to design more appropriate erosion prevention
measures.
PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
PUD standards pertain to water supply and wastewater capacity, erosion prevention and sediment
control, access circulation and traffic management, natural resource protection, visual compatibility, open
spaces, fire safety, infrastructure design and compatibility, consistency with the comprehensive plan, and
low impact development. Staff considers that there are no issues with these criteria other than what has
already been discussed above.
Staff recommends the Board ask the applicant to discuss how the proposed facility will affect trips,
traffic, and the distribution thereof.
OTHER
13.14 Bicycle Parking and Storage
The applicant has been approved for bicycle parking for the terminal and approved hotel within the
existing parking garage. However, since the approved hotel has been put on hold for the time being, Staff
considers this project needs to meet minimum bicycle parking standards for the terminal and proposed
expansion. Staff considers the applicant should demonstrate bicycle parking standards are met at the
next stage of review.
Energy Standards
Staff notes that all new buildings are subject to the Stretch Energy Code pursuant to Section 3.15:
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Residential and Commercial Building Energy Standards of the LDRs.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Board discuss the project with the applicant and conclude the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Marla Keene, Development Review Planner
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SITE LOGISTICSGENERAL NOTES• Use of FAA approved barriers and fencing.• Contractor parking at North surface lots.• Use of hydraulic crane to be raised only when in use and lowered at end of each day.• Owner access to loading dock and dumpsters will be maintained.• Relocation of utilities to be coordinated with owner.• All tie ins to existing building to be coordinated with owner.